A study published in The Lancet Public Health has found that banning the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to young people could prevent as many as 1.2 million lung cancer deaths among individuals born between 2006 and 2010. Conducted by researchers from the University of Santiago de Compostela and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the study calls for significant action to protect future generations from the health risks of smoking, the leading preventable cause of death globally.
The research indicates that implementing such a ban in 185 countries could reduce lung cancer fatalities in this age group by 40.2 percent by 2095. The findings highlight the critical need for governments to pursue ambitious public health initiatives aimed at creating a tobacco-free generation.
“Lung cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, with two-thirds of cases linked to smoking,” stated Dr. Julia Rey Brandariz from the University of Santiago de Compostela. “Our modeling shows the substantial advantages for governments that consider strong measures to reduce tobacco use.”
The study also revealed that a sales ban could prevent nearly half of expected lung cancer deaths in men (45.8 percent) and about one-third in women (30.9 percent). This underscores the significant impact early interventions could have on public health and healthcare systems.
Despite this compelling evidence, no country has yet enacted laws to prohibit the sale of tobacco products to minors. While New Zealand previously attempted to ban tobacco sales to anyone born in or after 2009, this initiative was recently overturned, raising concerns about the global commitment to combating tobacco use.
