European Parliament calls for protection of young people from smoke

18 September. The European Parliament's Environment Committee overwhelmingly voted in favour of a report seeking to put in place wide-ranging restrictions on smoking with a particularly strong focus on deterring young people from smoking.

They called for all EU countries to introduce an unrestricted smoking ban within 2 years and to undertake to cut the numbers of young smokers in half by 2025. Additional measures backed include hard-hitting picture warnings to be mandatory on all tobacco products sold in the European Union and for tobacco smoke to be declared a class 1 carcinogen. Euro MPs also voted to ensure cigarette machines should not be accessible to young people.

Labour Euro MP Glenis Willmott, a Member of the Environment Committee, who drafted many of the proposals herself said: "The numbers of young people smoking is of great concern, along with the existing ban in enclosed public places I want to see measures aimed specifically at young people including affordable access to products to help them kick the habit."

She continued: "Member States must commit themselves to reduce smoking among young people by at least 50% by 2025 and I am pleased that my colleagues in the Environment Committee voted to accept my proposals".