MINISTERS want to slash smoking rates by a quarter by 2022 by urging millions to switch to e-cigs.
They aim to reduce cigarette use to just one in eight adults within five years.
Under ambitious new plans, health bosses also intend to halve smoking in pregnancy from the current 10.7 per cent.
Around 80,000 Brits a year – more than 200 a day – die as a result of tobacco.
As part of the new Tobacco Control Plan, health bosses will promote e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to traditional fags.
Ministers also want to cut regular smoking among 15-year-olds from eight per cent to three per cent.
Campaigners Ash predict the UK could be smoke free – with less than one in 20 lighting up – by 2030.
Public Health Minister Steve Brine said: “Britain is a world-leader in tobacco control, and our tough action in the past decade has seen smoking rates in England fall to an all-time low of 15.5 per cent.
MINISTERS want to slash smoking rates by a quarter by 2022 by urging millions to switch to e-cigs.
They aim to reduce cigarette use to just one in eight adults within five years.
Under ambitious new plans, health bosses also intend to halve smoking in pregnancy from the current 10.7 per cent.
Around 80,000 Brits a year – more than 200 a day – die as a result of tobacco.
As part of the new Tobacco Control Plan, health bosses will promote e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to traditional fags.
Ministers also want to cut regular smoking among 15-year-olds from eight per cent to three per cent.
Campaigners Ash predict the UK could be smoke free – with less than one in 20 lighting up – by 2030.
Public Health Minister Steve Brine said: “Britain is a world-leader in tobacco control, and our tough action in the past decade has seen smoking rates in England fall to an all-time low of 15.5 per cent.
“But our vision is to create a smoke free generation.
“Smoking continues to kill hundreds of people a day in England, and we know the harms fall hardest on some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society.
“That’s why we are targeting prevention and local action to address the variation in smoking rates in our society, educate people about the risks and support them to quit for good.”
The plan aims to cut smoking rates among adults to 12 per cent or under by 2022.
