Protect children from tobacco addiction urge MBA

The British Medical Association (BMA) is urging MPs to support measures that will help prevent young people from taking up smoking.

Nearly one in found adults smoke, and the majority start smoking before the age of 25.

Measures the BMA want to see put into place include banning the display of tobacco at points of sale, banning all vending machines and supporting the introduction of plain packaging for all tobacco products.

Head of BMA Science and Ethics, Dr Vivienne Nathanson said: “With most smokers becoming addicted before their mid-20s, it is essential that we try and prevent young people from taking up smoking in the first place.  A teenager might think that cigarettes are cool but the reality is that smoking is one of the most dangerous things they?re likely to do ? It has a 50% chance of killing them.

“Displaying packets of cigarettes in shops, cigarette vending machines and tobacco packaging all contribute to normalising the habit and encourage the onset of smoking.  MPs in Westminster have a real opportunity on Monday to help protect children from a life time of addiction and the associated diseases that go hand in hand with smoking. We strongly urge them to support these measures.”