Let's Be Clear welcomes Royal Assent of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill

26 May 2026

Let's Be Clear the Royal Assent for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a landmark moment for the East of England - helping prevent future disease, early death and addiction by ending the sale of lethal tobacco products to the next generation.

The measure is expected to protect up to 4 million young people across Great Britain from being sold tobacco within the next five years.

From January 2027, the legislation will begin phasing out the sale of tobacco by raising the age of sale by one year, every year. This means children born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be legally sold tobacco.

The law itself places the legal responsibility on retailers rather than on the buyer.

Our Lets Be Clear initiative supports the smokefree generation policy and the recent Tobacco and Vapes bill. The aim is to have an East of England free of the death and disease of tobacco and this is another step towards this.