The organisations listed below endorse this brief and urge parliamentarians to support the legislation to create a ‘smokefree generation’ by ending cigarette sales to those born on or after 1 January 2009.
The tobacco industry is lobbying to block the policy or limit its impact, but have been rebuffed by the Prime Minister with full support from the Official Opposition. The legislation is:
The legislation is:
- Needed: DHSC modelling demonstrates that the legislation could eliminate smoking in under 30s by 2050.
- Wanted: More than half of small retailers, and 69% of adults, including more than half of all smokers, support the legislation.
- Workable: Public support, backed up by a comprehensive communications strategy can secure high levels of compliance from the start.
Tobacco industry arguments against the legislation can be rebutted one by one:
- Smoking is not a free choice; it is an addiction.
- Raising the age of sale will reduce pressure on the NHS by improving health and wellbeing.
- The cost of smoking to public finances is far greater than tobacco tax revenues.
- Compliance can be secured with a few simple measures.
- Raising the age of sale will have little impact on the black market, which is controlled by enforcement.
- Most small businesses support tobacco regulations and want to see them strengthened.
Endorsements
ASH
Alzheimer's Research UK
ASH Wales
Association of Anaesthetists
Association of Directors of Public Health
Asthma and Lung UK
BMA
Breathe 2025
British Heart Foundation
Cancer Research UK
Centre for Mental Health
Champs Public Health Collaborative
Charted Trading Standards Institute
Diabetes UK
Faculty of Public Health
Fresh
Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership
Mental Health Foundation
MIND
NCSCT
Richmond Group
Royal College of GPs
Royal College of Midwives
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Royal College of Surgeons of England
Royal Society for Public Health
Sands
SPECTRUM
The King's Fund
UK Preconception Partnership