Respiratory Articles

The report, which was released in 2022, reads: “England will miss the smoke-free 2030 target by at least 7 years, and the poorest areas in society will not meet it until 2044.” 

Khan puts forward 15 recommendations which could help us reach the goal. These include increasing government spending on stop-smoking services, reducing retail licencing, changing the design of cigarette packets and introducing more smoke-free zones. 

The most controversial recommendation, that would stop everyone from smoking at some point, is a gradual increase in the legal age of sale. ‘The government must stop young people starting to smoke, which is why I recommend increasing the age of sale from 18, by one year, every year until no one can buy a tobacco product in this country,’ the report says. 

Fun fact: If this was implemented in 2026, anyone who is 15 years old now will never be able to buy a cigarette. 

What makes smoking so bad?

A smoke-free future would not only prevent addiction but also better England’s respiratory health. But before we get on to what that might look like, it’s useful to know what makes smoking bad for us. 

Lots of people think that nicotine is the only bad guy. Actually, nicotine is just the chemical that makes you addicted to cigarettes - it is not the component that causes cancer. That’s why, in his recommendations, Khan suggests more people vape instead of smoke. Cancer Research UK has some useful advice on the difference between e-cigarettes and smoking, here. 

Tobacco smoke is the thing to blame for the growing number of poorly lungs, hearts and growing tumours in this country. Did you know that 78,000 people in the UK die from smoking every year?

It’s when you burn a cigarette that things get risky. The smoke contains carbon monoxide, tar and other nasty chemicals like benzene. 

Carbon monoxide takes the place of oxygen in your blood which means your heart has to work harder to get healthy blood to your organs and tissues. Tar is the substance that leaves smokers’ teeth brown - the sticky brown stuff damages your lungs’ bronchioles which absorb oxygen, and cilia which protect them from dirt. 

Why is a smoke-free future good for our health?

The World Health Organisation states that 8 million people die from smoking each year - 1.2 million of these people are thought to be passive smokers. A smoke-free future would lead to more people living for longer. 

That’s right, evidence shows that prolonged smoking can reduce your life expectancy by ten years. What’s more, after you hit 40 your life expectancy is thought to reduce by three months for every year you smoke. 

Smoking increases your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and emphysema. It can also prolong symptoms of UTIs, asthma and even the common cold.  

Cutting the cigs is also great for your kid's health. Back in 2021, analysis showed that teens whose main caregiver smoked more than twice a week are nearly twice as likely to have tried a cigarette. These children are also four times as likely to become regular smokers. That’s why increasing the legal sale age makes sense.

Let’s factor in the effects of second-hand smoke too. The NHS says: “A child who's exposed to passive smoke is at increased risk of developing chest infections, meningitis, a persistent cough and, if they have asthma, their symptoms will get worse. They're also at increased risk of cot death and an ear infection called glue ear.” 

If you need support to quit smoking, downloading the NHS Better Health Quit Smoking app is a great start. Our talkhealth respiratory hub is also a great place for you to learn more about healthy lungs too.

We are currently working with Manchester Metropolitan University on a trial designed to gather data for a smoking cessation app. If you are a smoker, or ex-smoker, find out more about how you can take part here.