The legal age for buyting cigarettes and tobacco in the Uk could be increased to 21 under a plan to be published later this year, with the aim of wiping out smoking by 2030. The Tobacco Control Plan is expected to suggest that the legal age to buy cigarettes should be increased to 21.
The report commissioned by England's Health Secretary is also set to back new taxes on tobacco company profits. The report has been drawn up by former charity boss Javed Khan.
A source told The Express : "The stance he’s taken in the meetings I’ve had with him has been quite radical." Mr Khan reportedly wants to increase the legal age to 25 - but sources expect the age will most likely be changed to 21.
Smoking among people aged 18-30 increased by 25 percent during the first lockdown. There are six million smokers in the UK.
Taxes on the tobacco industry could also help raise as much as £700 million annually, which could reportedly be used to provide e-cigarettes on the NHS to help people quit. Mr Khan said: "I am very pleased to be leading this review into such an important area of public health. My independent findings will help highlight key interventions which can help the government achieve its ambitions to be smoke-free by 2030 and tackle health disparities."
