Legal smoking age in England reportedly could rise from 18 to 21 after ‘radical’ review in plans make the country smoke-free by 2030.
Independent review commissioned by health secretary Sajid Javid, and led by Javed Khan, former Executive Director of at Barnardo’s children’s charity, it’s also expected support new taxes on the tobacco company’s profits, according to the Telegraph.
review is an also The NHS is expected to recommend increased efforts to encourage smoking, especially among pregnant women. women switch to vaping and electronic cigarettes.
Telegraph also reports that Javid, who gave up smoking after health became secretary last year considered raising the minimum age to 25. also understood as in service of main changes to governmenttobacco policy including inhalation rules on sales.
Khan said he supported the “polluter pays” approach, which force tobacco companies to fund anti-tobacco policies. When review was launched, he said that his conclusions would be “help allocate key interventions that can help in government achieve their 2030 smoking cessation goals and close health inequalities.”
Source who Khan consulted with in time review told The Telegraph: “The position he took in meetings that I had with he was pretty radical.”
This was reported by three sources. reviewcommissioned in February was a “political cover” for Javid in avoid Downing Street abandons 2030 target amid fears Conservatives could be blamed of trying to implement a “nanny state”.
Minimum age for tobacco purchases were last upgraded from 16 to 18 in England, Scotland and Wales in 2007. Smoking in closed public premises and workplaces made illegal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in same yearnext on from Scotland, who brought in legislation year before.
Javid is said to have looked at politics in United States, where the age of majority is 21, and New Zealand, where purchase of cigarettes will forever be illegal for anyone currently aged 14 years and under.
prime minister Boris Johnson doesn’t seem to count age should be increased because 18 is recognized government as threshold of legal liability, according to The Telegraph.
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review originally planned for publication next week, but has since been shelved. Any recommendations arising from the report are subject to discussion before announcement of Any new politicians.
Department of A health and welfare spokesman said: “Tackling problems like smoking is a priority. for in office for health improvement and inconsistencies and key part of in government alignment up agenda. That is why we launched an independent review of our bold ambition to make England smoke-free by 2030.
” review provide independent, evidence-based advice on potential interventions that will influence our approach to tackling the major health disparities associated with with tobacco use – and we look forward view report in properly”.
