A former pub landlady has spoken out as the UK begins a six-month countdown to a brand new law protecting future generations from tobacco.

July 1 marks six months until the Tobacco and Vapes Act comes into force, making it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.

Cathy Hunt, 61, backs this new law after being diagnosed with lung cancer back in 2015 and having half of her lung removed.

Cathy, from Crook, in County Durham, said: "Raising the age of sale for tobacco under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will change health for the better.

Cathy Hunt supports the Tobacco and Vapes Act, which comes into force on January 1, 2027.

placeholder image — Cathy Hunt supports the Tobacco and Vapes Act, which comes into force on January 1, 2027.

"I’m glad that my grandchildren won’t be able to legally be sold cigarettes when they reach the age of 18.

"There’s nothing else on shop shelves that kills two in three lifelong customers, and this is about giving the next generation a better chance.”

This week also marks 19 years since the Smokefree law came into force, which transformed the nation’s health by ending smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces.

Cathy said: “To my regret, I continued smoking after the Smokefree law came in – even though I was a serial quitter and tried to stop many times.

Cathy Hunt was diagnosed with lung cancer back in 2015 and had to have half of her lung removed. Photo credit Dan Aziz.

"Working in pubs, the temptation was always there. Picking up cigarette butts from the floor and cleaning out ashtrays was an awful job – whether you smoked or not.

“The law raised awareness of the toxic chemicals in secondhand smoke, and for many people it was an opportunity to cut down or quit.

"It protected thousands of members of staff from breathing in that smoke – and also protected children in the restaurant areas of pubs where smoke used to drift into.

“Anyone who has watched a loved one struggle to quit knows the truth – tobacco addiction strips away freedom.”

Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh and Balance – a programme dedicated to reducing the harm from tobacco and alcohol in the North East of England – said: “We have made significant progress in reducing tobacco harm, protecting children and workers and supporting hundreds of thousands of people to quit.

"Now we are counting down to the first smokefree generation, helping to stop young people becoming trapped by tobacco addiction in the first place.”