Bristol tipped to be first city to go smoke free

smoke freeBristol has been tipped as the first UK city to be completely free of cigarettes by 2024.

That’s according to research from Philip Morris, US tobacco giant, which has been looking at the decline of smoking access in the UK.

Its figures also show that Wokingham and York are next in line to be smoke free, by 2026.

‘These figures suggest some parts of the country will stop selling cigarettes altogether,’ Mark MacGregor, director at Philip Morris, said.

‘The rate of smokers is coming down quickly.

‘We’re planning for a future without cigarettes.’

Last places to go smoke free

Derby, Bedford and North Yorkshire are listed amongst the last places predicted to quit smoking.

The research shows these areas aren’t predicted to be smoke free until 2050 or later.

Despite the smoke-free drive, prescriptions for stop smoking aids have fallen in England by 75% over the last 12 years.

‘GPs must be supported to help patients who smoke to quit,’ Cancer Research UK’s senior cancer prevention manager, George Butterworth, said.

‘CCGs need to remove restrictions that prevent GPs from prescribing these important medications.

‘And they must make sure GPs get the appropriate training.

‘Smokers across the country should also be able to access stop smoking services, which give them the best chances of quitting.

‘Cuts to the Public Health Grant have meant that many of these services have been slashed.

‘The Government must reverse these cuts to ensure these important services can stay open.’


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