Senedd backs tobacco ban for anyone born after 2009

Members of the Senedd have voted in favour of UK government legislation that would prevent anyone born after 1 January 2009 from ever legally buying tobacco products in Wales.

The UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which also restricts vape advertising and sales whilst reviewing e-cigarette packaging, was supported by 36 MSs, with nine against and two abstentions.

Health minister Sarah Murphy described the legislation as a “unique opportunity” to tackle “a leading cause of disease and premature death in Wales”.

The Senedd passed a legislative consent motion (LCM), giving Westminster permission to pass a law affecting devolved Welsh responsibilities.

Public Health Wales analysis last year found that more than one in ten deaths amongst over-35s every year between 2020 and 2022 were due to smoking.

The phased smoking ban was originally proposed by Rishi Sunak’s Conservative UK government and taken forward by Labour following their 2024 election victory.

Conservative Senedd health committee chair Peter Fox welcomed the proposals, expressing concern that children were starting secondary school “already addicted to vaping”.

Plaid Cymru’s Mabon ap Gwynfor said many vapes were designed to be “deliberately appealing to children” and the legislation was needed to stop the “targeting” of them.

However, Conservative James Evans opposed the bill, saying it would “take away people’s personal responsibilities”.

He argued: “A generational smoking ban is state overreach. People should be able to make their own choices and the job of government is there to make people aware of the harms of smoking but not to take away their personal freedom.”