Huge Plans Could Be Announced To Change Britain's Smoking Habits

Cigarettes in Britain could be made 30 times weaker if the government follows proposal by an American agency.

Officials from the UK's Department of Health have confirmed they have met with regulators Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss policy going forward, according to the Daily Star.

The talks comes after the FDA announced its controversial plans to cut smoking levels in the US. It hopes its plan to cut nicotine's levels in American cigs will reduce the number of people dying from smoking in the country.

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In a statement, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb: "Unless we change course, 5.6 million young people alive today will die prematurely later in life from tobacco use. Envisioning a world where cigarettes would no longer create or sustain addiction, and where adults who still need or want nicotine could get it from alternative and less harmful sources, needs to be the cornerstone of our efforts - and we believe it's vital that we pursue this common ground.

"Because almost 90 percent of adult smokers started smoking before the age of 18 and nearly 2,500 youth smoke their first cigarette every day in the US, lowering nicotine levels could decrease the likelihood that future generations become addicted to cigarettes and allow more currently addicted smokers to quit."

Office for National Statistics believes that 15.8% of the UK population currently smoke - which equates to around 7.6 million people.

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Last month the government proposed a 'Tobacco Control Plan' to achieve a 'smoke-free' Britain, which included plans to get us to switch from fags to vapes.

The report stated: "Stopping smoking is hard and many smokers are turning to e-cigarettes to help them in their attempts.

"The best thing a smoker can do for their health is to quit smoking.

"However, the evidence is increasingly clear that e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful to health than smoking tobacco.

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"The government will seek to support consumers in stopping smoking and adopting the use of less harmful nicotine products."

Earlier this year the Conservatives banned ten decks and banned packets of rolling tobacco weighing less than 30g.

On May 20 flavoured tobacco, like cherry or vanilla, was also made illegal and plans were put in place to phase out menthol cigarettes and filters.

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: Health, Britain

James Dawson

James Dawson is a Journalist at LADbible. He has contributed articles to LADbible’s ‘Knowing Me, Knowing EU’ series on the EU referendum, the 'Electoral Dysfunction' series on the 2017 general election, the ‘U OK M8?’ series tackling mental health amongst young men, and for its ‘Climate Change’ initiative in partnership with National Geographic.

@thejaytoday