Should the legal smoking age be raised to 21? The people of Birmigham have their say

It is said that smoking is said to account for around half of deaths across Birmingham each year. Birmingham City Council has sought public consultation on what should be done to help smokers make better health decisions.

The consultation comes as a plan to raise the legal smoking age to 21 and place new taxes on tobacco companies was proposed in a review commissioned by Health Secretary Sajid Javid and carried out by Javed Khan, the former chief executive of kids charity Barnardo’s. The UK has set a target to cut smokers to just 5 per cent of the population by 2030.

We ask Brummies - should the legal age be raised to 21?

Jake says: “I mean, as much as smoking is a problem - and I’ve lost people to smoking via cancer, and what in the past - I don’t think it’s a concept that will work.

“Because criminalising things and making things harder to get, and not regulating them as well never works. I mean, cannabis is illegal, and plenty of people smoke cannabis. And the police don’t do a lot about it unless you’re actually dealing it. The same is gonna happen with smoking if they change the ages on that.”

Frankie says: “Yeah, if this - if there would be a way to encourage young people not to take the habit up, I’m all for that. But I’m not sure raising it to 21 will make all that much difference.”

Lisa says:

“Well, no, I don’t think they should. I think people are going to smoke regardless. I don’t believe in a nanny state or a nanny system. It’s about that freedom of choice. An 18 year old when they leave school.

“They’re classed as an adult, they can drive a car, they’re legally allowed to go and get married. They’re going to smoke at home anyway, someone else is also going to buy their cigarettes.

“Gosh, I mean, I smoked from the age of probably 13. I don’t smoke now, but, you know, you weren’t allowed to smoke till you were 16. Didn’t stop me. And I think it boils back down to that nanny system. And I think it seems that that’s the way this country’s going and I don’t really agree with that. So no.”

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