Those aged 14 and under may never be sold tobacco under proposed plans by current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to increased the smoking age by a year annually.

On Wednesday, October 4, at the Conservative Party annual conference, Rishi Sunak said he plans to "stop teenagers taking up cigarettes in the first place".

“Without a significant change thousands of children will start smoking in the coming years and have their lives cut short as a result," he said.

“I propose that in future we raise the smoking age by one year every year.

“That means a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette and that they and their generation can grow up smoke free.”

Across Berkshire around 15 per cent of the adult population is a smoker.

In Slough the number of people smoking has risen from 14.9 per cent in 2021 to 15.2 per cent in 2022.

Bracknell has seen a larger rise, going from 10.8 per cent of the population being smokers in 2021 to 14.6 per cent in 2022. 

Meanwhile, smokers in Reading have decreased from 15.8 per cent to 14.4 per cent.

Residents have said they agree with the ban.

Frances Moody said: "I agree with him [Rishi Sunak], in fact, raise it by two years each year."

Meanwhile, Lorraine Wilson said: "What a load of rubbish."

Adam Mintern said he is a smoker and is glad to be from the "older generation". "It doesn't really bother me," he said on the news of the ban.

Charity Action on Smoking and Health said the recent local smoking figures are a "wake up call" as rates across the country are not falling fast enough to meet the Government's target of 5 per cent or less by 2030.

Despite this, across the UK, smoking among adults has fallen to its lowest level of 12.9 per cent last year.

James Tucker, head of health analysis at the ONS, said the figure is "consistent with the continuing trend towards a decline in smoking prevalence over recent years".

However, Deborah Arnott, ASH chief executive, said: "Smoking rates are falling, but not nearly fast enough. Financial stress and poor mental health are on the rise, which we know makes it harder for smokers to quit."

She added the Government must "step up" its support for smokers by investing in campaigns to motivate smokers to quit and discourage young people to start.

The ONS figures also showed 5.2% of people aged over 16 used e-cigarettes daily in 2022, up from 4.9% in 2021.

Ms Arnott said the growth in vaping among adult smokers and ex-smokers was welcome as vaping is a very successful aid to quitting smoking.

However, she added there is a worrying growth in vaping among teens and young adults with 15.5 per cent of young people aged 16 to 24 years vaping daily or occasionally last year.