
[Source: ONS, Adult Smoking Habits in England]
Note: a linear trend continuing from 2010-2020 should not be assumed as a given or ‘business-as-usual’ in the absence of further measures
The government has established a ‘smoke-free’ goal to reach 5% adult smoking prevalence in England by 2030. This represents a significant acceleration in progress (see chart above with linear trends). As a prelude to announcing a plan to achieve the goal, Ministers appointed Javed Khan OBE to head an independent review of tobacco policy to make recommendations for measures to meet the target and contribute to reducing health inequalities.
Here is what Dr Khan has come up with:
- Full report: The Khan review: Making smoking obsolete (9 June 2022)
- Summary: Making smoking obsolete: summary (9 June 2022)
- Press release: Independent review published to help meet 2030 smokefree target (9 June 2022)
These are recommendations to the government, not government policy. We have yet to see what the government will actually do and when it will get around to doing it.
In this blog, I set out an overview critique of the Khan programme and then look at each of the fifteen recommendations in more detail. Finally, a few words on what should be done.
Continue reading “Independent review of tobacco policy in England misses the point”