Pledge to halve number of smokers by 2020

Health Secretary Andy Burnham today pledged to halve the number of smokers in England by 2020.

Mr Burnham announced measures which aim to cut the number of smokers from a fifth of the population to one in 10 in the next 10 years.

The target would mean around four million of England’s estimated eight million smokers quitting.

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Mr Burnham is also considering whether to force tobacco companies to sell cigarettes in plain packets.

He said: “The Government has made massive progress on tobacco over the past decade. Ten years ago, millions more people smoked and many have died early as a result.

“We’ve come so far and now we’ll go even further – to push forward and save even more lives,” Mr Burnham said.

The commitments announced today include:

n A review of the law to consider if areas like entrances to buildings should be included in the smoking ban as part of further measures to protect children which would include the promotion of smoke-free homes and cars.

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n Stopping the sale of tobacco from vending machines, considered a significant source of tobacco for young people.

n Immediate investment in extra overseas officers to stop 200 million illicit cigarettes entering the UK every year.

n NHS support for every smoker who wants to give up, at times and in places that suit them.

n Government consideration of the case for plain packaging for cigarettes.

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Mr Burnham added: “Government should and will do everything in its power to protect young people. This includes putting a stop to cheap tobacco that is smuggled into the country by organised criminal gangs.

“Most smokers start before they are 18, so we have to discourage children and young people from ever starting.

“Now that we’ve banned advertising and will soon see an end to attractive displays in shops, the only remaining method of advertising tobacco is the packaging. So we will carefully consider whether there is evidence for making tobacco companies use plain packets.”

The Department of Health said 337,000 people stopped smoking last year with the help of free support from the NHS and the number of smokers has fallen by a quarter in the past decade.

In 2007 more than 80,000 deaths and 1.4 million hospital admissions were attributed to smoking and the Department of Health said the habit costs the NHS 2.7 bn a year.