British American Tobacco p.l.c. Faces Fresh UK Smoking Ban Test After Royal Assent
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is staring at a tougher road ahead in its domestic tobacco business, now that Britain has granted Royal Assent to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill—officially making it law. Under the new measure, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, will never be legally able to buy tobacco, according to the government. Timing is key here. BAT, the company behind Lucky Strike and Dunhill, still relies on cigarette sales to bankroll its push into non-combustibles. The UK’s new law doesn’t flip the switch, but it does set a firmer course—expect fewer legal cigarette buyers ahead, stricter rules for vapes, and sharper focus on how nicotine products get marketed.