Ministers have refused to raise the minimum age for the sale of cigarettes from 18 despite expert recommendations and strong public support.
Health minister Neil O'Brien said it would be "too big a departure" from the current policy, which focuses on "helping people to quit" rather than imposing bans.
A government-commissined review last year, led by Dr Javed Khan, backed "increasing the age of sale from 18, by one year, every year until no-one can buy a tobacco product in this country".
