By Legal age for buying cigarettes could change under a ‘radical’ Government plan
The age at which you can legally purchase cigarettes and tobacco could be increased in the UK under a new plan, to be published later this year.
The plan aims to eliminate smoking by 2030 and the plan is said to suggest the legal age to purchase cigarettes should be increased to 21.
A report regarding this was commissioned by England’s Health Secretary and will include possible new taxes on tobacco companies.
Former charity boss Javed Khan has drawn up the plans.
A source told The Express: “The stance he’s taken in the meetings I’ve had with him has been quite radical.”
It is reported Mr. Khan wants to increase the legal age to 25, however it is suggested it will be 21.
According to statistics, smoking among those aged 18-30 increased 25 percent during the first lockdown.
The tax imposed on the tobacco industry could help raise around £700 million annually, it is suggested the funding could be used more on e-cigarettes, for use by the NHS to combat smoking.
Mr. Khan said: “I am very pleased to be leading this review into such an important area of public health. My independent findings will help highlight key interventions which can help the government achieve its ambitions to be smoke-free by 2030 and tackle health disparities.”
A Government plan to phase out smoking by 2030 will reportedly be posted later this year.
For e-cigs, the concept of risk-free use has recently been challenged. For example, a report posted by Science Direct online said morbidity and mortality among teenagers and young adults with an e-cigarette or vaping products are prone to use-associated lung injury.
The report suggested daily e-cigarette inhalation drives inflammation and reduces the expression of genes related to barrier function.
