The Government is set to introduce a groundbreaking legislation that will prohibit the sale of cigarettes in England to individuals who are 14 years old or younger as of this year. This move is part of an effort to pave the way for what is being termed as the first ‘smoke-free generation.’
Smoking ban
The new proposed legislation aims to criminalise the sale of tobacco products to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009. Essentially, this would incrementally increase the legal smoking age each year until it applies to the entire population. Such a move could significantly reduce smoking among young people, potentially phasing out smoking within the demographic almost completely by as early as 2040.
Rishi Sunak has described the plans as the “biggest public health intervention in a generation.” The Prime Minister, when questioned about limiting people’s choice, emphasised that there is no safe threshold for smoking.
Conservative MPs will have the freedom to vote as they choose, while the Labour Party has indicated its support for the policy.
Responses
However, critics of the plan have expressed concerns that it might give rise to an underground market. In the previous year, the tobacco industry generated over £10 billion in taxes, marking a 3% decrease from the previous year.
Rishi Sunak unveiled this initiative during his keynote address at the Conservative Party Conference, stating that it is a necessary step to combat the primary cause of preventable health problems.
During an interview on Radio 4’s Today program, Sunak was asked to explain why he is implementing measures to ban future cigarette sales while delaying a part of the government’s anti-obesity strategy that aimed to prohibit two-for-one junk food deals for another two years.
In response, Sunak said that it’s the “people’s right to choose”. He argued that smoking is fundamentally different from consuming snacks like crisps or cake, as smoking cannot be part of a balanced diet and carries no safe level of consumption. He emphasised that smoking is undeniably the leading preventable cause of death, disability, and illness in society.
He concluded by acknowledging that making decisions that limit choice is always a complex task, but he pointed out that no one would want their children or grandchildren to grow up as smokers.
The leading preventable cause of death in the UK
Smoking is an extremely addictive habit, with the majority of smokers starting before the age of 20 and remaining addicted for the rest of their lives. By preventing young individuals from ever starting to smoke, the government aims to safeguard an entire generation from the detrimental health effects of smoking as they advance in age.
Smoking stands as the leading preventable cause of death in the UK, contributing to approximately one in four cancer-related fatalities and resulting in 64,000 annual deaths in England alone. It places a significant strain on the National Health Service (NHS), with nearly one hospital admission every minute attributable to smoking, and up to 75,000 monthly general practitioner (GP) appointments addressing smoking-related illnesses.
Health disparities
Furthermore, smoking serves as a major driver of health disparities across the nation, with death rates from smoking being over twice as high in the most economically deprived areas, where smoking rates are higher, compared to the most affluent regions. Smoking rates during pregnancy are as high as 20% in certain regions, increasing the risk of stillbirth by almost 50%.
Smoking also imposes a considerable burden on the economy, costing £17 billion every year through lost earnings, unemployment, premature mortality, and expenses incurred by the NHS.
Without government intervention, a 2022 independent review estimated that nearly half a million individuals would die by smoking-related causes by 2030.
More broadly, this initiative is expected to reduce up to 1.7 million smokers by 2075, saving tens of thousands of lives, saving billions of pounds for the health and care system, and a potential boost of up to £85 billion to the economy by 2075. Additionally, it is expected to prevent as many as 115,000 cases of strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and other pulmonary conditions.
Smoking itself will not be made illegal, and the government’s phased approach ensures that those who are currently legally eligible to purchase cigarettes will not face any future restrictions on their ability to do so.
Comments
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “No parent ever wants their child to start smoking. It is a deadly habit – killing tens of thousands of people and costing our NHS billions each year, while also being hugely detrimental to our productivity as a country.
“I want to build a better and brighter future for our children, so that’s why I want to stamp out smoking for good. These changes will mean our kids will never be able to buy a cigarette, preventing them getting hooked and protecting their health both now and in the future.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Smoking kills, places a huge burden on the NHS and costs the economy billions every year.
“Through this landmark step we will protect our children, grandchildren and the health service from the dangers of smoking long into the future.
“And while vaping is an effective tool for adults quitting smoking, we are determined to tackle the concerning surge in children vaping, driven by marketing and flavouring which appears to specifically target young people.”
Final thought
This is a significant move toward a smoke-free generation in England. With smoking being the leading preventable cause of death and a major economic burden, this phased approach will safeguard future generations, the health service, and the economy, also addressing the concerning rise in youth vaping and health disparities.