Smoking Laws Get Tougher

Get to grips with the smoking laws being enforced on 20th May.

Updated: Tuesday 17 November 2020

Scientists are conducting intensive research on how cigarettes and smoking affects us and the environment. With each passing year, there are changes in legislation, product packaging and marketing alternatives. The latest news in the constant tug of war between the profit-obsessed tobacco corporations and the health campaigners is a small step towards healthier lungs in UK smokers.

The new smoking laws were passed to discourage young people from starting to smoke. They come into effect on the 20th of May, so become familiar with the changes before then to avoid gaffes.

1. Smaller packs of 10 cigarettes will be outlawed completely. The minimum pack size of cigarettes will be 20.
2. The minimum price of cigarette packs will be £8.82. The idea is that the production of larger and more expensive packs will dissuade people from taking up or continuing smoking.
3. All packs will have plain, opaque couche - a hideous, muddy green colour with 65% of the front and back of the packs containing large graphic health warnings.
4. Shops are banned from selling 10g or 20g packets of tobacco.
5. Hand rolled tobacco packs of 30g will be the new minimum, forcing you to spend more at one time.
6. Cigarettes with a flavour are banned. This includes flavours of fruit, vanilla, alcohol, spice, herbs, and candy.
7. Menthol cigarettes are being phased out slowly and will eventually be discontinued.

With the laws changing every few years and the drain on your bank account, it is no wonder that studies have found that more than half of UK vapers have quit smoking tobacco. The changes were put in place to make smoking less appealing to young people.

When it comes to e-cigarettes, these laws apply:

1. Promotion, sponsorship or vaping adverts are almost completely banned.
2. All e-cigs should have a nicotine concentration of less than 20mg/ml. Any more would have to be licenced as a medication and controlled by strict regulations such as those for over-the-counter medicines.
3. All additives including vitamins, caffeine, taurine and colouring are banned.

Breaching these laws could land you in jail for up to 2 years. You could bypass these and any future changes to legislation by quitting smoking altogether. Much less headache.

For help quitting smoking for good, try Champix. It is a nicotine free, non-addictive medication and works to relieve your cravings for a cigarette and withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking.