READERS had their say after a group of MPs called for a consultation on raising the legal age for purchasing cigarettes in an attempt to end the ‘tobacco epidemic’ by 2030.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health has recommended raising the age of sale from 18 to 21 by the end of this decade.

The aim is to discourage young people from becoming smokers.

The cross-party group of MPs and peers warned the Government it could only build back ‘better and fairer’ from the pandemic by making smoking obsolete.

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, offered his views on the recommendations

He said: “I’m no fan of smoking but I’m instinctively not a fan of banning things.

“I would much rather educate young people about the risks of smoking and drive down numbers that way.”

Readers gave their opinions after seeing the news.

David Armstrong said: “If they raise the minimum age every year it will get harder for young people to start smoking and the number of smokers will naturally reduce without having to curtail current adult smokers.”

Dawn Mckellar said: I think something needs to be done, but aren’t people classed as adults at 18 in this country?

“Keep putting the price up on them - will work better.”

Katja Saskia Elizabeth said: “Just ban everything, why not?

“Sick of being told what we can and can’t do.”

Brian White said: “You can have a baby and be trusted with that baby at 16? But you can’t be trusted to have a smoke.”

Simon Dogdeson said: “Ban it - completely stinks.”

On the article on The Mail’s website, a user named ‘wonderwinger’ said: “Okay then, don’t have any restrictions on anything.

“It won’t make any difference to users, it never has.

“Do something useful.”

Duncan Mills said: “Ban the stinking filthy things, even smokers would thank the government in the long term.”