Homes and cars could become smoke free

New strategies to further lower the number of smokers will include protecting children from the harms of second-hand smoke.

Family homes and cars will be targeted along with further reviews of the smoke free law.

The government is aiming to cut the number of smokers from 21 to 10 per cent of the population by the year 2020.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: “Most smokers start before they are 18, so we have to discourage children and young people from ever starting. Now that we’ve banned advertising and will soon see an end to attractive displays in shops, the only remaining method of advertising tobacco is the packaging. So we will carefully consider whether there is evidence for making tobacco companies use plain packets.”

“We will always help people to quit, and smokers should never stop trying. That’s the beauty of the NHS – it’s there to help everyone. One day, in the not too distant future, we’ll look back and find it hard to remember why anyone ever smoked in the first place.”