People under the age of 21 should be banned from purchasing cigarettes, experts demanded.

To reduce and eliminate the number of young people smoking, Boris Johnson’s new Government should increase the legal age limit from 18 to 21, according to campaigners who claim that preventing young people from starting is vital if the government wants to achieve its goal of getting rid of smoking.

A leading doctor also said that the legal age of sale should be increased to curb peer pressure in schools. Experts also said it would help stop young ‘social smokers’ developing addictions.

Chief executive of Action On Smoking And Health Deborah Arnott said to The Sun: “Almost no-one starts smoking after the age of 21, and not starting is much easier than quitting.

“Increasing the age of sale to 21 is a key step towards achieving the Government goal of ending smoking by 2030.

“Smoking is a lethal addiction with two thirds of those experimenting with cigarettes going on to become regular smokers, and only one in three successfully quitting in the long-term.”

A week of scientists in the US also shared their findings. They found increasing the legal age of sale was associated with a 39% drop in odds of social smokers.

Dr. Abigail Friedman, the lead author, said: “This research indicates that a ‘social multiplier’ effect may amplify the impact of tobacco-21 laws.

“While these policies were associated with a 39 per cent drop in the odds of regular smoking overall, the reduction was larger among young people whose friends were likely to smoke before tobacco-21 laws were adopted.

“As peer smoking is a critical predictor of youth smoking, this study suggests that tobacco-21 laws may help reduce smoking among those most susceptible.

“This result supports raising the age of sale to 21 as a means to reduce young adult smoking and improve public health.”

16 US states and over 400 localities in the US have already increased the age of tobacco sale to 21.

Dr. Hopkinson also said that even though helping existing smokers quit is important, “The most vital element is to prevent young people from starting in the first place.”

“Smoking is a contagious habit, transmitted within peer groups,” he went on. “The age increase will protect younger children from exposure to older pupils who smoke.”

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