UK health policy and ‘underage’ smokers: The case for smoking cessation services

The UK government's White Paper titled ‘Smoking Kills’ set explicit targets for reductions in the prevalence of smoking. As well as targets for the population as a whole, specific targets were set for sub-groups in the population: children were identified as one such sub-group. Following the publication of the White Paper, smoking cessation services were established nationwide as part of the strategy to meet the targets. Considerable resources have been put into these smoking cessation services and evaluations of the service tend to conclude that they are relatively successful and cost effective in terms of getting people to quit smoking. However, this article argues that one group of smokers has been marginalised in terms of access to the service. The evidence indicates that ‘underage’ smokers – those aged less than 16 years – have not had the level of access to smoking cessation services that is warranted in terms of the prevalence of smoking among children, in terms of their apparent willingness to use such services and in terms of the particular value of quitting smoking while still so young. This article explores the potential for underage smokers to benefit from smoking cessation services and considers the possibilities for widening access to the cessation services to 11–15 years old.