Raising the age of sale for tobacco will give every child a smokefree start, say baby charities

Smoking during pregnancy is concentrated in younger parents, who will be an early group to benefit from increasing the age of sale. Maternal smoking is a leading cause of poor birth outcomes including stillbirth, miscarriage and birth defects and increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Women who are smoking at their first midwifery appointment can find it difficult to quit due to higher levels of addiction than those who quit before or in early pregnancy.

The Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group set out six high-impact recommendations in its ‘manifesto for smokefree beginnings’ published on December 12. These include passing legislation to raise the age of sale and setting a new target to more than halves rates of maternal smoking, from 8.8 per cent now to four per cent by 2030.