Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2024-25: Progress of the Bill

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2024-25 is a government bill. It was introduced in the House of Commons on 5 November 2024. The government has called the bill the “biggest public health intervention in a generation”.

Provisions in this bill are similar to those proposed in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2023-24, introduced by the Conservative government in April 2024. It did not complete its parliamentary stages prior to the general election, and consequently fell when Parliament was dissolved.

Policy background to the bill as it was introduced is set out in the Library briefing, Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2024-25 (22 November 2024). The briefing includes a summary of all the clauses in the bill.

This briefing covers the second reading and committee stage of the bill.

The bill

The Labour Party made a manifesto commitment to “ensure the next generation can never legally buy cigarettes” and to “ban vapes from being branded and advertised to appeal to children”.

If enacted, the bill would create the first “smoke-free generation” by ensuring children born on or after 1 January 2009 can never be legally sold tobacco. The bill includes other provisions which focus on making vaping less attractive and accessible to children and young people, strengthening smoke-free restrictions, and strengthening enforcement around the sale of tobacco and vaping products.

In summary, the bill contains provisions:

• on the supply of tobacco, vapes and other products, including prohibiting the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009,
• on the licensing of retail sales and the registration of retailers,
• to enable product and information requirements to be imposed in connection with tobacco, vapes and other products,
• to control the advertising and promotion of tobacco, vapes and other products, and
• on smoke-free places, vape-free places and heated tobacco-free places.

Commons second reading debate

The bill received its second reading in the House of Commons on 26 November 2025.

Members expressed general support for the bill’s aim to phase out tobacco use in young people, but some raised concerns about civil liberties, the practicality of enforcing a ‘moving’ age restriction and the impact on small retailers.

There was broad support for the bill’s measures to address youth vaping by introducing powers to restrict flavours, advertising and sponsorship.

The bill passed its second reading by 415 votes to 47.

Commons public bill committee

Commons committee stage comprised 16 sittings, including oral evidence and line-by-line scrutiny, in January 2025.

Four technical amendments to the bill were made, all of which were tabled by the government:

• Technical amendment 1 to clause 122, which was passed without a division. The amendment would ensure that no offence was committed under the advertising provisions by displays of prices that were subject to regulation under section 3 of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010. This amendment, which makes the approach for Scotland consistent with the rest of the UK, had been requested by the Scottish Government.
• Technical amendments 15 and 98 on clause 168 to ensure the Welsh Government and Department of Health in Northern Ireland would be able to commence certain parts of the bill as intended.
• Technical amendment 16 to clause 170, which would provide a standard power for transitional and saving provision regarding bringing the bill’s provisions into force.

Challenges and proposed amendments to the bill included:

• Dr Caroline Johnson, shadow minister for health and social care, moved amendment 87 to clause 114, to allow vapes to be advertised and promoted as a quit aid or public health measure. The amendment was withdrawn.
• Dr Caroline Johnson also moved a group of amendments, tabled by Helen Maguire (LD) which would increase the age of sale for tobacco to 25 years. It would replace the bill’s proposal to prohibit the sale of tobacco to those born on or after 1 January 2009. Following committee debate, Dr Johnson withdrew the lead amendment.
• Dr Caroline Johnson tabled amendment 94, which would reinstate an existing provision in the Health Act 2006, meaning that the Secretary of State could only make this designation if they considered there was a significant risk that a person would be exposed to a significant amount of smoke. The amendment was disagreed upon division with 4 votes for and 8 votes against it.
• Dr Danny Chambers, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for mental health, moved amendment 95. It would restrict the Secretary of State so that they would only be able to apply a smoke-free designation to open or unenclosed spaces outside an NHS property, children’s playground, nursery, school, college or higher education premises. The amendment was disagreed upon division with 5 votes for and 8 votes against it.
• Clause 46 would enable the Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers to make regulations amending the definition of identity documents in relation to age verification for the sale of tobacco, vaping and nicotine products. In response to concerns about the range of documents that would be accepted for this purpose, the then minister for public health prevention Andrew Gwynne, said the government was willing to strengthen this element of the bill and revisit it at report stage. Clause 46 remains part of the bill.

During the final sitting in committee, Dr Caroline Johnson moved five new clauses, including:

• New clause 6, which was considered alongside amendments 50 and 51. Together, they would require the government to publish draft licensing regulations within two months of the bill receiving Royal Assent, with a report on a mandated call for evidence to be laid before both Houses six months after Royal Assent. New clause 6 was rejected by 9 votes to 2.
• New clause 7, which was considered alongside amendments 52 and 53 . Together, they would require the Secretary of State to publish and consult on draft regulations relating to the registration and information requirements set out in clauses 95 and 98. New clause 7 was rejected by 10 votes to 2.

The date for Commons report stage is yet to be announced.