The legal smoking age in England could be raised from 18 to 21, following a government assessment of plans to make England smoke-free by 2030.
The independent assessment commissioned by Sajid Javid, the health minister, and chaired by Javed Khan, the former chief executive of the children’s charity Barnardo’s, is expected to propose increased taxes on tobacco business profits.
The study is also anticipated to suggest that the NHS intensify efforts to persuade smokers to transition to vaping and e-cigarettes, particularly among pregnant women.
Javid is also said to support dramatic changes to the government’s tobacco policy, such as tighter sales restrictions.
In England, Scotland, and Wales, the minimum age for purchasing tobacco was raised from 16 to 18 in 2007.
In the same year, smoking was made banned in enclosed public spaces and workplaces in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, after Scotland’s law the year before.
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Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law, Tax, Human Resources, Immigration & Employment Law.
Gill is a Multiple Business Owner and the Managing Director of Prof Services - a Marketing Agency for the Professional Services Sector.
