By Legal smoking age to rise year on year suggests government report
A new government report will suggest that the age at which people can buy tobacco products in England should be gradually increased year after year.
Former charity boss Javed Khan’s will submit a report for ministers, which will be published later on Thursday, detailing suggestions on how to eradicate smoking by 2030.
Smoking rates have been falling since the 1970s but there are still six million smokers in England alone.
The government has said new ideas are needed to convince the final remaining groups to quit.
The goal of becoming smoke-free – which is defined as less than 5% of the population smoking – is likely to be missed on the current trajectory.
Because of this, Health Secretary Sajid Javid asked former Barnardo’s chief executive Mr Khan to review the current rules and approaches.
One option Mr Khan could recommend is to keep raising the legal age every year so the current generation of children can never buy tobacco products.
A similar policy is being introduced in New Zealand, where buying tobacco products will remain banned for anyone born after 2008.
The age limit was last raised in England from 16 to 18 in 2007.
According to the Office for National Statistics, one in nine 18 to 24-year-olds smokes.
Ministers are not expected to green-light Mr Khan’s recommendations straight away but will consider them as part of a wider package of measures they are looking to introduce this year.
Mr Khan is also expected to recommend a levy on the tobacco companies’ profits, greater promotion of vaping as an alternative to smoking, and extra investment in NHS stop-smoking services
Wales and Northern Ireland have already promised to work closely with counterparts in England over raising the legal age for smoking.
The number of deaths caused by smoking is falling but it remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature deaths.
In 2019, it accounted for 75,000 deaths in England – 15% of the total.
