Key to smoking cessation is choice and education, say campaigners

Sat 1st July, 2017

Forest has urged the government to reject calls for a further programme of anti-smoking measures.

Director Simon Clark said: "Contrary to claims by anti-smoking campaigners, polls suggest there is little appetite among the general public for further anti-smoking measures.

"The smoking ban decimated pubs in England with little evidence that it had a significant impact on public health.

"Smoking rates have fallen since the smoking ban but the only significant reduction took place after 2012 when e-cigarettes became increasingly popular.

"Instead of punishing smokers for their habit the government should embrace and promote harm reduction products like e-cigarettes.

"The key to smoking cessation is choice and education not prohibition and other repressive measures that hurt legitimate consumers."

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