15 years after the smoking ban government policy still lags behind public opinion

July first, 2022, is the fifteenth anniversary of the 2007 smokefree legislation that prohibited smoking inside public spaces such as offices, shops and pubs.

Support for government action on smoking has continued to grow since then, particularly among smokers, as demonstrated by a new report ‘15 smokefree Years’ summarising results from the annual survey carried out since 2007 by YouGov for ASH.

Around three quarters (74 per cent) support the government’s smokefree 2030 ambition, with little difference between those who voted Conservative in the 2019 election (73 per cent) and those who voted Labour (79 per cent).

The public are way ahead of the Government, and right behind recommendations made to the Health and Social Care Secretary for the forthcoming Tobacco Control Plan by Javed Khan’s independent review.

Three quarters (76 per cent) support making tobacco manufacturers pay a levy to fund tobacco control and smoking cessation, 83 per cent support requiring retailers to be licensed to sell tobacco, 70 per cent support increased investment in public education campaigns, 67 per cent support warnings on cigarettes, and 62 per cent support making seating areas outside restaurants, pubs and cafes smokefree. These are all measures recommended by the Khan review.

The public were not asked about the Khan review proposal to raise age of sale by one year every year, but 63 per cent support the policy implemented by the US of raising the age of sale from 18 to 21.

In 2022 three quarters (76 per cent) of the public support government intervention or think government should do more, with only six per cent thinking government is doing too much. This includes 60 per cent of smokers, with only 18 per cent thinking government is doing too much to limit smoking, down from 51 per cent when YouGov first asked the question in 2009.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH, said “Three years since the Government announced its ambition and over a year since a new Tobacco Control Plan was promised, there’s no time to lose. Hundreds of children still start smoking every day and we’re nowhere near achieving the government’s smokefree 2030 ambition. Javed Khan’s independent review sets out a clear programme for action, supported by the public, now it’s time for Government to deliver.”