Drivers and passengers will soon be prohibited from vaping in vehicles carrying children, as part of a proposal of Tobacco and Vapes Bill thus bringing in sweeping government push to expand smoke-free laws and protect minors from second-hand emissions.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) unveiled the proposals on Friday (Feb 13), marking a significant tightening of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently moving through Parliament.
Extending the 2015 "Smoke-Free" Laws
The new measures effectively align the legal status of electronic cigarettes with traditional tobacco. Since October 2015, it has been illegal to smoke cigarettes in a private vehicle with anyone under the age of 18 present. Under the 2026 plans, this ban will be extended to include:
- Vapes and E-Cigarettes: All nicotine and non-nicotine vaping devices.
- Heated Tobacco Products: Devices that heat tobacco without burning it.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasised that the move is designed to "de-normalise" nicotine use in front of children and reduce their exposure to second-hand vapour, which health officials warn can still contain harmful chemicals.
"No child should be forced to breathe in second-hand vapour in the confined space of a car," Streeting told reporters. "We are taking these steps to ensure that the next generation grows up in a truly smoke-free and vape-free environment."
The ban on vaping in cars is just one part of a broader consultation launched today to extend "vape-free" zones to specific outdoor locations. The government is proposing new restrictions for:
- School Gates: Prohibiting both smoking and vaping in the immediate perimeters of all schools and educational facilities.
- Children’s Playgrounds: Making all public play areas strictly smoke-free and vape-free.
- Hospital Grounds: Smoking will be banned outside all health facilities, though vaping will remain permitted in designated areas to assist patients who are using e-cigarettes as a tool to quit smoking.
While the government is tightening the net on vaping near children, it has opted not to extend the ban to outdoor hospitality areas after intense lobbying from the pub and restaurant industry. The bill also exempts smoking or vaping in care homes, hospices, mental health hospitals and residential schools.
The measures are subject to the outcome of a public consultation, which launched on Friday and will run for 12 weeks until 8 May.