Government set to halve smoking population

The UK Government will attempt to halve the number of smokers in the country through a new anti-smoking drive. If successful, the plan would mean about four million of Britain’s smokers will be able to complete a successful smoking cessation plan. This is certainly a positive move, given the fact that experts estimate that around eight million people are smokers.

Speaking in Parliament today, the Health Secretary Andy Burnham announced the target of reducing the number of smokers from 21% of the population to 10% by 2020. He commented: “One day we’ll look back and find it hard to remember why anyone ever smoked in the first place.”

As part of the initiative, branding could be removed from all cigarette packets. Cigarette vending machines may be banned across the UK – something that is already scheduled to happen in Scotland next year. As well as pubs and clubs, smoking may become restricted in areas such as entrances of buildings.

The goal of cutting Britain’s level of smoking in half may sound unrealistic to some. However, positive signs have emerged in areas like Cumbria. From April to September last year, 2,683 Cumbrian residents set a date to quit smoking and 1,603 succeeded.

Success was highest among the older generations, with 66% of those setting a date to quit accomplishing their goal. While the figures are encouraging, Mr Burnham says he is setting his sights on persuading younger people to give up, before they ever have the chance before it is too late. Most smokers start before they are 18, so we have to discourage children and young people from ever starting.

Each year more than 80,000 people die from smoking, and the NHS spends £2.7 billion on treating the condition.