Drastic Government plans to slash the number of smokers across England have been welcomed by experts who predict the ‘end is in sight’.
It is hoped the long-awaited announcement will push the country in the direction of becoming smoke-free in the next few decades.
At present, the proportion of smokers stands at 15.5 per cent – although these are the lowest levels since records began.
But the new Tobacco Control Plan, released by the Department of Health, aims to reduce this to 12 per cent or less by 2022.
Teenagers will be targeted, with the aim of cutting cigarette usage in 15 year olds to 3 per cent. Currently it sits at 8 per cent.
Pregnant smokers will also be struck by the Government, as it hopes to crackdown on the known health risks that tobacco poses on unborn children.
Ministers want to halve such rates, which can increase the risk of stillbirths, from 10.7 per cent to 6 per cent or less.
It is hoped the long-awaited announcement will push the nation in the direction of becoming smoke-free in the next few decades
‘Great news’
Commenting on the new plan, Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: ‘It’s great news that this plan has finally been published.
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‘A strong strategy with ambitious targeted action is vital to achieve a continued decline in smoking rates, and to set us on a path towards a smoke-free future.’
‘It’s very encouraging to see the government has introduced ambitious targets to reduce rates, particularly among young adults and the most vulnerable groups in our society.’
‘An end is in sight’
Duncan Selbie, chief executive of PHE, said: ‘We are at a pivotal point where an end is in sight and a smoke-free generation a reality.
‘But the final push, reaching the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, will undoubtedly be the hardest.
THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANS
Under the Tobacco Control Plan, local areas will be encouraged to develop their own tobacco control strategies and local smoke-free pregnancy champions will encourage mothers-to-be to quit.
There will also be a focus on using e-cigarettes and other stop-smoking devices as aids to quitting.
Public Health England (PHE) will update its evidence report on e-cigarettes and other devices annually until the end of 2022 and include messages about the relative safety of e-cigarettes in stop-smoking campaigns.
Ministers will also use the UK’s exit from the EU to ‘identify where we can sensibly deregulate without harming public health’.
The report said this would include looking again at the Tobacco Products Directive, including as it applies to e-cigarettes.
Other measures announced include more help for smokers working in the NHS to quit, and working towards a ‘completely smoke-free NHS estate’.
‘Only by everyone pulling together can we hope to end the loss of life and suffering smoking has wreaked for far too long. Public Health England will do everything possible to make this happen.’
‘Funding must be found’
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: ‘Funding must be found if the Government is to achieve its vision of a “smoke-free generation”.
‘The tobacco industry should be made to pay through a licence fee on the ‘polluter pays’ principle.
‘Tobacco manufacturers are some of the most profitable companies on earth; they can easily afford the costs of radical action to drive down smoking rates.’
‘Routinely ignored’
But critics hit back at the announced plans. Simon Clark, director of smokers’ group Forest, said: ‘The most important stakeholder is the consumer, yet they are routinely ignored by Government.
‘Ministers should stop lecturing smokers and engage with them.’
He added: ‘The Tobacco Control Plan should include a systematic review of the impact of measures such as the display ban and plain packaging.
‘It’s time too to question the use of public money to fund stop-smoking services and other anti-smoking campaigns.’
Smokers giving up
Office for National Statistics data published last month showed 680,000 smokers gave up the notoriously bad habit last year.
TOBACCO DEATHS
An NHS Digital report published in June found there were an estimated 79,000 deaths attributable to smoking in the UK in 2015.
This was found to be around 16 per cent of all mortalities that were recorded.
This was down from the 88,000 noted 10 years before, but slightly up on the 78,000 the year before.
Of the deaths, 54 per cent of cancer-related ones and 36 per cent of respiratory illnesses were blamed on smoking.
Many are being pushed in the direction of e-cigarettes, widely considered to be a safer alternative to traditional ones.
As a result, the UK currently has the second lowest tobacco smoking rates in Europe, falling just behind Sweden.
However, smoking is still known to be the number one cause of early preventable death in the UK, as it causes cancer and leads to heart disease.
New legislation
The plan comes after the launch of new legislation in May that made it illegal to sell branded cigarettes in the UK.
Manufacturers were told all packets had to be the same olive green colour, with the same font, size, case and text appearance.
All must contain a minimum of 20 cigarettes to make sure they can carry graphic warnings that cover two thirds of the packet.
Packaging of hand-rolled tobacco must also be in the same drab green colour and pouches must contain a minimum of 30g of tobacco.
The new rules also include a ban on menthol cigarettes from 2020 and promotional statements such as ‘this product is less harmful than other brands’.
The move followed a ruling from the European Court of Justice which approved new rules in a bid to slash the number of smokers across the EU by 2.4 million.
Article source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4706656/Government-crackdowns-smokers-new-plans.html