UK stops selling cigarettes and vapes to young people

Apr 24, 2026, 05:45

Introduction

The United Kingdom made a new law. This law stops shops from selling cigarettes and vapes to people born after January 1, 2009. These people will never be able to buy them legally. Some people like this law. Some people do not like it.

Main Body

The new law starts on January 1, 2027. The government will make the legal age to buy tobacco higher every year. People who are 17 years old now will never be able to buy cigarettes. The law also stops shops from selling vapes to people under 18. People cannot give away vapes for free. Shops cannot sell vapes from machines. The government can also change the rules about flavors and packages. Police can give fines to people who break the law. People who support the law say it helps young people. They say nicotine addiction takes away a person''s freedom. Cancer Research UK says smoking causes about 57,800 cancer cases every year in the UK. Two out of three smokers die from smoking. Action on Smoking and Health says smoking costs England £46 billion every year. People who do not like the law say it will make a black market bigger. A black market is when people sell things illegally. They also say the government will get less money from taxes. In Australia, the government made it hard to buy nicotine. After that, the illegal tobacco trade became very big. A report says more than half of the tobacco in Australia is illegal. Australian health groups support the UK law. They say the UK needs strong police work and good controls. The UK also needs to help people stop smoking. The future of the law is not sure. Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, says he will end the law if his party wins the next election in 2029. The only other country with a similar law is the Maldives. New Zealand made a similar law but stopped it before it started.

Conclusion

The UK made a big new law to stop young people from smoking. Health groups like the law. But the law needs strong police work to stop a black market. The next election in 2029 may change the law.

Vocabulary Learning

age
How old a person is.年齡
Example:You must be 18 years of age to buy cigarettes.
free
Not costing any money.免費
Example:The shop cannot give away vapes for free.
help
To make something easier or better for someone.幫助
Example:The new law helps young people stay healthy.
law
A rule made by the government.法律
Example:The new law stops young people from smoking.
sell
To give something to someone for money.出售
Example:Shops sell food and drinks.

Sentence Learning

The United Kingdom made a new law.
This is a simple past tense sentence. 'Made' is the past tense of 'make'.本句是簡單過去式句子。'Made' 是 'make' 的過去式。
This law stops shops from selling cigarettes and vapes to people born after January 1, 2009.
This sentence uses the phrase 'stops someone from doing something'. 'Born after' describes the people.本句使用了 'stops someone from doing something' 的結構。'Born after' 用來描述特定的人群。
People who support the law say it helps young people.
'Who support the law' is a clause that describes the people. 'Say' is the main verb.'Who support the law' 是一個從句，用來描述主詞 'People'。'Say' 是主要動詞。
They say nicotine addiction takes away a person's freedom.
This is a simple present tense sentence. 'Takes away' means 'removes' or 'steals'.本句是簡單現在式句子。'Takes away' 的意思是 '移除' 或 '奪走'。
A black market is when people sell things illegally.
This sentence defines a term. 'Is when' explains the meaning of 'a black market'.本句用來定義一個術語。'Is when' 解釋了 'a black market' 的含義。