The United Kingdom was one of the four original countries of the ITC project, which has been active in its evaluation of the country's text-only enhancement of warning labels, possibilities for future graphic warnings, its 2003 tobacco advertising ban in 2003, and more. In addition, the United Kingdom has a higher rate of smokers who buy their cigarettes from independent sellers than is observed in other ITC countries, a compensatory behaviour which is of interest to researchers. The ITC project is also monitoring the reactions and support for the new smoke-free laws in Scotland and England. The United Kingdom signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on June 16, 2003, and ratified the treaty on December 16, 2004.  

Survey Overview
Survey Mode: Telephone Survey and Web Survey

Tobacco Control Policies

• In 2002, the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act banned all advertising of tobacco products, which extends to a ban on event sponsorship by tobacco companies.
• Scotland has a comprehensive smoke-free ban.
• The minimum age for tobacco purchase is 16, with talk of raising it to 18 in Scotland.
• Light/mild descriptors were banned in May 2003.

Publications

United Kingdom Policy Timeline (February 2011)

Wave 1 Technical Report

Four Country Wave 2-8 Technical Report (Sept 2011)

ITC 4 Country Survey Questionnarie

United Kingdom Contact Information
Amanda Duncan, Project Manager. Email:  amanda.duncan@uwaterloo.ca 
Ann McNeill, Principal Investigator. Email: ann.mcneill@nottingham.ac.uk 
Gerard Hastings, Principal Investigator. Email: gerard.hastings@stir.ac.uk

Partner Institutions