Dear All,

I hope you had a good Christmas and are looking forward to the new year. Unfortunately, I have some very sad news to report. John Mallon, our spokesman in Ireland since the launch of Forest Ireland in 2010, died on Thursday following a long battle with illness. With the permission of his family, I have posted a tribute on my blog which they are happy for me to share. We will devote our next newsletter exclusively to John. In the meantime we send our deepest sympathy and best wishes to his wife and family.

Simon Clark
Director, Forest

RISHI SUNAK'S GENERATIONAL TOBACCO SALES BAN

In terms of tobacco control, the big story in 2023 was the announcement by prime minister Rishi Sunak that the UK is to follow the lead of New Zealand and ban the sale of tobacco to all future generations of adults. In theory, no-one born after 2008 will be allowed to purchase any tobacco product, legally at least, in the UK.

Leaked in advance to the Guardian, the prime minister's plan – announced at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on October 4 – nevertheless took many people by surprise because it flew in the face of the Government's previous response to last year's Khan Review.

Speaking at the Policy Exchange think tank in April, public health minister Neil O'Brien (below) specifically rejected Javed Khan's call to raise the age of sale of tobacco by one year every year, telling his audience that it was "too big a departure" and the Government wasn't going to pursue it.

So why the change of direction just six months later? Could it be that with an election due and the Conservative Party miles behind in the polls, the prime minister desperately needed to pull a rabbit from the hat and smoking, as ever, was an easy target?

At the very least, with everything else that's going on, at home and abroad, it suggests a warped view of what the Government should prioritise. More cynically, it suggests the PM knows his party is going to lose the next election and he is desperate to leave a legacy – any legacy – even one that may require the support of Labour MPs to get the legislation over the line.

Ironically, since Rishi Sunak announced his plan, it has been reported that the same policy (introduced by a Labour government in New Zealand) is to be repealed by the new centre-right coalition government. Go figure, as they say.

Despite that, Downing Street sources insist that legislation to ban the sale of tobacco to future generations in the UK will go ahead – something they were happy to confirm even before the closing date for submissions to a government consultation on the issue. What a joke.

Now, read on ...

Photo of Neil O'Brien courtesy Mark Oates

MEDIA MATTERS (1)

Following the prime minister's announcement of a ban on the sale of tobacco to future generations of adults, Forest director Simon Clark was interviewed on BBC Breakfast (below), BBC Radio Five Live, BBC Radio Kent, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio London, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Scotland, Channel 5 News, TalkTV, and Sky News Radio.

Online our reaction was reported by, among others, the Press Association, BBC News, ITV News, Sky News, MailOnline, Daily Express, Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, Independent, The Sun, Daily Record, Wales Online, Perspective Magazine, Reason Magazine, and the Washington Examiner.

A few weeks earlier our response to the initial Guardian report (Rishi Sunak considers banning cigarettes for next generation) was quoted by The Sun, Independent, i, and Financial Times. We were also quoted by the Press Association which led to quotes in a number of online reports including City AM, London Evening Standard, Daily Record, The National, Birmingham Mail, The Herald, STV News, ITV News, Plymouth Herald, Coventry Telegraph, Hull Daily Mail and several more.

See: Tobacco sales ban: PM accused of "creeping prohibition"

18-YEAR-OLDS *SHOULD* BE ALLOWED TO BUY TOBACCO

In addition to our widely reported reaction to the plan, Forest's subsequent submission to the Government consultation (that closed on December 6) could not have been clearer:

We believe that future adults (legally defined as 18+) must be allowed to legally purchase tobacco. The health risks of smoking are well known. If you are permitted to vote, drive a car, join the army, possess a credit card, and purchase alcohol at 18, you should be allowed to make an informed decision buy tobacco. This view is shared by 58% of adults in Britain, according to a recent poll by Yonder Consulting for Forest.

The survey of 2,005 adults found that 58% of respondents think that if a person can vote, drive a car, buy alcohol, or possess a credit card, they should also be allowed to buy tobacco.

See: Poll: 18-year-olds SHOULD be allowed to buy tobacco (Forest)

MEDIA MATTERS (2)

Other smoking-related stories took a bit of a back seat in 2023. Nevertheless, here are some other reports that Forest has responded to during the last twelve months.

In January, long before a tobacco sales ban was a glint in Rishi Sunak's eye, Wes Streeting, Labour's shadow health spokesman, told the BBC he was considering the (then) New Zealand policy of phasing out the sale of cigarettes. Forest's response, condemning the idea, was reported by, among others, LBC, Hull Daily Mail, Lancashire Live, and Convenience Store.

In March, we accused Jeremy Hunt of being "heartless" after the Chancellor used the Budget to increase cigarette duty by over 12%. Our response were reported by, among others, the Press Association, The Sun, Daily Mirror, MailOnline, Daily Record, Independent, Convenience Store, London Evening Standard, Liverpool Echo, and GB News.

In May, speaking to The Times, former Conservative Chancellor George Osborne threw his weight behind a ban on the sale of cigarettes. Forest's reaction was reported by The Sun, Daily Mirror, and Convenience Store. See: 'Fury as ex Chancellor George Osborne says Brits should be BANNED from smoking' (The Sun).

In August, Tobacco Reporter reported that Forest had given a cautious welcome to a government proposal to add pack inserts to tobacco products to encourage more smokers to quit. “If the inserts provide constructive information about quitting there is some merit in the idea,” said director Simon Clark. 

“For example, inserting information about reduced risk products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches would make a lot of sense. Targeting consumers with more anti-smoking messages, which are on the pack already, risks warning fatigue and won’t work,” he added.

Clark also expressed concern about who would bear the expense of adding the inserts. “If the cost is passed on to consumers, who already pay punitive rates of taxation on tobacco, it may be counterproductive because more smokers will switch to illicit tobacco products that won’t have inserts added,” he said.

In September, suggestions that the Government might ban single use vapes were criticised by Forest. Our response was reported by, among others, the Press Association, City AM, Lancashire Telegraph, Cheshire Live, Tobacco Reporter, Guido Fawkes, and Convenience Store.

In November, in his Autumn Statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt increased the duty on hand-rolled tobacco by a further 10% above the tobacco duty escalator (inflation plus 2%). Our reaction (Forest slams attack on working class smokers) was reported by, among others, the Press Association, The Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Daily Mirror, Birmingham Live and Scottish Grocer.

Also in November, invited to respond to a Sun 'exclusive' ('Tory MPs could rebel on Rishi Sunak’s smoking ban — unless cigars are exempt'), we told the paper, "Cigars are different to cigarettes, but the principle is the same. Once you’re 18, and an adult, you must be allowed to choose to smoke tobacco, regardless of whether it’s a cigarette or a cigar."

Invited to respond to a poll commissioned by ASH that found that a majority back the Government's plans to crack down on smoking, our comments were reported by the Press Association, Daily Mirror, Independent, and multiple local newspapers.

Last but not least, in December the Daily Echo reported our response to the "petty" removal of smoking shelters on the grounds of University Hospital Southampton. Forest director Simon Clark told the paper, "While I can understand that hospitals don't want to encourage smoking, the reality is that they can be stressful places for patients, visitors, and even staff.

"Many people smoke to relieve stress, and banning smoking on hospital grounds won't help." He urged hospital administrators to "show some compassion and common sense" and permit smoking in outdoor smoking areas with shelters.

See: 'Smoking group slams Southampton hospital over shelter removal'.

BROADCAST NEWS

During the year Forest director Simon Clark appeared multiple times on GB News ...



... TalkTV ...



... and LBC.



Other media appearances included BBC Radio Five Live, including the Five Live phone-in with Nicky Campbell (above) that was also broadcast on BBC Two.

PROHIBITION AND THE INFANTILISATION OF BRITAIN

As usual, we organised and hosted a number of events. The first Forest event of the year took place at the Institute of Economic Affairs in March. 

Chaired by Simon Clark, our panel featured the IEA's Chris Snowdon and Reem Ibrahim, Henry Hill (deputy editor, ConservativeHome), and journalist Kara Kennedy, author of 'An ode to smoking' (Spectator World).

At a time when the threat to adult smokers seemed limited to raising the age of sale of tobacco from 18 to 21, 'Prohibition: The Infantilisation of Britain' was to prove remarkably prescient later in the year.

FOREST SUMMER LUNCH & AWARDS 2023



Encouraged by the success of our Summer Lunch & Awards in 2022, we returned to Boisdale of Belgravia in July for another lunchtime soiree to which we invited broadcasters, journalists, politicians, parliamentary researchers, think tank staffers, and assorted friends of Forest.

Guest of honour, and after lunch speaker, was comedian Simon Evans (above) best known for his appearances on Radio 4 and now a regular presenter on GB News.

Awards were presented to rising star Reem Ibrahim, communications officer at the Institute of Economic Affairs, historian Alwyn Turner for his nostalgic essay 'Time takes a cigarette', and journalist Kara Kennedy for her article 'An ode to smoking' (Spectator World). Unable to join us, Kara nevertheless sent us the following acceptance speech:

"It turns out that smoking really does bring people together and shows that The Spectator in particular has a very fun/anti puritan readership. I’m honoured to be given this award and am very sad that I’m not here to collect it. However, I’ll be at Shelly’s, my new favorite smoking bar in DC, which is so smoky you can barely see the people you’re with. Cheers!"

Thanks to everyone who joined us and we hope to see you again in 2024!

See also: Life, liberty and lunch – a celebration

FREEDOM: UP IN SMOKE?

In 2023 the Academy of Ideas invited Forest director Simon Clark to contribute an essay to their series, Letters on Liberty. 'Freedom: Up In Smoke?' was published in October and a discussion inspired by the essay was included in the annual Battle of Ideas at Church House in Westminster.

As part of our campaign against the ban on the sale of tobacco to future generations of adults, Forest also marked the publication of 'Freedom: Up In Smoke?' by hosting our own discussion at Old Queen Street Cafe in Westminster.

Moderated by Ella Whelan (Academy of Ideas), the event featured a short speech by Clark followed by a discussion with Baroness Fox (director of the Academy of Ideas), Henry Hill (deputy editor, ConservativeHome), and the IEA's Reem Ibrahim. A video of the event (below) is available on our YouTube channel. To watch it, click here.



A short, five-minute video, featuring soundbites from our speakers and other guests, including Conor Holohan and Benjamin Elks (TaxPayers Alliance), and Olivia Lever (Blue Beyond), can be viewed here, or click on the image below.

CONFERENCE CALLS AND TPA TALKS

In October, courtesy of the TaxPayers Alliance, Forest hosted a discussion in the Think Tent at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester. Featuring Forest director Simon Clark, Reem Ibrahim and Chris Snowdon (Institute of Economic Affairs), and Mark Oates (We Vape), the 60-minute discussion can be viewed here (or click on the image below).



Following the Think Tent event, Simon Clark was also interviewed by the TPA's Benjamin Elks for TPA Talks, the TPA podcast. Available on various audio platforms, including Spotify, you can also watch a video of the podcast on YouTube. Click here.

PUBLIC OPINION ON TOBACCO POLICY

Ahead of the Budget in March, Forest commissioned a survey to gauge public opinion to a further hike in tobacco duty. Conducted by Yonder Consulting, almost two thirds of the 2,013 respondents (65%) believed the tax on tobacco was already "about right" (38%) or "too high" (27%).

Only one in five (20%) of those asked thought the tax on tobacco was “too low”, while 15% said they "don't know".

The poll also found that 62% of adults thought that purchasing tobacco from the black market was an "understandable" response given the high cost of tobacco sold legally in the United Kingdom, whereas only 22% of respondents said it was not an "understandable" response. (16% said they "don't know".)

Respondents also believed that the government had more pressing concerns than tackling smoking. Asked to consider a list of ten issues for the government to address in 2023, respondents said tackling the rising cost of household utilities such as electricity and gas was the most important priority (54%), followed by improving the health service by providing more beds, frontline staff and cutting waiting lists (48%), tackling inflation (40%), and addressing care for the elderly (32%).

Other issues included tackling climate change (28%), the housing shortage (26%), and helping businesses recover from the impact of the pandemic (17%). Tackling smoking was bottom of the list (10%), alongside tackling obesity (10%), and tackling misuse of alcohol (9%).

DEFENDING SMOKING, AND SMOKERS

In May Forest director Simon Clark was invited to address TabExpo at BolognaFierea, a large exhibition hall in Bologna, Italy.

Exhibitors ranged from manufacturers to supply chain, all showcasing their products and services. Innovation was a major theme, demonstrating how the tobacco industry is moving towards harm reduction. 

Alongside the exhibition, an area had been set aside for the TabExpo 'congress', a mini conference that took place over two half days.

Forest's message to visitors concerned the need to embrace harm reduction without abandoning adults who prefer to smoke tobacco.

Increasingly it's a message that even some tobacco companies are turning a deaf ear to but, unlike some, we have no intention of abandoning adults who enjoy smoking and don't want to quit.

NEW YEAR HONOUR

Congratulations to Dr Madsen Pirie, president of the Adam Smith Institute. Awarded an OBE for services to public policy in the New Year Honours List issued on Friday night, Madsen has been a friend of Forest for longer than we can remember. 

In 2019 he was one of the guest speakers at our 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner at Boisdale of Canary Wharf, but he has attended several other Forest events over the years, very often with a cigar in hand!

MARK LITTLEWOOD – END OF AN ERA

After 14 years as director-general of the Institute of Economic Affairs, it was announced in August that Mark Littlewood would be standing down before the end of the year.

That moment duly arrived at the beginning of December and we can't let the moment pass without acknowledging Mark's vocal and ongoing support for smokers' rights, even though he himself quit smoking several years ago in favour of heated tobacco.

Forest director Simon Clark paid tribute to Mark a few months ago, and you can read his blog post here.

Like Madsen Pirie (see previous item), Mark was a guest speaker at Forest's 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner in 2019. 

In May that year he also hosted an In Conversation event with Simon that you can still watch on YouTube. Click here or on one of the images below.

Before that Mark was a regular guest at the annual Forest Freedom Dinner at Boisdale of Canary Wharf, and a guest speaker in 2014.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mark and wish him well, whatever he does next.

AND FINALLY ...

Well done if you've read this far, and thank you for your continued support and/or interest in our work.

Legislation to ban the sale of tobacco to future generations of adults in the UK is likely to proceed early in the new year, although a spring general election (should that happen) might yet scupper it.

Whatever happens, we shall continue to lobby MPs and peers to oppose this absurd and illiberal legislation legislation until we can do no more, so watch this space because we may need your help.

In the meantime, we wish you all a very happy (and nanny-free) New Year!