UK Council Supports Government's 'Smoke-Free Generation' Plan

According to Nwemail, the Health and Wellbeing Committee of the Westmorland and Furness Council in the United Kingdom has endorsed the government's proposed "smoke-free generation" plan. These measures aim to reduce the number of smokers to below 5% of the population by 2030.

The government's recommendations to reduce smoking include making it a criminal offense to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1st, 2009, as well as restricting the flavors and descriptions of e-cigarettes to no longer target children.

The government's plan also includes regulating the display of e-cigarettes in retail stores to keep them out of the sight of children and prevent them from being attracted to these products. They are also considering restrictions on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, as this is linked to the increasing use of e-cigarettes among children.

Katrina Stephens, the director of public health for Westmorland and Furness Council, previously stated that smoking remains the leading cause of premature death in the region.

According to the UK Department of Public Health, smoking is responsible for 84% of lung cancer deaths and increases the risk of stroke by at least 50%. The government has set a target to achieve smoke-free England by 2030. This means that by 2030, the smoking population will be less than 5%.

According to Stephens, in order for Westmoreland and Furness to achieve this goal, 10,000 people in the region will need to quit smoking, without any new smokers starting.