Landmark law celebrated as South Yorkshire’s 100-day countdown to a smokefree generation begins

• 65% of people in Yorkshire and Humber support the landmark smokefree generation law.
• 73% of people who have ever smoked regret ever starting.

In less than 100 days, future generations across South Yorkshire will be protected from ever being legally sold tobacco, a measure which is expected to protect around 4 million young people nationally from tobacco within the next five years.

Research shows strong public support for the landmark Smokefree Generation policy with 65% of people in Yorkshire and Humber in support of the new law, highlighting the strength of public backing for action to prevent children from the harms of tobacco.

Furthermore, 73% of people who smoked say that if they could go back in time they would not start smoking. Together, these findings underline the case for action to break the cycle of smoking for future generations.

From 1 January 2027, it will be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. The age of sale will then increase by one year every year, eventually phasing out the sale of tobacco across the UK.

The Smokefree Generation policy represents a major shift in the UK’s approach to tobacco – moving beyond helping people quit after they become addicted, towards preventing future generations from becoming addicted in the first place.

Sarah Hepworth, Associate Director of Smokefree Starts, South Yorkshire Tobacco Control Alliance, said: “On the 1^st of January 2027, we will take a historic step towards a future where children growing up in South Yorkshire will never face the same risk of tobacco addiction as previous generations.

“The figures show that the public are firmly behind this change and highlight why preventing people from taking up smoking in the first place is so important.

“The Smokefree Generation gives us the opportunity to break the cycle and protect future generations from the devastating harms of smoking.

“With just 100 days to go, retailers, local authorities and enforcement agencies are working together to prepare for these changes, to ensure the new law is properly implemented and enforced across South Yorkshire, so that we can turn this historic opportunity into a smokefree future.”

Whilst the smokefree generation policy is about protecting young people, in South Yorkshire 12.6% of adults still smoke, which is higher than the England average of 10.9%. Smokefree Starts is focused on reducing smoking rates and helping people in South Yorkshire quit. It’s urging people to take advantage of the free help on offer to make a quit attempt this Stoptober. 

Dr Andy Snell, Consultant in Public Health at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Smokefree Generation law is a major step towards protecting future generations from the harms of tobacco, but we must not forget the thousands of people who already smoke. Smoking is a uniquely lethal product and causes 16,000 people to be hospitalised and around 6000 deaths each year in South Yorkshire.  Supporting current smokers to quit remains one of the biggest opportunities we have to prevent ill health, reduce inequalities and save lives.

“This Stoptober, I encourage smokers, their families, friends and colleagues, to visit the Smokefree Starts website and discover the support available across South Yorkshire. There are more ways to quit than ever before so whether you are 17 or 70 now is the time to quit.”