2023
November 2023
The backbench All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health launches its manifesto for a Smokefree future, calling on the Government to make Big Tobacco pay to deliver a Smokefree future.
October 2023
The Prime Minister announces his intention to introduce an historic new law to protect future generations of young people from the harms of smoking. This will make it an offence for anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 to be sold tobacco products. He also announces measures to strengthen support for people to quit, curb the rise in youth vaping, and strengthen enforcement activity. An 8-week consultation is launched to gather views on the best ways to achieve these aims.
April 2023
The Government announces new measures on ‘Achieving a smokefree 2030: cutting smoking and stopping kids vaping’ but stops short of publishing a new Tobacco Control Plan. Only one of the four ‘must do’ Khan recommendations is taken forward in full, leaving the smokefree 2030 ambition in jeopardy.
2022
December 2022
The 2017 Tobacco Control Plan expires, leaving England with no strategy to deliver a Smokefree 2030.
July 2022
Welsh government publishes A smoke-free Wales.
June 2022
The Khan review: making smoking obsolete includes 4 ‘must do’ recommendations to achieve the smokefree 2030 ambition: increase investment in tobacco control; increase the age of sale; promote vaping; and improve prevention in the NHS. The Government commits to review the recommendations for inclusion in a new Tobacco Control Plan to be published by the end of 2022.
2021
July 2021
The All Party Group on Smoking and Health publishes its recommendations for achieving a smokefree 2030. These include a ‘polluter pays’ levy to raise the funding needed for a smokefree future, targeted investment to reduce inequalities plus tougher regulations to further denormalise smoking.
2019
July 2019
The UK Government publishes the Prevention Green Paper, which includes the ambition to make England smokefree by 2030, defined as smoking prevalence of 5% or less.
2018
June 2018
Scottish government publishes Raising Scotland’s tobacco-free generation, with ambition to be smokefree by 2034.
Key resources
- APPG on Smoking and Health report: Manifesto for a Smokefree Future. 9 November 2023.
- Command paper: Stopping the start: our new plan to create a smokefree generation. 4 October 2023.
- Consultation link: Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping. 12 October 2023.
- Government press release: Prime Minister to create ‘smokefree generation’ by ending cigarette sales to those born on or after 1 January 2009. 4 October 2023.
- APPG Smoking & Health report: Delivering a Smokefree 2030. June 2021.
- UCL modelling of impact of APPG recommendations. June 2021.
- Smokefree 2030 fund briefing. June 2021.
- The Khan review: making smoking obsolete. Independent report for DHSC. June 2022
- Cancer Research UK: Smoking prevalence projections for England based on data to 2021
- Smokefree 2030 FAQs
- Briefing on raising the age of sale to 21. October 2021.
Show your support
The SFAC stands ready to support the measures announced by the Prime Minister to protect the next generation and hasten the day when smoking is obsolete. Right now, your MP needs to know why creating a smokefree generation matters to you, your community and the work you do.
