Thank you for contacting me about actions the Government is taking to reduce smoking rates in England.
As the single leading behavioural cause of preventable death
across our country, responsible for around 1 in 4 cancer deaths and 64,000
premature deaths per year, reducing smoking is crucial for ensuring we live
longer, healthier lives.
Significant progress has been made, with smoking rates now the
lowest on record, thanks to duty on cigarettes being doubled since 2010 and
continued funding of stop smoking services. However, we must reduce smoking
rates further given the substantial cost to the economy and the NHS.
This is why the Government is committed to bringing forward the
Tobacco and Vapes Bill to ensure that children aged 14 or younger - anyone born
on or after 1 April 2009 – can never legally be sold tobacco products. By 2040,
these proposals will ensure that smoking is phased out completely among young
people.
This Bill will focus on those who sell tobacco products or buy
them on behalf of someone else. All tobacco products - including heated tobacco
and herbal smoking products - will be in the scope of the Bill. In addition, I
want to clarify that a national licence scheme is not being proposed, which
could have placed a greater burden on convenience stores.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
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