UK Medical Adviser wants to destroy tobacco industry

Chris Whitty: The smoking industry must be destroyed | The Telegraph: 

November 3, 2022- "The cigarette industry should be destroyed for the benefit of public health, Prof Sir Chris Whitty, the UK Government’s Chief Medical Adviser has said. Sir Chris, who is also Chief Medical Officer for England, warned that smokers faced an appalling death, and said ministers are currently considering whether to bring in new policies to limit smoking.

"An independent review by Dr Javed Khan, which was published in June, recommended that the Government enact measures to ensure England was smoke-free by 2030, which could include stronger taxation, and limiting further where people can light-up. However the Government has not yet said which recommendations it will follow. 

"Speaking at a symposium on medical ethics held by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, Sir Chris said: “Smoking is the biggest driver that we could easily deal with in the sense of the inequalities we see across the UK. It is an appalling way to die, it kills people in multiple ways. Everyone in this room I suspect would agree that getting smoking down to zero and destroying the cigarette industry should be an aim of public health, and I would say that very categorically.'

"Sir Chris said that there was a 'legitimate point' about adults being allowed to make their own choices, but warned that governments often faced lobbying from vested interests. But he said it was important for the state to intervene in industries that were based on addiction. 'Where the current Government has decided to go into these markets has not yet been decided, and that’s going to be up to the ministers who are currently in post,' he added.... 

"In 2019, the Government set an objective for England to be smoke-free by 2030, meaning only five per cent of the population would smoke by then. But the Khan review found that without further action, England will miss the smoke-free 2030 target by at least seven years, and the poorest areas in society will not meet it until 2044

"Dr Khan’s recommendations include raising the legal age of smoking each year until nobody can buy tobacco, and banning smoking in many public areas, such as outside of hospitals and in the majority of new social housing." 

Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/11/03/chris-whitty-smoking-industry-must-destroyed/