Sunderland backs proposals for smokefree generation

Local authorities are responsible for improving the health of our local population and have a critical role in protecting residents from health harms.     

At a meeting on Thursday 9 November, the council's Cabinet backed proposals that would introduce measures to raise the age of sale of tobacco and introduce other measures to tackle smoking and youth vaping.

The Creating a Smokefree Generation and Tackling Youth Vaping consultation covers proposals such as increasing the age of sale of tobacco by one year every year, promoting vaping as a smoking cessation tool, and improving the prevention of ill health by offering smokers advice and support to quit at every interaction within the NHS.

Smoking is the key driver of health inequalities and premature deaths in Sunderland, with tobacco responsible for around 512 premature deaths in the city per year. 

A recent poll for YouGov found that 70% of people in the North of England now support the policy to raise the age of tobacco sale one year every year.

Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board and Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Healthy City, Councillor Kelly Chequer, said: "I am pleased that Sunderland City Council is supporting this consultation, which would help to achieve our target of 5% smoking prevalence by 2030 and help towards reducing health inequalities in the city.

"This in turn supports our Healthy City Plan, which aims to have everyone in Sunderland living healthy and happy lives, leaving no one behind."

Sunderland's Director of Health, Housing and Communities, Gerry Taylor, said: "We all know how dangerous smoking is, Sunderland currently has above the national average number of adult smokers. The consultation will support the proposed introduction of measures to reduce the harms from smoking and reduce preventable deaths and illnesses in the city."

Stopping more people taking up smoking is a vital step to create a smokefree generation. Have your on the national consultation at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/creating-a-smokefree-generation-and-tackling-youth-vaping