Tobacco & Vape Licensing

The government is introducing a retail licensing scheme for tobacco and vape products, it is expected that the scheme will be very similar to that of The Licensing Act 2003. Retailers will be required to obtain a licence or be registered to sell such products. The bill also prohibits (bans) the sale of tobacco to persons born after the 1^st of January 2009. There are additional powers which will regulate vaping and nicotine products, packaging, and product standards. There will also be enforcement powers to local authorities such as trading standards which will include offences and penalties.

April 2026 – Tobacco and vape Bill approved in the House of Lords

April 2026 – Tobacco and Vape Bill receives Royal Assent – the bill is now an Act of Parliament making it law.

We now await the regulations which will be published well before Act comes into force.

More information and updates will appear here in due course.