What are the new cigarette and smoking laws? From plain packaging to no more 10 packs, here’s what’s changed in 2017
THE cost of smoking is set to soar now that the government has banned 10-packs completely, in a bid to force people to quit the harmful habit.
The cheapest packet will cost a minimum of £8.50 following the move - which came into play on May 21, 2017 and aimed to discourage younger and poorer smokers.
Why are small packs of cigarettes being banned?
Smokers are no longer be able to buy smaller packs of cigarettes and rolling tobacco
Ten-packs of fags and smaller bags of roll-your-own tobacco will be banned - while menthol cigarettes will be phased out completely by May 2020.
Before the new law, rolling tobacco came in 10g and 20g packets - but soon 30g will be the smallest size.
The ban includes some flavoured tobacco and cigarettes - including fruit, spice, herbs, alcohol, candy and vanilla.
It's hoped the law will reduce the number of smokers across the EU by 2.4 million.
Elsewhere, Canadian campaigners are calling for the legal smoking age to be raised to 21, and pregnant women being offered £260 in shopping vouchers if they quit, as experts warn smoking will kill 8 million people EVERY YEAR by 2030.
Meanwhile, vaping fans also face a new set of laws that come in later this month - placing restrictions on the sale of e-cigarettes and e-liquids.
Their research found that there was an increase in people buying from non-UK duty paid sources.
What's the latest news?
The legal age to buy cigarettes in the UK could be raised from 18 to 21 as part of efforts to deliver a "smoke-free generation", MPs have said.
New measures put forward by parliamentarians also include charging tobacco giants for the impact they have on society and using the money to fund stop-smoking initiatives.