Future for smokers
Friday, 18 Jul 2008 13:23
Tobacco rules are likely to be tightened
Over the last year tougher restrictions on smoking have been put in place and it is unlikely the changes are going to stop there.
2007 saw a ban on smoking in public places in England from July and the age at which teenagers can buy tobacco products rise from 16 to 18.
As smokers feel increasingly marginalised and huddle in the cold in smoking shelters, health campaigners are basking in the positive findings of research into the falling number of smokers.
Latest research suggests that 400,000 people have quit smoking since the smokefree legislation came into force. Professor Robert West from the Health Behaviour Research Centre, who carried out the study, said that if the quitting momentum is maintained then "there is a realistic prospect of achieving a target of less than 15 per cent of the population smoking within the next ten years".
inthenews.co.uk looks at how the situation may change for smokers in the coming years.
What is the current situation?
At present people are free to smoke as long as it is not in a public place, such as bars and workplaces, and shops are not allowed to sell tobacco products to people aged under 18.
The focus on preventing young people from smoking is set to continue, with a consultation currently underway looking at how to deter people from taking up the habit.
What has been proposed
The ideas and proposals in the consultation include:
- Removing branding and logos from all tobacco packaging
- Having a minimum pack size of 20 - to stop young people, who can only afford packs of ten, buying cigarettes
- Restricting access to cigarette vending machines by young people - whether by banning vending machines altogether or through systems that only allow adult purchase
- Restricting the display of tobacco products in shops, which may include putting cigarettes under the counter
- Banning the advertising of smoking paraphernalia, such as cigarette papers
The Future of Tobacco Control consultation will close on September 8th, after which the government is likely to announce further limits on the buying and marketing of tobacco.