The plan is to reduce smoking among younger teenagers
Image via Unsplash.comThe age limit to buy cigarettes could rise from 18 to 21.
A public consultation on the issue is set to get underway this week.
A number of countries have stepped up their efforts to curb cigarette use among teenagers.
For example in the UK, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has proposed a policy that will see the age at which people can buy tobacco products increase by a year each year.
Currently the age limit is 18 but the proposed plan would mean today's 14 year olds would never be able to purchase a cigarette.
Sunak will need the backing of MPs but no country in the world has done this before.
Profess Deirdre Murray, Director of the National Cancer Registry says raising the age limit would reduce access to the product:
"There are a number of evidence based interventions that have been used to reduce the risk at any age and that is if you reduce their access, increase the price and well designed mass media campaigns."
"By that I mean is things like advice on packets on how to quit about how to quit, where to go and when to quit. So, this would fit into the first one which is reduce access."
