UK smoking and vaping law changes are set to be scrapped

The government is set to scrap plans to make the first ever smoke-free generation in the United Kingdom in the aftermath of the snap general election called by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Dubbed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, it will no longer set to make it in to law due to Parliament shutting down next week as a result of Sunak's announcement to hold a public vote on Thursday, 4 July.

The ban would have meant that anyone turning 15 this year, or younger, will never legally be allowed to buy products like cigarettes, tobacco pouches, or cigars.

That is seemingly up in the air now, with the Bill not likely to be rushed through Parliament before a deadline of Friday afternoon (24 May).

As well as manning tobacco products, the law would have tackled vaping products.

Currently, a loophole in the law means shops can give samples of vaping products to under-18s for free. That would be closed.

Another part of the law would have seen vapes on shop shelves a thing of the past. Much like cigarettes, they would have been forced behind covers or under the counter.

A disposable vaping crackdown was on the cards (Getty Stock Images)

Packaging would also mirror cigarettes, with plain covers the law instead of brightly coloured vapes.

And a crackdown on flavouring was on the cards too, with fruity options like apple, cotton candy, and strawberry binned.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt said that only a handful of Bills were going to be turned in to law due to time constraints.

The BBC reports that the only Bills being turned in to law before Parliament is shut down for the election is the Digital Markets Bill, Post Office Offences Bill, Media Bill and the Victims and Prisoners Bill, which includes the compensation scheme for victims of the infected blood scandal.

No one under the age of 15 was set to be able to legally buy tobacco products (Getty Stock Images)

It also reports that the smoking ban and vaping crackdown will likely become a manifesto pledge for the Conservative Party during the upcoming election.

LADbible has approached the Department for Health and Social Care for comment.

We've also asked the Labour and Conservative parties if they will commit to creating the UK's first ever smoke-free generation regardless of who is prime minister come 5 July.

Labour supported the Tories' plans to create a smoke-free generation during the Tobacco and Vapes Bill's appearances in the House of Commons before the election scuppered the current timetable.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 this morning, Sunak told presenter Nick Robinson he remained committed to 'ensuring that the next generation grows up smoke free'.

For now, it is all eyes on who will be in Number 10 Downing Street come July.

Topics: Vaping, Health, Politics, Rishi Sunak, UK News, News