Tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display
The government are currently consulting on proposals to make tobacco products less appealing as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Act.
The consultation wants views on the proposal to make tobacco and vaping products less visible, less attractive and less appealing, particularly to children and young people, while providing clearer health information and maintaining support for adults who wish to quit smoking. It is part of the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 which sets out measures to create the UK’s first smoke-free generation, protecting children from nicotine addiction while ensuring adult smokers can still access vaping products to help them quit.
Smoking is still the biggest cause of preventable death and one of the main reasons for health inequalities in England.
For more details about the proposals you can visit the government's consultation page at Gov.uk: tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display.
How we are responding
We are interested in the views of local residents to inform a collective responsive to this consultation, including views from a range of professionals.
By taking our survey, you will help us to respond with a strong voice from County Durham.
Helping people to quit
With our partners, we are committed to the Tobacco and Vapes Act. This will ensure that no child born today will be legally able to be sold tobacco products and also children and young people are protected from vaping and nicotine addiction.
County Durham supports the North East Declaration for a Smokefree Future and aims to reduce smoking rates to 5% by 2030.
We will do this by supporting smokers to quit in a way that feels right for them, and providing vapes as quit aids to adult smokers.
Get help to quit smoking
If you would like to access support and advice to help you quit smoking, please visit Fresh: ways to quit smoking.
Phases
Give us your views
Have your say in the following ways:
- complete our online survey by clicking on the 'Take the survey' button either at the top or bottom of this page.
- email your feedback and comments at letstalkcountydurham@durham.gov.uk
- Complete the Government's consultation at Tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display - GOV.UK
The deadline for feedback is Sunday 13 September 2026.
Once all the responses and feedback to the consultation have been reviewed, we will send a collective response to Government.
If you have any queries about this project or need this information in an alternative format contact letstalkcountydurham@durham.gov.uk