In October, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced new plans to phase out smoking in the UK.
The plan is to gradually increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and if passed, will come into effect in 2027. It would mean that anyone who is 14 years old today will never be allowed to buy cigarettes legally.
It is likely to affect a large amount of the population, with 12.9% of the population being smokers in 2022. The increase in the age you are allowed to buy cigarettes should mean that by 2053, 50% of the population will be below the age of sale.
This is an ambitious plan by the Prime Minister who argues “there is no safe level of smoking.” New Zealand has passed a law recently to introduce a similar plan, but this will not come into effect for another 4 years.
It has received praise from health organisations and charities. NHS England medical director Professor Sir Steve Powis said, “This is a momentous public health intervention and we welcome the government’s bold and ambitious action which will lead to longer and healthier lives.”
Cancer Research UK’s Chief Executive Michelle Mitchell has also emphasised the importance of the plan, “Raising the age of sale on tobacco products is a critical step on the road to creating the first ever smoke-free generation.”
Its introduction will certainly benefit the wider health of UK residents, with smoking being a major risk factor for cancer and other health conditions.
However, the government has not laid out many plans to deal with the rise in sales of vapes which have become a popular alternative. It is considering a ban on disposable vapes which are becoming increasingly popular with teenagers.
The variety of flavours, branding and marketing, arguably encourages children to take up the habit. The low cost of vapes is also a factor in people taking up the habit, and despite it being illegal, it is thought that 1 in 5 children have vaped.
More needs to be done to tackle the sale of vapes to those who are underage, perhaps fines should be introduced for those establishments who sell to children.
Whilst Rishi Sunak’s plan to tackle smoking is likely to reduce sales of cigarettes, it does not tackle the popularity of vapes, a cheaper and more accessible alternative.
It is also likely that despite the ban people will still be able to purchase cigarettes elsewhere abroad or in the other devolved nations in the UK, as the policy will not come into effect in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Edited by Faith Suronku-Lindsay