UK could raise smoking age to 21

The legal smoking age in the UK could be raised to 21 as part of a “radical” review commissioned by health secretary Sajid Javid, stated recent reports.

In a bid to slash the number of smokers in Britain to 5 percent by 2030, a review is expected to arrive in the coming weeks which is likely to recommend that the legal age to purchase cigarettes should be raised to 21, states a report by  The Telegraph.

Led by former Barnardo’s CEO Javed Khan, it is likely the report will also likely recommend new taxes to be levied on profits made by tobacco companies to finance anti-smoking policies.

The newspaper also claims the report will push the NHS to do more to encourage switching to vaping or e-cigarettes, especially during pregnancy.

The Telegraph also reports that Javid, who gave up smoking after becoming health secretary last year, had even considered recommending the minimum age be raised to 25. He is also understood to be in favour of major changes to the government’s tobacco policy, including tightening rules on sales.

The minimum age for tobacco purchases was last raised from 16 to 18 in England, Scotland and Wales in 2007. Smoking in enclosed public spaces and workplaces was made illegal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the same year.

The report further adds citing a source that prime minister Boris Johnson is not much in favour of increasing the age limit as 18 is recognised by the government as the threshold of legal responsibility.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Tackling issues such as smoking is a priority for the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and a key part of the government’s levelling up agenda.

“This is why we launched the independent review of our bold ambition to make England smoke free by 2030.

“The review will provide independent, evidence-based advice on potential interventions that will inform our approach to tackling the stark health disparities associated with tobacco use – and we look forward to seeing the report in due course.”