Reducing death and disease from smoking

Tobacco is the biggest cause of cancer, ill health and early death in the UK, fuelling health inequalities and killing two in three smokers early.

The UK Government is currently consulting on proposals designed to protect future generations from the harms of smoking and reduce youth vaping.

The proposals include bringing forward legislation to make it an offence to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1st January 2009 and raising the smoking age by a year each year until it applies to the whole population.

This would, in effect, prevent children turning 14 or younger this year from ever legally being sold tobacco products, and lead to the creation of a smoke-free generation in the future.

The consultation is open until 6th December and individuals, both members of the public and professionals, and organisations operating in Hartlepool are being urged to give their views. A survey can be accessed at https://bit.ly/47OFzMS

Craig Blundred, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “I fully support the proposal that the age of sale for tobacco products should be changed. Children and young people are getting addicted to cigarettes at an early age so if these proposals become law they will have a major impact on the health of the population of Hartlepool.”

Councillor Mike Young, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and Chair of the Hartlepool Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “The devastating impact of smoking on local people in terms of disease and premature death is well documented and I wholeheartedly support these proposals to bring about a more permanent end to smoking.”