The RCP has responded to an independent review by Dr Javed Khan OBE, setting out recommendations to support the government to meet its smokefree ambition by 2030.
In response to the review, Professor Sanjay Agrawal, chair of the Royal College of Physician's Tobacco Advisory Group, said:
“We must do everything we can to stop the uptake of tobacco in children and young people so we fully support raising the age of sale, as recommended in today’s review.
“We are also pleased to see recognition that smoking creates and exacerbates health inequality, and a focus on supporting pregnant women.
“The review includes many of the recommendations the Royal College of Physicians made in its 2021 report Smoking and Health such as investing more funding in smoking cessation services and mass media campaigns.
“Around 64,000 people in the UK die from smoking every year and this review provides a unique opportunity to protect the next generation from extreme harm."