- Sunak proposes annual smoking age increase.
- Combating smoking and youth vaping.
- Potential reduction in future smokers.
Rishi Sunak proposes an annual smoking age increase, supported by health organisations but opposed by the tobacco industry.
In an effort to combat smoking, Rishi Sunak has pledged to raise the minimum age for purchasing cigarettes in England by one year annually.
The prime minister stated that the proposed legislation would ensure that “today’s 14-year-olds will never be legally allowed to purchase cigarettes, allowing them and their generation to grow up smoke-free.”
He claimed parliament will vote on changes including banning public smoking and raising the smoking age to 18 for free.
“The government will not employ a scourge. It is a question of conscience,” he stated.
Today, while addressing the annual Tory party conference, Mr. Sunak pledged to restrict the availability of e-cigarettes in an effort to “put the next generation first.”
“Unlock your financial potential with free Webull shares in the UK.”
Regarding smoking, he stated that it would be unfair “to take away the right to smoke from anyone who currently does.”
However, he stated that more could be done to prevent adolescents from smoking in the first place.
In Manchester, he told party delegates, “I propose that in the future we raise the smoking age by one year annually.”
Thus, US 14-year-olds cannot legally buy cigarettes, allowing them and their generation to grow up smoke-free.
He added, “People begin smoking at a tender age; four out of five smokers begin before the age of 20.
“Later, the vast majority attempt to give up. However, many fail because they are addicted and wish they had never picked up the habit to begin with.
“And if we could break this cycle, if we could stop the beginning, we would be well on our way to eliminating the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the United States.”
Downing Street stated that it anticipates the plans to result in up to 1.7 million fewer smokers by 2075.
Regarding e-cigarettes, the prime minister stated, “As any parent or educator is aware, one of the most alarming trends right now is the increase in vaping among children; one in five children have used e-cigarettes.”
We must act before the epidemic spreads.
“Therefore, we will also propose measures to restrict children’s access to e-cigarettes, focusing on flavours, packaging displays, and disposable e-cigarettes.”
Ministers have been urged to ban vapes to protect youngsters and limit their environmental impact.
In 2019, the government set a goal for England to be smoke-free by 2030.
It commissioned Dr. Javed Khan’s June assessment, which recommended hiking the tobacco purchase age.
He proposed raising the cigarette buying age from 18 to 21 annually until no one can buy them.
Smoking causes one in five cancer diagnoses and one in four cancer deaths in the UK.
Approximately six million individuals still smoke in England.
Dr. Khan estimates that smoking costs society £17 billion annually, with the NHS paying £2.4 billion.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive officer of Cancer Research UK, stated, “Increasing the age of sale for tobacco products is a crucial step towards creating the first ever smoke-free generation.
But Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ group Forest, said: “Raising the age of sale of tobacco is advancing prohibition, but it won’t stop young people smoking because prohibition doesn’t work.
“Anyone who wishes to smoke will purchase tobacco from abroad or illegal sources.
“Future generations of adults who are considered old enough to vote, pay taxes, drive a car, and consume alcohol will be treated as children and denied the right to purchase a product that can be legally purchased by people one year older than them.”
