Smoking age should increase each year until Brits can’t buy cigarettes, review finds
ALL Brits could be banned from buying cigarettes in the coming years following a new report.
An independent review into tobacco led by Dr Javed Khan OBE has recommended the age limit be increased every year - until no one can buy them.
In the report, published this morning, Dr Khan says: "The government must stop young people starting to smoke, which is why I recommend increasing the age of sale from 18, by one year, every year until no one can buy a tobacco product in this country."
He said while people could question if this is a 'nanny state' move, that there has been public support for raising the age.
The review is a set of recommendations that should help the government meet its smokefree ambition by 2030.
Close to six million people smoke in England - and tobacco remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death.
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The Department of Health and Social Care said that tackling tobacco and helping people quit smoking could tackle 15 types of cancers.
Recent data shows that one in four deaths from all cancers were estimated to have been from smoking - including lung cancer, throat cancer and acute myeloid leukaemia.
The NHS has assisted in helping people stop smoking, but Dr Khan warned more action needs to be taken.
As part of the review, there are three other key areas Dr Khan said will protect the population from the harms of smoking.
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This includes increased investment of an additional £125 million per year in smokefree 2030 policies, with an extra £70 million per year ringfenced for stop smoking services.
The plan will also see vapes promoted as an effective way to 'swap to stop'.
Prevention across the NHS will also need to be improved, so that smokers are offered advice and support to quit each time they interact with members of the health service.
Other key interventions include a tobacco licence for retailers to limit the availability of tobacco across the country.
On top of this regulators could be urged to rethink the way cigarette sticks and packets look to reduce their appeal.
A mass media campaign to encourage smokers to quit has also been recommended.
Only by making smoking obsolete can the government deliver on its levelling up mission for health and wellbeing
Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
Dr Khan said: "In this review I have looked at our current smokefree initiatives, along with the very best practice from around the world. I would like to thank the many valued voices that have made key contributions towards shaping this ambitious and bold report.
“Without immediate and sustained action, England will miss the smokefree target by many years and most likely decades.
“A smokefree society should be a social norm – but to achieve this, we must do more to stop people taking up smoking, help those who already smoke and support those who are disproportionately impacted by smoking."
He added that his 'holistic set of recommendations' for the government would help deliver this.
The 15 recommendations set out in the report:
- Invest £125 million to achieve a smokefree 2030
- Raise the age of tobacco from 18, by one year, each year
- Raise the cost
- Introduce a tobacco license for retailers
- Enhance illicit tobacco monitoring and enforcement
- Reduce the appeal of smoking
- Increase smokefree places
- Offer vaping as a substitute
- Local services to offer more support
- Invest £15 million in media stop smoking campaigns
- NHS to prioritise prevention
- Invest £15 million to help pregnant women quit
- Tackle smoking in those with mental health issues
- Invest £8million to prioritise regional stop smoking interventions
- Improve data and insight on tobacco use
"Saving lives, saving money and addressing the health disparities associated with smoking.
“My proposals are not just a plan for this government, but successive governments too. To truly achieve a smokefree society in our great country, we need to commit to making smoking obsolete, once and for all," he added.
He added that one of the most effective ways of stopping someone smoking is to make it too expensive for them to buy the products.
Dr Khan recommended introducing a tobacco license for retailers - which would limit the availability of products and prevent illicit sales.
Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Deborah Arnott said: “Javed Khan’s report sets out an ambitious vision, combining a call on government to increase investment in tobacco control with tougher regulations, both of which are essential to achieve a smokefree 2030.
“This is what the public wants too – research by YouGov commissioned by ASH to provide evidence for the review shows a substantial majority support stronger government interventions to tackle smoking.
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"Twelve billion pounds pours out of smokers’ pockets each year exacerbating the cost of living crisis in our poorest communities.
"Only by making smoking obsolete can the government deliver on its levelling up mission for health and wellbeing.”
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