The Welsh government has put forward new plans to outlaw the use of electronic cigarettes in enclosed public spaces and introduce a new national register of tobacco retailers.

The measures have been proposed in a new Public Health Bill which was unveiled by health and social services minister Mark Drakeford on Tuesday (9 June).

It follows last year’s consultation on a Public Health White Paper which also included plans to introduce a minimum unit price for selling alcohol. This measure will now be consulted on in a separate draft Bill to be published before the summer recess.

The Public Health Bill also seeks to make it illegal to hand over tobacco or nicotine products to under-18s, for example via home delivery services.

It would also give ministers the power to make non-enclosed spaces smoke-free in the future.

Drakeford said: “The Welsh government has a responsibility to create the conditions which enable people to live healthy lives and avoid preventable harm to their health.

“Wales has a strong tradition of using legislation to improve public health and I am confident the measures in the Public Health Bill will continue this.”