This idea has been created by the Scrutinise team as a historical case study. It represents real legislation that reached the statute book through civil society advocacy. It is presented here to show how that process might have looked on Scrutinise.
Tobacco and Vapes Act 2025
Introduced a generational smoking ban — no one born on or after 1 January 2009 can ever legally be sold tobacco in the UK. The most significant tobacco control legislation since the Health Act 2006. ASH spent a decade building the evidence base for this approach.
Summary
Introduced a generational smoking ban — no one born on or after 1 January 2009 can ever legally be sold tobacco in the UK. The most significant tobacco control legislation since the Health Act 2006. ASH spent a decade building the evidence base for this approach.
Challenge (summary)
Conventional tobacco control — taxation, plain packaging, advertising bans — had reduced smoking rates but could not reach zero. Each new generation continued to be recruited to smoking. A generational approach would end recruitment entirely.
Approach (summary)
A date-based ban preventing sale of tobacco products to anyone born after a set date, creating a smokefree generation without criminalising existing smokers.
First step (summary)
Introduce primary legislation setting a birth-date threshold (1 January 2009) after which tobacco products cannot be sold to that person at any age. Apply equivalent restrictions to vaping products to prevent displacement.
Stage
DevelopIdea Type
Legislation
Government Area
Health
Created
27 Mar 2026