Ban on ten-packs of cigarettes and rolling tobacco coming into force this weekend, along with new e-cig limits
SMOKERS will no longer be able to buy small packs and vapers will be forced to ditch big bottles as new laws come into force this weekend.
Ten packs of cigarettes and small pouches of rolling tobacco have been outlawed, while the vaping changes mean large bottles are banned, along with high-capacity e-cigarettes.
Under new tobacco laws, smaller bags (under 30g) of roll-your-own tobacco and ten-packs of cigarettes will be banned from May 21.
The government started phasing out the fags last May when packaging was standardised but shops have had a year to get rid of old stock.
The ban includes some flavoured cigarettes and roll-you-own tobacco, including fruit, spice, herbs, alcohol, candy or vanilla.
A complete ban on menthol-flavoured cigarettes is set for May 20, 2020.
For vaping, the new laws mean that:
- Refillable tanks must have a capacity of no more than 2ml
- E-liquids can not be sold in quantities greater than 10ml
- Unless registered as a medicine e-liquids can not have a nicotine strength of more than 20mg/ml
- E-liquid packaging must be child-resistant and tamper evident
- Additives including colouring, caffeine and taurine are banned
- All e-cigarettes and e-liquids must be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency before they can be sold
- Stricter labelling requirements
Menthol cigarettes are flavoured with compound menthol, a substance which triggers cold-sensitive nerves in the skin without actually providing a drop in temperature.
E-cigarettes are also being hit by law changes this weekend
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According to charity Action on Smoking and Health, the gradual phase-out was started to deter future generations from smoking.
Speaking to the , Action on Smoking and Health spokesperson Amanda Sandford said: "Cigarettes are already expensive and the price increase of cigarettes is a key factor in making people quit smoking.
"So by removing the packet of ten cigarettes this means people will have to find that extra money for a packet.
“It will hit poorer and younger smokers harder who are more likely to buy smaller packs.”
"Paying £3 or £4 for a packet of ten cigarettes at the moment might not seem so much to people and still leave them with change in their pockets.
"But when you have to spend £6/£7 even £9 people may think, 'Do I really need this packet?'
Packs of hand-rolled tobacco smaller than 30 grams will also be phased out in May.
Amanda continued: "This is again to deter people as they will have to spend more.
"At the moment people are able to buy it in packets of 10g, 20g and so on."
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