New plans to raise the age of buying tobacco to 21 in a bid to go smoke-free by 2030
The All-Party Parliamentary Group wants the UK to lead by example in cracking down on smoking.
There are calls on the government for tough new measures to end smoking by 2030, including raising the age of buying tobacco products to 21.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health has published a report outlining plans to go smoke-free, recommending there be more funding to support smokers to quit, and increasing media campaigns to highlight the health risks.
Deborah Arnott is from ASH, the group who commissioned the report:
"This is an addiction, something that hooks children and young people. If you could prevent people under the age of 21 from taking up smoking, they’re very unlikely to become smokers. And if they do, they’re less likely to become heavily addicted as well.
“We’ve been very successful in this country driving down smoking rates since the turn of the century, but this could take us to the next step.
"We could be the first high income country to end smoking.”
“This isn’t a lifestyle choice it’s a lethal addiction.”
Around 74% of people in the East of England are in favour of this. There are an estimated 671,000 smokers in this region, or 13.7% of the population and 12,700 people die from smoking each year.
The APPG report’s recommendations include:
- Forcing manufacturers to pay for tobacco control programs.
- Targeted investment towards helping smokers to quit.
- Tougher tobacco regulations aimed at protecting young people, such as putting health warnings on cigarettes and raising the age of sale to 21.
Deborah Arnott added: “We think the target is realistic but it's not going to happen from sitting on our hands and waiting for it to come. It will need active intervention.
I think people don’t realise just how lethal smoking is, and just how many people it still kills.
I think it’s important to recognise most smokers want to quit and even more regret ever having started. But it’s terribly difficult to do and they need help.
The APPG, made up of MPs and peers, say it’s time for Government to commit to the actions needed to secure its vision of a Smokefree 2030.
The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said recently that since 2020, more people are likely to have died from smoking than COVID-19.