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Smoking: Young People

Answer

Smoking is the number one entirely preventable cause of ill-health, disability and death in this country. It is responsible for 80,000 yearly deaths in the United Kingdom, and one in four of all UK cancer deaths. It costs our country £17 billion a year, £14 billion of which through lost productivity alone. It puts huge pressure on the National Health Service and social care, costing over £3 billion a year.

The evidence is clear that there is no safe level of tobacco consumption, and all tobacco products are harmful. There is also clear evidence of toxicity from heated tobacco in laboratory studies. The aerosol generated by heated tobacco also contains carcinogens, and there will be a risk to the health of anyone using these products.

The upcoming legislation proposes to align to existing age of sale legislation, which includes any product containing tobacco, both smoked and smokeless, and intended for oral or nasal use, and cigarette papers. In the Government response to the consultation Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping, published on 29 January 2024, 63.8% of respondents agreed that all tobacco products should be included in the new age of sale restrictions.

The report commissioned by Public Health England in 2018 concluded that with a diverse and mature UK vape market which adult smokers can use to help them to quit smoking, it is currently not clear whether heated tobacco products provide any advantage as an additional potential harm reduction product.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

13991

Session

2023-24

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Young people Tobacco Smoking

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk