The Tobacco and Vapes Bill returns to the House of Lords for consideration of Commons amendments in "ping pong" on Monday 20 April.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to create the first “smoke-free generation” by ensuring children turning 15 this year or younger can never be legally sold tobacco. It also seeks to enable product and information requirements to be imposed in connection with tobacco, vapes and other products.
Consideration of amendments
The bill was considered by the House of Lords between 27 March 2025 and 9 March 2026 before returning to the House of Commons, in a process known as parliamentary 'ping pong'.
On Monday (April 20), members of Lords will consider changes (PDF) made by MPs in the Commons in regard to previous Lords amendments.
The amendments cover the issuing of fixed penalty notices in Wales, and the use of subsequent funds accrued from fines.
Before this, a final chance to tidy up the bill and make changes took place during third reading on March 9. Further scrutiny of the bill took place during report stage on Feb 24 and March 3.
Last year, line-by-line examination of the bill took place in committee stage between Oct 27 and Nov 26 while a full debate on the key principles of the bill, took place during second reading on April 23.
With the Bill advancing through the House of Lords, more than 1000 small business owners, including convenience stores, newsagents, independent supermarkets and forecourts have formally written to the Prime Minister requesting immediate engagement before the legislation reaches its final Parliamentary stages.
They are warning that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, if enacted in its current form, will significantly expand the illicit tobacco and vape market, intensify retail crime and impose unworkable enforcement pressures on small businesses.
The retailers feel that the legislation, in its current form, will supercharge the illicit tobacco and illegal vape market, escalate retail crime, and leave legitimate shopkeepers out of pocket, while doing little to achieve its stated public health aims.
The consequences of the generational ban will fall hardest on convenience store owners, the majority of whom are multi-generational, family-run businesses embedded in towns, housing estates and rural communities across the UK.
Many fear that the complexity of a generational smoking ban will create further confrontation at the till, increasing the risk of abuse and violence for frontline staff.