The 12 new smoking and vaping rules announced by the government and how they will impact you
The UK government has launched a consultation proposing 12 new rules to reduce the appeal of vapes and tobacco to young people.Summary
The UK government has launched a consultation to introduce 12 new measures aimed at reducing the appeal of vaping and smoking to children and teenagers. Following reports that approximately one million 11 to 17-year-olds in Great Britain tried vaping in 2025, the proposals focus on minimizing marketing tactics like colorful packaging, child-appealing flavors, and prominent retail displays.
Key proposals include mandating plain white, black, or grey packaging for vapes and heated tobacco devices, restricting flavor names to simple descriptions, and banning cosmetic lights or screens on devices. Additionally, the government aims to restrict shop displays for all tobacco-related products, introduce a Vaping Products Duty by October 2026, and eventually ban vape advertising and sponsorship by June 2027.
While acknowledging that vapes are less harmful than cigarettes and aid adult smoking cessation, officials emphasize the need to strike a balance: making products less attractive to youth without undermining their effectiveness as smoking cessation tools for adults.
(Source：Manchester Evening News)
