Plaid AM calls for teen smoking action
More needs to be done to stop young people from taking up smoking and to reduce needless smoking related deaths.
That is the call from Plaid AM Dr. Dai Lloyd who is calling for a Tobacco Control Strategy for Wales to reduce the number of tobacco related deaths in the country.
Dr. Lloyd will raise the issue with First Minister Rhodri Morgan at the National Assembly on Tuesday (March 17).
Dr. Lloyd today stated:
“Far too many of our youngsters are starting the habit at a very young age. We need to ensure that we do all that we can to prevent young people from falling into that trap.
“Wednesday March 11th was National No Smoking Day, and I was pleased to sponsor an event on behalf of the Wales Tobacco Control Alliance at the National Assembly.
“The Alliance wants to see far more proactive work being done, to remove a lot of the access points for young smokers, and to make it less attractive.
“I feel that it is the role of Government to protect our future, by outlining the risks associated with smoking and by trying to make it less attractive in the eyes of our youth.”
Dr. Lloyd added:
“There is much good work going on throughout Wales in trying to reduce the number of tobacco related deaths, but I do believe that a Tobacco Control Strategy for Wales would help in terms of giving a clear direction to our intentions.
“Far too many people continue to die from smoking related diseases including cancers and heart diseases and this causes great distress to those that they leave behind.
“I believe that it the duty of the Assembly Government to protect our future generations and this is why I am calling on the First Minister to bring forward this strategy.”
