'Working preventively' key in cutting down smoking levels

Island has ambitions to be 'smoke-free' by 2030

'Working preventively' with people remains a crucial part of cutting down smoking on the Isle of Man for the future, according to the Island's Director of Public Health.

Dr Matthew Tyrer was answering questions this week at an evidence session of the Select Committee on Tobacco and Nicotine Products.

The Isle of Man has already declared an ambition to become 'smoke-free' by 2030.

Dr Tyrer says working with those who are trying to quit the habit is at the core of trying to get nearer to that target and that the 'legislative environment' could have a big role to play:

The standing committee - compromising of its chair Dr Michelle Haywood and fellow MHK's Joney Faragher and Stu Peters - has a remit of considering the subject matter for a Private Member's Bill.

This would focus around the meaning and supply of tobacco and nicotine products, including prohibiting their sale to people born on or before 1 January 2008.

The panel currently plans to hear further evidence on the subject from Head of the Office of Fair Trading, Mark Smith on Wednesday, 12 March this year.

You can listen to the evidence session in full HERE.