A proposed new law to raise the legal smoking age annually has been supported by Hampshire County Council. 

The new law would prevent children born from 2009 onwards, from ever legally being sold cigarettes in England, by raising the smoking age by a year, each year, until it applies to the whole population, with the aim of creating a 'smoke-free' generation by 2040.

The number of adults smoking in Hampshire has fallen over time, according to the public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).

However, smoking was estimated to cost Hampshire and the county's local economy over £348m last year, £98m of which was on health and social care costs and £246m on productivity.

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Councillor Liz Fairhurst, executive lead member for adult services and public health, said: “Hampshire has nearly 120,000 smokers and almost every hour of every day, someone is admitted to hospital in our county because of smoking.

“As a local authority, we welcome this national move to help stop young people from taking up smoking.

"It is a highly addictive habit that often begins when people are young and impressionable yet remains with them their whole lives.

"Making it illegal to sell cigarettes to young people will help protect an entire generation from the harms of smoking as they grow older.”

The county council says it is working with a wide range of partners to tackle the harmful impact of smoking.

Solutions4Health provides a free and confidential local stop-smoking service via Smokefree Hampshire – and since 2019, it has helped more than 10,000 Hampshire smokers to quit .

Residents can self-refer to Smokefree Hampshire by calling the Quitline on 01264 563039, by texting Quit to 66777 or via the website at www.smokefreehampshire.co.uk.