Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38609176›Full record

ArticleTobacco control2025

'Stopping the start': support for proposed tobacco control policies - a population-based survey in Great Britain 2021-2023.

Vera Helen Buss, Lion Shahab, Linda Bauld, Loren Kock, Hazel Cheeseman, Jamie Brown

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tobacco control, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Vera Helen BussBehavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK v.buss@ucl.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0001-9963-8693
Lion ShahabBehavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-4033-442X
Linda BauldSPECTRUM Consortium, Edinburgh, UK.
Loren KockBehavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK.
Hazel CheesemanSPECTRUM Consortium, Edinburgh, UK.
Jamie BrownBehavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-2797-5428

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study assessed public support for four proposed tobacco control policies in Great Britain: (1) Raising the sales age of tobacco by 1 year every year (Smokefree Generation); (2) Raising the sales age of tobacco from 18 years to 21 years; (3) Providing prescription e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids to adults who smoke; (4) Restricting e-cigarette advertising to prevent youth uptake.

designRepeat cross-sectional population-based survey weighted to match the population of Great Britain.

settingThe survey was conducted in England, Scotland and Wales in September 2021, October 2022 and October 2023.

participants6541 adults living in Great Britain.

main outcome measuresSupport for each policy and year and prevalence ratios (PRs) comparing support between years and subgroups.

resultsThe most popular policy each year was restricting e-cigarette advertising (74%/79%/85%), followed by raising the sales age to 21 years (50%/58%/64%), providing prescription e-cigarettes (45%/44%/47%) and Smokefree Generation (34%/44%/49%). The largest increases were for policies about the age of sale (Smokefree Generation: 2021/2022 PR=1.28, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.40, 2022/2023 PR=1.12, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.20; raising the age to 21 years: 2021/2022 PR=1.16, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.23, 2022/2023 PR=1.11, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.17). Only 30% opposed Smokefree Generation in 2023 down from 41% in 2021.

conclusionsSupport for each policy increased each year, except for providing prescription e-cigarettes. Restricting e-cigarette advertising was the most popular policy, while support for age of sale policies, in particular for a Smokefree Generation, grew most.

trial registrationThe study protocol was published on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/46z2c/) prior to starting the analysis.

Indexed as

Health PolicySmoking CessationSmoking PreventionAdolescentAdultAdvertisingAgedAge FactorsCommerceCross-Sectional StudiesElectronic Nicotine Delivery SystemsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesElectronic nicotine delivery devicesEnd gamePublic opinionPublic policy

Identifiers

PMID38609176
PMCPMC12573383

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.