Tessa Jowell consigns smoking to history

The Public Health Minister speaking on the Todayprogramme - Dur 4' 30"

Age Limit Rise For Smoking?

The proposal was discussed at an anti-smoking seminar in London, attended by the Public Health Minister, Tessa Jowell. Speaking to experts on smoking from around the world, Ms Jowell said, 'I believe that when the histories of public health are written, what we start today will be recognised as a turning point in smoking in this country. From today smoking starts to be history."

Frank Dobson, the Health Secretary, who was also present at the conference, told delegates, "If we are to stop the carnage caused by smoking we have to thwart the efforts of the tobacco industry to get children hooked on cigarettes."

Virgin boss, Richard Branson, was one of many businessmen attending the conference. Mr Branson, who has recently given up smoking after a long struggle, agreed that stopping youngsters from taking up the habit was crucial.

"Every day the equivalent of a 747 loaded with passengers die from smoking. All adults have got to do their bit to discourage kids from starting to smoke. As an adult you can kill yourself any way you like, whether it's ballooning or whatever, but we really should stop kids getting hooked on cigarettes."

"I'm very enthusiastic about reducing the rate at which people die from tobacco and die from smoking, and I'm very enthusiastic about making some impact on the increasing number of young people, particularly young women, who smoke."

She did not rule out raising the minimum legal age for buying cigarettes from 16 to 18." If, subject to enforcement, it's a way of reducing the rate at which young people smoke, then it's a measure we should certainly look at."

On a total advertising ban, Ms Jowell said the practicability of such a move was still to be examined, but she indicated that the government favoured such a move, and was paying particular attention to the experience of other countries. "We will certainly take what lessons we can from other countries and apply them here. We are fortified by the evidence that a ban on advertising has an effect on the rate at which young people smoke," she said.