About the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026
The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. The law will gradually raise the age of sale of tobacco in the UK to help protect future generations from the harms of smoking. This will mean that anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 cannot ever be legally sold tobacco in the UK.
The Act will also:
- Allow the expansion of smoke-free places
- Introduce vape-free places
- Require retailers to have a licence to sell tobacco and vapes
- Give powers to regulate the flavours, advertising, packaging, display and standards of smoking and vaping products
- Introduce enforcement measures for non-compliant businesses, such as offences and penalties
We expect the Government to publish more details on the regulations and confirm timescales for introducing the licensing scheme at a later date. Please keep checking this page for updates.
Retail licensing for tobacco and vaping products
A key part of the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 is that it creates a framework for a retail licensing scheme for tobacco and vaping products. We expect the Government to publish more details and confirm timescales for introducing the licensing scheme at a later date.
It is expected that, in future, businesses selling tobacco and vaping products, and the people involved in selling them, will need to have a licence to do so from the local authority.
Enforcement bodies, including Trading Standards, are expected to have powers to issue penalties and take action where businesses do not comply with the regulations. This may involve suspending or revoking licences.
What this will mean for retailers
- Age-of-sale checks - having robust age verification procedures in place for tobacco sales
- Staff training - making sure your staff understand which products are covered by the regulations, how to refuse a sale appropriately, and how to handle challenges or complaints
- Product and marketing compliance - preparing to review product ranges and marketing to comply with regulations on the product safety, advertising and packaging of vaping and nicotine products
- Retail licensing scheme - preparing for the expected scheme and applying for a licence for your business and the staff members involved in sales, paying fees and meeting licence conditions when they are confirmed
- Maintain good records - keeping clear purchasing and supplier records can support due diligence and help you respond to any compliance checks
- Enforcement action for non-compliance - Trading Standards and other enforcement bodies are expected to have the power to issue penalties and take action, such as suspending or revoking licences, once licensing is introduced