The Government says it will set out its plans to make England smoke free by 2030 "in the coming weeks".

Measures being advocated by anti-smoking campaigners include raising the age of sale of tobacco from 18 to 21, or by one year every year until no-one can buy tobacco legally.

Other proposals include a tobacco levy or 'Smokefree Fund' to pay for smoking cessation services and anti-smoking campaigns.

Tomorrow (15th March) Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to hike tobacco duty to even more punitive levels, despite the fact that a recent poll commissioned by Forest found that almost two thirds of respondents (65%) believe the tax on tobacco is already "about right" (38%) or "too high" (27%), with only one in five (20%) thinking it "too low".

Drinks + Debate, Thursday 23rd March

Chaired by Simon Clark, director of Forest, we're delighted to welcome a very special panel to discuss these and other issues at the Institute of Economic Affairs, 2 Lord North Street, Westminster. From left to right (above), they are: 

Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs; Reem Ibrahim, a final year student at the London School of Economics and communications officer at the IEA; Henry Hill, deputy editor of ConservativeHome; and Kara Kennedy, staff writer at The Spectator World and author of 'An ode to smoking'.

The event begins with drinks from 6.15pm, with the debate/discussion starting at 7.00. It's FREE but spaces are limited so please register in advance (see below). 

RSVP

To RSVP email [email protected] or go to our Eventbrite page (click on this link). Do join us!