The age in which people can buy tobacco products should increase by one year every year until no-one is able to purchase them in this country, a new review has recommended.
The independent review into tobacco control has published 15 recommendations to help the Government meet its smokefree target by 2030.
As well as raising the age of sale for tobacco products, it also calls for an extra £125m to be invested every year to stop smoking by 2030, with an extra £70m ringfenced per year for stop smoking services.
The review also calls for vapes to be promoted as a 'swap to stop' tool to help people quit smoking and better prevention services in the NHS.
Dr Javed Khan, leader of the review, said: 'Without immediate and sustained action, England will miss the smokefree target by many years and most likely decades.
'A smokefree society should be a social norm – but to achieve this, we must do more to stop people taking up smoking, help those who already smoke and support those who are disproportionately impacted by smoking. My holistic set of recommendations for government will deliver this, whilst saving lives, saving money and addressing the health disparities associated with smoking.'
The review found smoking causes a disproportionate burden on the most disadvantaged families and communities. The average smoker in the North East spends over 10% of their income on tobacco, compared to just over 6% in the South East.
The Health Foundation welcomed the review but warned it was imperative the Government followed through with the recommendations.
Grace Everest, policy fellow at the Health Foundation, said: 'Today’s independent tobacco review would mark a significant step towards creating a smoke free society, if government chooses to deliver on its recommendations.
'But it remains to be seen whether the review’s key proposals – such as raising the age of sale for tobacco and making the "polluter pay" for additional investment in tobacco control – will be implemented in practice.'
