Proposed Law Targets Underage Smoking and Vaping
A new legislative initiative, bill № 15196, has been introduced by Ukrainian lawmaker Heorhii Mazurashu. The proposal seeks to prohibit individuals under 17 years of age from smoking, using vapes, hookahs, tobacco products, and alternative nicotine items. Registered on April 24, 2026, the document aims to amend Article 13 of Ukraine’s Law 'On Measures to Prevent and Reduce the Use of Tobacco Products and Their Harmful Impact on Public Health.'
The ban would cover the following items:
- tobacco products;
- electronic cigarettes (vapes);
- hookahs;
- herbal smoking mixtures;
- devices for consuming tobacco without combustion.
The bill has already been forwarded to the relevant parliamentary committee—the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Care, and Health Insurance—for further review.
To justify the proposal, the author cites data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), indicating that 19.6% of adolescents aged 13–15 use e-cigarettes. Furthermore, 47.3% of teens reported no difficulty purchasing cigarettes despite their age. Studies from 2024–2025 reveal that 40% of students in this age bracket have already tried e-cigarettes. Among children aged 15–16, half have experimented with vaping at least once.
Youth Impact and the UK Precedent
The bill also draws on the experience of the United Kingdom, where smoking, vaping, and hookah use are banned for anyone born after January 1, 2009. If passed, this legislation could significantly reduce tobacco and nicotine product consumption among Ukrainian youth.
A prohibition on tobacco and alternative nicotine products for minors could mark a critical step in combating the youth smoking epidemic.
Should the bill become law, it may curb the availability of these products to teenagers, potentially improving their health and lowering nicotine addiction rates. Implementing such measures would likely require a comprehensive strategy, including educational campaigns and strict enforcement mechanisms.
The proposed legislation on age restrictions for smoking and vaping is part of a broader trend in Ukraine aimed at safeguarding youth. Similar discussions are taking place regarding the potential implementation of a nationwide ban on mobile phones and tablets in schools. Such measures reflect a growing concern about the impact of technology and substance use on young people's health and well-being. To explore how these initiatives may influence the educational environment and the lifestyle choices of students, read more about the proposed phone and tablet ban in schools.