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The age at which someone can legally buy cigarettes in England should rise by a year every year until no one can get them, a government-commissioned review has found.
The plans would create a “smokefree generation”, with people under a certain age unable to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products in their lifetime – similar to New Zealand which has banned the sale of cigarettes anyone born after 2008.
Raising the age at which people can buy tobacco products – currently 18 – is seen as crucial in order to reach the government’s ‘Smokefree 2030’ ambition – defined as less than 5% of the population smoking – but the government is reported to be split over the plans.
The recommendation comes from a delayed review by Javed Khan, the former chief executive of Barnardo’s, which was released this morning.
The “landmark review” was commissioned by Health Secretary Sajid Javid earlier this year.
Dr Javed Khan wrote: “Smoking kills and ruins lives. But it doesn’t have to be like that.
By commissioning this review, the government sent out a powerful message that the status quo is not acceptable. I have taken on that challenge and responded with recommendations that are as comprehensive as they are bold.
“Anything less would have been an abdication of my duty. We now need to make it as hard as possible to smoke, and as easy as possible to quit, leading to a smokefree generation.”
He added: “I urge the government to seize this moment and commit to making smoking obsolete.”
There are a reported six million smokers in England. More than three-quarters (76%) of the public support the government’s ‘Smokefree’ plans.
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