This report presents views shared by stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Ten Year Tobacco Control Strategy in Northern Ireland (2012-2022). 

Stakeholder engagement was undertaken by the Institute of Public Health using a structured and facilitated workshop and a post workshop survey. This work informed the end of term review of the 2012-2022 strategy and can help shape any future strategy. 

Stakeholders recognised positive changes delivered through the strategy, including a decline in smoking among children and young people, and pregnant women. They also highlighted the progress made in legislation, including the ban on sale of tobacco from vending machines, ban on point-of-sale advertising, standardised cigarette packaging and the ban on smoking in private vehicles where children are present. Progress was also noted in terms of social marketing to engage smokers and development of stop smoking services.  

Stakeholders identified some deficits in the delivery of the strategy, including delays in the passage of some legislation due to non-sitting government.  Some stakeholders considered that marketing campaigns and service development were underpowered and that the approaches to addressing inequalities in smoking were underdeveloped.  Others noted that implementation was vulnerable to the redeployment of resources as part of the pandemic response.  

Stakeholders also presented a number of suggestions for future policy development, which are detailed in the main report.