Backing for Government’s tobacco ban

OFFICIALS in Northumberland have welcomed upcoming legislation that will see some people banned from ever buying tobacco.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to create a “smokefree generation” that will ban cigarette sales to those born on or after January 1 2009.

It was argued that smoking is the UK’s “biggest preventable killer”, causing one in four cancer deaths and 64,000 in England every year.

The Government also pointed out that it cost the economy and wider society £17 billion every year.

Now, Northumberland County Council’s director of public health has given her backing to the plans.

Gill O’Neill said: “I am delighted to see that the new legislation means it will be illegal for any child who turned 14 last year or younger to be ever sold cigarettes in England. This is a landmark announcement, as tobacco is the biggest preventable cause of ill health, disability and death.

“Preventing children from ever taking up smoking will give them the best possible start in life and help us work towards a smoke free generation.”

Conservative councillor Wendy Pattison, who is the chair of the Northumberland Tobacco Control Partnership, was also supportive of the plan.

She said: “The dangers of smoking are well-documented, and we need to do all we can to prevent our children from ever taking up smoking and this new legislation is a step in the right direction.”

The backing comes after the Government announced plans this week to ban disposable vapes, as part of a bid to tackle the rising number of children taking up vaping. Other measures will also be brought in to prevent vapes from being marketed at children.

Announcing the ban, Mr Sunak said: “As any parent or teacher knows, one of the most worrying trends at the moment is the rise in vaping among children, and so we must act before it becomes endemic.

“The long-term impacts of vaping are unknown and the nicotine within them can be highly addictive, so while vaping can be a useful tool to help smokers quit, marketing vapes to children is not acceptable. As Prime Minister I have an obligation to do what I think is the right thing for our country in the long term.”

A variety of support is available in Northumberland to stop smoking. Find out more at stopsmokingnorthumberland.co.uk or call 01670 813135.