People under the age of 25 could soon be banned from buying cigarettes under new plans the government is looking to introduce in England.
In what is a scheme that is said to have been proposed as a way to dramatically-reduce smoking trends among young people throughout Britain and create a “smoke free” country, and comes as an anti-smoking tsar has been recently-commissioned to deliver the matter, the possibility of banning the sale of cigarettes to those under 25 is now believed to be “on the table” after being given careful consideration.
The main responsibility of the anti-smoking tsar is to reduce the numbers of smokers within different age groups.
According to The Times, an upcoming independent review commissioned by Health Secretary Sajid Javid and led by former Barnardo’s CEO Javed Khan OBE is expected to launch England into its “smoke free” future by the goal of 2030 – which would mean that fewer than 5% of the adult population smokes.
The reported raising of cigarette sale age would be similar to a ban that is already initiated in New Zealand.
Currently in New Zealand, anyone who was born after 2008 is not able to buy tobacco items, and because of this, Mr Khan is reportedly considering whether an argument could be made for “raising the age to 19, 20, 21, or even 25” in the UK.
Britain has set the target of being a smoke-free nation by 2030 / Credit: lilartsy | Julia Engel (via Unsplash)
“We are thinking seriously about the age of sale,” Mr Khan told The Times.
He continued: “Just look at the COVID experience, mass marketing has a big effect, it really works… the government went hell for leather, it made an enormous difference in vaccination rates.
“So why not do something like that again, if we really want to save people’s lives.”
Echoing the sentiment and speaking on the intent to make Britain a smoke-free nation by 2030, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said in a statement on the government’s website: “The pandemic has shown the resilience of the British public and brought communities together to look after each other in the most challenging times.
“But it has also exposed chasms in our society – particularly in health.”
Mr Khan added: “I am very pleased to be leading this review into such an important area of public health [and] my independent findings will help highlight key interventions, which can help the government achieve its ambitions to be smoke-free by 2030 and tackle health disparities.”
Banning the sale of cigarettes to those under 25 in England is now believed to be “on the table” / Credit: Flickr
In England, there are currently said to be about six million smokers.
Tobacco is also found to be the biggest cause of preventable death in the UK, and in the most-recent data from 2019, a recorded 64,000 smokers died from smoking, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Cancer Research estimates that the UK is currently set to miss the target of being smoke-free by 2030.
The charity says the country is not expected to smoke-free until at least 2037, as there is said to be a 20-year gap in smoking rates between the least and most deprived people, meaning the richest are expected to achieve smoke-free status in 2025, but the poorest are not expected until the mid-2040s.
UK’s ‘most dangerous’ road near Greater Manchester to undergo £7.6m safety improvements
Emily Sergeant
Snake Pass, what is known as the UK’s ‘most dangerous’ road, has received £7.6 million in funding to improve its safety.
The infamous road connecting Manchester and Sheffield – which is said to be used by more than 30,000 vehicles each week – is the highest road in Derbyshire, and is known for including a series of steep bends, twists, and blind junctions, hence being given the nickname of the UK’s ‘most dangerous’ route.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has allocated £7.6 million from its ‘Safer Roads Fund’ to improve safety along the 23-mile stretch of the A57 between Glossop and Sheffield.
Snake Pass is also, sadly, known for its frequent collisions data – with records indicating that, between 2018 and 2023, there were five fatalities, 62 ‘serious;, and 102 slight collision casualties.
Historical records also suggest that landslips have taken place along the Snake Pass for decades, with road closures dating back at least 90 years.
‼️Today, @transportgovuk has awarded £7.6 million from the Safer Roads Fund, to make major safety improvements to the #A57#SnakePass. We’ll be using the money to introduce major safety improvements along a 23-mile stretch of the A57 between Glossop and Sheffield. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/IrpmJpDfXl
Proposed safety improvements to be carried out include the installation of up to 10 average speed camera sites along the route, with speed limit reminder signs, and the improving the junction of the A57 and Manor Park Road in Glossop by narrowing the road so it reduces the time it takes for pedestrians to cross.
More pedestrian crossings will be installed at the Dinting Vale viaduct to provide a safer walking route to the railway station
Advanced ‘road restraint’ safety barriers, which are designed to prevent motorcyclists sliding under existing safety barriers and reduce potential injuries, will also be installed, alongside anti-skid friction surfacing at bends and existing collisions sites to help minimise braking distances.
Snake Pass will be undergoing to undergo £7.6m safety improvements / Credit: Geograph (via Wikipedia Commons)
Councillor Charlotte Hill, who is the Cabinet Member for Potholes, Highways, and Transport at Derbyshire Council says Snake Pass is a ‘major tourist route’ and a ‘key economic connection’ for the North.
“We have already carried out a number of safety improvements along the route, but a more holistic solution is required to save lives and change road user attitudes and behaviour along this challenging stretch of road.
“Using our experience gained from similar challenging routes in the county, we will now be able to finalise our proposals for the Snake Pass, in readiness for a public consultation later this year.
“We look forward to being able to deliver a step change in road safety and reduce casualties along this significant route.”
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Drake at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, support acts, setlist and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
Rap champion Drake is touching down in Manchester at Co-op Live for four nights of electric energy with some very “special shows 4 u”.
The Canadian hitmaker has just come off the back of three very impressive nights at one of the biggest music events of the year, Wireless Festival, and now he’s ready to tour the UK and Europe.
Drake has solidified his position in the rap field, dropping bangers from 2006 and since then, he’s gone on to have some of the most streamed tracks of all time with ‘One Dance’ and ‘God’s Plan’.
He’s also become a mainstay in online music discussions, earning a place in ‘The Big Three’ where the Toronto-born rapper shares this honour with fellow respected rap nobles J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar.
Now, Drake has teamed up with fellow Canadian artist PartyNextDoor to release their joint album ‘Some Sexy Songs 4 U’
Drake UK tour dates
Sun 20 July – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Mon 21 July – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Wed 23 July – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Fri 25 July – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Sat 26 July – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Mon 28 July – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Mon 4 August – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Drake tickets for Co-op Live gig
Mr ‘Hotline Bling’ is making his way to Manchester not just for one night but for four, and it seems we Mancs couldn’t be more in our feelings as tickets for ‘Some Special Shows 4 UK’ are limited.
If you don’t want to be left saying ‘What Did I Miss?’, you can still get your hands on a couple of tickets to the upcoming Drake gigs in Manchester HERE.
And anyone after getting the best ‘Views’ and a premium seat for the Champagne Papi’s special Manchester tour dates can find all available dates and tickets HERE.
Drake ‘Some Special Shows 4 U’ setlist
Drake last touched down in the UK on his 2019 Assassination Vaction Tour.Now, the rap royalty is taking on 23,500 venue, Co-op Live.Credit: The Come Up Show (via Flickr)
After almost two decades racking up an impressive collection of hits, it’s no surprise that this setlist is quite a lengthy one.
Drake is known to tweak and fine-tune his setlists depending on each city, like his recent three-day headline slot at Wireless Festival, which saw a new roster of hits each night.
The Canadian rapper recently played a huge headline gig in Birmingham, and these were the tracks that played out. Hopefully, a lot of these will get a performance in Manchester when he visits Co-op Live.
Gimme a Hug
Marvin’s Room
Teenage Fever
Passionfruit
Jungle
What Did I Miss?
Headlines
Know Yourself
Nonstop
Sicko Mode
No Face
Circadian Rhythm
Laugh Now Cry Later
God’s Plan
In My Feelings
Nice for What
Controlla
Find Your Love
Hold On, We’re Going Home
One Dance
Blue Green Red
Who Told You
CN Tower
Something About You
Spider-man Superman
Die Trying
Somebody Loves Me
OMW
Girls Want Girls
Fancy
Love Me
Hours in Silence
Rich Baby Daddy
You Broke My Heart
Knife Talk
Rich Flex
IDGAF
Hotline Bling
Nokia
Yebba’s Heartbreak
Who is supporting Drake at Co-op Live?
With so many songs to get through, it’s no real surprise that there’s just one support act for ‘Drizzy’s Co-op Live debut, and it’s a pretty popular compatriot of his.
Teaming up with Drake for their first-ever joint album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U – which lends its name to this tour – you can
His name is often stylised in all caps, but we feel that’s almost like internet shouting, so we’ll just share one of those aforementioned features instead.
They’ve been working together in some capacity for more than a decade now.
Don’t worry, if you haven’t heard much of him before, there’s very little shouting – though you will likely recognise his soft R’n’B vocals.
What are the stage times for Drake in Manchester?
Doors for each of Drake’s ‘Some Special Songs 4 UK’ tour with PartyNextDoor will open from 6:30pm with no official start time listed yet.
That being said, you can expect the pair to spend a fair amount of time together on the stage.
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you can hear all 40 songs on the Canadian performer’s setlist without having to say ‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’.
Drake is bringing the ‘Some Special Songs 4 UK’ tour for four nights in Manchester.PARTYNEXTDOOR a.k.a. Jahron Anthony BrathwaiteCredit: Supplied
How to get to Co-op Live concerts
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, luckily, it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time; there are also designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day – though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes via the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Emily Sergeant -
15th March 2022 
