MPs urged to reject 'divisive' generational tobacco ban

Campaigners have urged MPs to reject plans to ban the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to future generations of adults.

Ahead of the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on Tuesday (26), the smokers’ rights group Forest says the proposal is “unnecessarily divisive” and is not supported by the majority of the public.

According to a recent poll commissioned by Forest and conducted by Yonder Consulting, 60 per cent of respondents said that if people are allowed to drive a car, join the army, purchase alcohol, and vote at 18, they should also be allowed to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Fewer than a third (31 per cent) said they should not be allowed to purchase tobacco when legally an adult, while 9 per cent said 'don't know'.

Simon Clark, director of Forest, said, “A generational ban on the sale of tobacco is unnecessarily divisive because it will create a two-tier society in which some adults have different rights to others.

“Eventually it will create the absurd situation whereby a 40-year-old can purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products, but someone born a few days later could be denied the same right.”

He added, “MPs need to think very carefully about the unintended consequences of raising the legal age of sale of tobacco.

“Denying future generations of adults the right to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products legally won't stop people smoking. Creeping prohibition will simply drive the sale of tobacco underground and into the hands of criminal gangs and illicit traders.”

The Government is banning disposable vapes from 1 June, 2025 under separate environmental legislation. There is also a first of its kind vaping tax on the way, announced in Rachel Reeves' first Budget.