Achieving 5% smoker prevalence will take time, but the Department of Health's tobacco control plan, 'Towards a smoke-free generation', sets targets set for 2022. These include to reduce smoking prevalence:1

€¢       among adults in England from 15.5% to 12% or less

€¢       among 15 year olds who regularly smoke from 8% to 3% or less

€¢       in pregnancy from 10.7% to 6% or less.

It also wants to:

€¢       reduce in the inequality gap in smoking prevalence between those in routine and manual occupations and the general population

€¢       help people to quit smoking by permitting innovative technologies that minimise the risk of harm;

€¢       maximise the availability of safer alternatives to smoking.

Part of the plan involves making tobacco products less attractive through packaging and taxation. But there is also a drive to help smokers quit. Commitments include:

·      supporting pregnant smokers to quit by implementing NICE guidance;

·      providing access to training for all health professionals on how to help patients, especially those in mental health services;

·      promoting links to stop smoking services across the health and care system;

·      fully implementing all relevant NICE guidelines by 2022;

·      supporting local councils to help people to quit by working with Directors of Public Health to identify local solutions, particularly where prevalence remains high.

Note that the government €will seek to support consumers in stopping smoking and adopting the use of less harmful nicotine products.€