NEW (Zealand) TURN IF YOU WANT TO, THE UK’s NOT FOR TURNING (or is it?)
Are we moving towards a ‘smoke free’ generation?
Having worked for many years in both public health and education I am all too familiar with the many strategies and interventions that have been put in place over the years to reduce tobacco uptake in young people. And it’s working! Fewer, young people than ever are choosing to smoke, and we really are moving towards the ‘Smoke-Free generation’.
The downward trend in smoking uptake has been driven by a raft of actions including policy, legislation, and education. Working together, these strategies have driven the changes in attitudes and behaviour that have resulted in the UK moving towards the lower end of the smoking prevalence league table.
Why has New Zealand U-turned?
As we know, tobacco sales create substantial tax revenue. It therefore came as a welcome surprise when the King’s speech included a proposal to implement a ‘New Zealand’ style year on year increase to the age at which young people can legally buy cigarettes. Fast-forward, just over a month from the 7th of November speech and the newly appointed New Zealand government have u-turned on their decision to effectively ban smoking. Why? It would have too big an impact on tax revenue. Whether the UK government is going to stand firm on its commitment remains to be seen.
Have smoking reduction strategies been applied to vaping?
A shocking and disappointing feature of the substantial increase in the use of single use vapes is how the UK, along with many other nations, have blindly walked into this problem. The learning from decades of tobacco control strategies appears to have been ignored. ‘Big tobacco,’ on the other hand who fully or partially own many of the vape companies have applied the same effective tactics to grow their market. Namely, appeal to young people. It’s no surprise that the most popular flavour of vape amongst younger people are the fruit-flavoured varieties.
Is vaping reaching ‘epidemic’ proportions?
Despite the current lack of interest or appetite to implement any legislation or policy to help curb young people being drawn to vaping, it’s not all bad news. It may surprise you to know that most secondary age students DO NOT vape. Our 2022/23 survey data of almost 11,0000 students tells us that 94% of 11–14-year-olds have never vaped. As students get older there is an increase in vaping, but even in the 16-18 age group 80% have never vaped. So, although numbers have risen, they are very far from some of the ‘sensational’ headlines we’ve seen in the media.
What can we do as educators?
Here are my 3 top tips for teachers.
1. Keep up to date with your own CPD. We regularly provide FREE UK-CPD accredited webinars for teachers. You can sign up here.
2. Celebrate the great choices that most students are making. Our ‘How Are You?’ student voice survey is included in our ‘wrap around’ PSHE support, but also available separately here.
3. Ensure PSHE lessons on tobacco and vaping are relevant, accurate, challenge misperceptions and connect with wider curriculum areas. You can instantly download a sample lesson here. There’s an hour of activities selected from our full lesson pack. (All Chameleon PDE lesson packs provide you with 2 hours of fully editable activities to choose from).
