The government has announced plans to make smoking illegal in children’s playgrounds and outside schools and hospitals in England, with some venues also being made vape-free.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, it is already a crime to smoke in NHS hospital grounds.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill would make it currently impossible for anyone aged 15 or under to buy cigarettes – something the previous government had planned – and would give more powers to restrict vape flavours, displays and packaging.

Ban on sale of single-use disposable vapes from next June It has already been announced in England and Wales.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the government was taking “bold action” to create a smoke-free generation, “crack down on kids becoming addicted to nicotine through vapes” and protect vulnerable people from the dangers of second-hand cigarette smoke. Will save.

Plans include extending the indoor smoking ban to some outdoor settings, such as schools and hospitals, to protect children and the most vulnerable.

But The government has backed down on plans to ban smoking in the gardens of pubs and bars In England.

It says it is also considering banning outdoor vaping in some locations.

All proposals will be open for public debate in the coming months.

Under the bill, shops will have to obtain a license to sell tobacco, vape and nicotine products in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This means retailers selling unregulated products or to people under the age of 18 will have to pay a £200 on-the-spot fine.

A registration system has been in place in Scotland since 2017 for retailers selling these products.

Smoking puts huge pressure on the NHS. It kills 80,000 people a year in the UK and is responsible for one in four cancer deaths.

It also increases the risk of many diseases including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, asthma and dementia.

The government said smoking costs the economy £18 billion a year in lost productivity, with smokers being a third more likely to get sick.

Health donors have welcomed the bill, which will be subject to consultation for the next six months.

Action on Smoking and Health said this would help create a country where young people would never start smoking.

Professor Nick Hopkinson, chairman of the charity, said: “It is important to have a debate about how we protect children and vulnerable people from the harms of secondhand smoke.

He added: “The next important step for the Government is to decide how it will help the UK’s six million smokers to quit. This will require an appropriately funded scheme, paid for through a levy on tobacco companies. Will be done by.”

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said she welcomed the Government’s commitment to protecting children and vulnerable people from smoking in schools, playgrounds and hospital grounds.

“We also welcome measures to make vaping less attractive to young people,” he added.