There is support for phasing out the sale of tobacco in every parliamentary constituency in England, Scotland and Wales, according to a survey of more than 13,000 people commissioned by ASH.
Support in constituencies ranged from 57 per cent to 74 per cent, says the poll, which was financed by Cancer Research and carried out by YouGov. MPs voted in favour of the government’s tobacco and vapes bill by 383 to 67 in April, but the legislation – which aimed to create a ‘smokefree generation’ – was shelved following the announcement of a July election. Both Labour and the Conservatives have said they will introduce the legislation if elected, however (DDN, June, page 5).
Even in the constituency with the lowest level of support for the ban, North East Cambridgeshire, only 14 per cent were opposed, with the remaining 29 per cent answering either ‘don’t know’ or ‘neither support nor oppose’. The average across the country was 69 per cent support, 19 per cent don’t know or neither support nor oppose, and 12 per cent oppose.
Levels of support were high among all ages and social backgrounds and supporters of all parties, says ASH, with more than half of people who smoke supporting the policy.
Two thirds of 11-15-year-olds also support a ban, ‘the first generation for whom tobacco will be banned’ says ASH.
The plan to raise the legal age of smoking every year until no one is legally able to buy tobacco was based on legislation announced by the New Zealand government in 2021 but which was repealed when the country’s new coalition government took power.
‘Public support to raise the age of sale for tobacco is strong,’ said Cancer Research UK chief executive, Michelle Mitchell. ‘All political parties must commit to introducing the new law in their manifestos. At the first King’s Speech, whoever wins the election must re-introduce the bill, pass it swiftly through parliament, and implement it so that we can start to reap the benefits of a smokefree future. The message from people affected by cancer, health professionals and campaigners is loud and clear: we must take action to prevent future generations from a potential lifetime of addiction and disease and reduce cancer deaths.’
Constituency breakdowns here