Public health directors call for funded roadmap to a tobacco-free future as new statistics highlight enormous costs to society
Friday, 17 January 2025
Public health directors in Cheshire and Merseyside have renewed their call for a comprehensive, funded strategy to achieve a tobacco-free future, as new figures reveal the staggering societal costs of smoking.
In Cheshire and Merseyside alone, smoking costs the public purse £1.75bn annually, over seven times the £274m raised through tobacco taxes.
The statistics, released on 16 January by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), highlight the financial toll of smoking-related harms, including lost economic productivity, costs associated with fires, and the significant burden on NHS and social care services.
A major component of these costs is attributed to lost economic productivity due to smoking-related illnesses and premature deaths, which health leaders warn is a significant obstacle to the government’s ambitions for economic growth.
Dr. Sarah McNulty, Lead Director of Public Health for All Together Smokefree Cheshire and Merseyside and local Director of Public Health for Knowsley, said:
“The statistics paint a stark picture of the wide-reaching impact of smoking. Beyond the public purse, smoking places significant financial strain on individuals, with the average smoker spending up to £2,338 per year on cigarettes.
“This isn’t about blaming individuals but rather addressing the systemic harms caused by the tobacco industry. Our goal is to support people on their quitting journey and prevent future generations from starting to smoke. The All Together Smokefree programme across Cheshire and Merseyside will ensure people have the motivation, help and support they need to quit successfully.”
Professor Ian Ashworth, Director of Population Health for Cheshire and Merseyside, added:
“Smoking remains one of the biggest drivers of health inequalities in our communities. These figures are a wake-up call, reinforcing the need for a coordinated approach to reduce the harms caused by smoking. By working together, we can create a future where tobacco no longer blights lives and communities.”
These figures are published as the government prepares for the third reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in Parliament. This pivotal piece of legislation aims to ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after January 1, 2009, and to reduce preventable cancers and premature deaths.
ASH has also called for a “polluter pays” levy on tobacco manufacturers to provide the funding necessary to achieve a smoke-free future. Unlike tobacco taxes, which can be passed on to consumers, this levy would directly hold highly profitable tobacco companies accountable for the harm caused by their products.
Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of ASH, said:
“These figures show that tobacco has no place in our country’s future. The tobacco industry profits from a lethal addiction that imposes significant costs on public services and the economy. A ‘polluter pays’ levy would provide vital resources to accelerate progress towards a smoke-free nation and end the harms from smoking for good.”
The Directors of Public Health reaffirm their commitment to working with partners across the region to develop and implement a comprehensive roadmap that supports individuals in quitting smoking, prevents initiation, and addresses the systemic harms perpetuated by the tobacco industry.