Children who do not reach the age of 18 before January 1, 2027 will never be permitted to buy cigarettes or tobacco products in the UK , once a new law that has now completely cleared parliament gets royal assent from King Charles III .

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill cleared its final parliamentary hurdle on Monday, when the House of Lords signed off on the last minor amendments to a bill in the pipeline since 2024, early in the current Labour government's tenure.

Only one other country, the Maldives, currently has a similar "generational smoking ban" in place .

The very first country to do so , New Zealand, swiftly overturned the law following a change in government in 2023 .

The laws governing vaping will also be tightened but it will remain legal for adults aged 18 or over to buy vaping products Image: Robin Utrecht/picture alliance

What are the new rules for smoking and vaping and where will they apply?

The rules will apply in all four of the UK's constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales and…