Young people welcome the idea of the government’s smokefree generation policy, viewing it as a chance to free their generation from harmful addiction, says a study led by the University of Nottingham.

Smoking tobacco kills more people than any other preventable cause. The UK government is aiming for fewer than five in 100 people to smoke by 2030. However, one study estimates that 127,500 people between 18 and 25 currently take up smoking each year.

Following the Tobacco and Vapes Bill Committee’s report on January 30, 2025, the bill has returned to the House of Commons for debate, and the final vote is set to follow in the coming months.

If passed, the bill will stop children who turned 15 in 2024 (or younger) from ever legally being sold cigarettes or other tobacco products.

A study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research, led by Nathan Davies from the Nottingham Centre for Public Health and Epidemiology, set out to find out what young people in England think about changing the law on how old you must be to buy tobacco and e-cigarettes.

Nathan said, “Nearly all smokers start smoking when they are young, so if we can prevent people from starting in their youth, they are unlikely to begin in later life. Little was known about what young people think about the proposed smokefree generation policy so we wanted to find out if they agreed with it in principle and its implementation.”

A smokefree generation

The researchers held focus groups with participants aged between 12 and 21. Participants who used tobacco or e-cigarettes were chosen from different areas.

The focus groups showed that:

  • There was broad support for a smokefree generation. Most young participants welcomed the idea of preventing future tobacco addiction, seeing it as a chance to free their generation from harmful, entrenched habits.
  • A small minority raised concerns about freedom of choice or showed apathy towards the policy.
  • Young people called for strong enforcement. They believed the policy’s success depends on strict penalties for retailers selling to underage buyers. Participants felt that, without well-resourced enforcement of offending retailers, the law wouldn’t be as effective or wouldn’t work. Many also asked for licensing conditions to be introduced for tobacco retailers.
  • Participants asked for a say in shaping and communicating the policy. They believed involving young people from the start ensures messaging resonates and helps politicians understand real-world tactics used to evade age restrictions.

Nathan added, “The study conversations show it is really important that young people are involved in the design and implementation of the smokefree generation. It is reassuring that the general feeling was support for the policy. Young people want the smokefree generation done properly – and that means the government giving Trading Standards the resources to enforce it from day one.”

Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said, “These interviews reinforce survey results which find strong support for the phased-out sale of tobacco among those who the policy will impact. MPs who are anxious that they are curbing the choices of future generations should recognise that ending the sale of tobacco is freeing young people from the risk of life-long addiction and chronic illness.

“The next generation sees this legislation as a gift not a burden and want to be part of creating a smokefree future for all.”

For more information visit https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntae300/7926380?login=false

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