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Blog: A smoke-free generation: a vision for a healthier future
In a blog for the Local Government Association (LGA), Councillor David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA Community Wellbeing Board, writes in support of the government's smoke-free ambition and the importance of curbing the devastating health impacts of smoking.
Cllr Fothergill starts by setting out the harms of smoking and how it remains the “leading cause of preventable ill health, disability, and death in England." He highlights the devasting effects of smoking and how it kills more than 175 people a day, resulting in around 64,000 deaths annually.
He continues by drawing attention to the finding from last year’s Khan review that “nearly half a million more people will die from smoking by 2030” if urgent action is not taken to reduce smoking rates.
Referring to the Government’s proposal to incrementally raising the age of sale, Cllr Fothergill states that is “progressive policy that would undoubtedly impact on population level smoking prevalence, and ultimately improve rates of smoking related disease.”
Finally, Cllr Fothergill states that a smokefree generation is “attainable” but there will be challenges in overcoming “deeply entrenched cultural norms" around smoking and pushback from the tobacco industry. He says there is a need for “innovative strategies and political will” to make a smoke-free generation a reality.
Source: LGA, 3 November 2023
See also: DHSC - Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping: what you need to know
You can respond to the government consultation, either as an individual or work with leaders in your organisation to submit an organisational response. ASH and Fresh has prepared an outline response that can be adapted here. The consultation closes on 11.59pm 6th December.
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Cambridgeshire County Council back smoking ban plans
Health bosses at Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) have welcomed the commitment set out in His Majesty The King's speech for consultation towards establishing a "smokefree generation".
The King's speech also promised a "further crackdown on youth vaping", with a consultation currently ongoing on how to protect children while encouraging adult smokers to use vapes to quit.
Cllr Richard Howitt, chair of the adults and health committee at CCC, said: "Our ambitions as a council include reducing health inequalities and protecting the health of children, and I am delighted that there is cross-party support for a new bill which, if approved, will help us with our strategy with targets to cut smoking, protect children and young people from vapes and improve health.
"In June, the Adults and Health Committee agreed a new set of actions, working with our health partners, to help decrease the number of people in Cambridgeshire who smoke. Particularly in Fenland, where rates are increasing.
"As a council, we have already recognised the need to tighten the regulation of the sale of illegal tobacco, alongside illegal sales of vapes to young people."
There are an estimated 62,500 smokers in Cambridgeshire, which equates to 13.2 per cent of the population, and CCC's newly adopted smoking strategy is aiming to cut the figure down significantly.
Source: ElyStandard, 10 November 2023
See also: DHSC - Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping: what you need to know
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House of Lords: King’s Speech debate
On Thursday, peers debated the policies outlined in the King’s Speech, most notably the proposals on smoking and vaping. This legislation would stop children aged 14 or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes and a further crackdown on youth vaping.
Lord Markham (Con), Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DHSC introduced the proposed policies of the King’s speech and said in order to alleviate the huge challenges the health service faces, stopping those who are 14 and below smoking would be a huge step in preventing younger generations from suffering from major illnesses and allow them to take responsibility for their health.
The Lord Bishop of London added that she welcomed the governments proposed ban on smoking and said it is the single biggest preventable killer in the UK and an example of pronounced health inequality, citing Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty’s comments “Smoking is usually twice as high in people with lower incomes and more than twice as high in people living with mental health issues”.
Baroness Jay of Paddington (Lab) added support for the tobacco and vapes bill but stated a need for broad-based public health programmes and that there is a need to dispel unease about health legislation being “nanny state” intervention.
Lord Young of Cookham (Con) added that the tobacco and vapes bill would put “England, along with New Zealand, ahead of the pack” as pioneers of public health legislation. He also argued that in order to hit the government target of a Smokefree 2030 additional measures were needed, like the levy on tobacco profits proposed in the Khan review.
Baroness Walmsley (LD) welcomed the proposal to raise the age of sale and stated that smoking “is different from all other ways in which people freely choose to damage their own health” because it is uniquely addictive and harmful. She added that the legislation will also include measures to address youth vaping. She acknowledged that vapes have their place as a successful smoking cessation tool for adult smokers, but that “the vaping industry has cooked its own goose by the reckless and widespread promotion—and sometimes the free supply—of single-use vapes to children.” She calls on this to be stopped as soon as possible.
Lord Rennard (LD) added that Cancer Research UK estimated that around 900,000 GP appointments are made every year due to smoking and 200 people die every day due to smoking in England. The cost to the public purse of early deaths due to smoking will be £31 billion and lost productivity will cost £38 billion. He echoed Sir Chris Whitty’s comments that claims from the tobacco industry that the policy would not work as “bogus”.
Source: Hansard, 9 November 2023
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APPG on Smoking and Health launches its Tobacco Control Manifesto
The backbench All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health launched its manifesto for a Smokefree future yesterday, calling on the Government to make Big Tobacco pay to deliver a Smokefree future. The manifesto includes:
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new figures showing that the cost of smoking to public finances in England is £21 bn in 2023, nearly double tobacco tax revenues
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modelling demonstrating that the APPG’s recommendations could save £3.1 bn for the public purse during the course of the next parliament
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analysis showing that a ‘polluter pays’ levy on tobacco manufacturers could raise up to £700 mn a year; and
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calls on government to make Big Tobacco pay to deliver a Smokefree future
Bob Blackman CBE MP (Chairman of the APPG, Harrow East, Conservative) said:
“The APPG strongly supports the Government’s ambition to create a smokefree generation. In order, however, to maximise the benefits to health, wellbeing and to the economy, the smokefree ambition must be delivered for everyone, and current investment is not sufficient. The APPG’s tobacco manifesto calls on the government to put a ‘polluter pays’ levy on the tobacco manufacturers to provide the necessary funding for a Tobacco Control programme fit to deliver a Smokefree Future for us all.”
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health said:
“How can we justify allowing tobacco manufacturers to make unfettered profits from selling addictive and life-destroying cigarettes, when the pharmaceutical industry and utilities like energy and water, all of which sell essential, life-saving products, have their profits strictly controlled. The DHSC run pharmaceutical pricing scheme could easily be adapted for tobacco, raising the additional funds desperately needed to deliver a smokefree future. The next Government needs to seize this once in a generation opportunity to make the tobacco manufacturers pay to deliver a smokefree future.”
APPG on Smoking and Health Manifesto for a Smokefree Future
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Podcast: Prevention is the new cure - Smoking, party conferences and Steve in Ghana
In the latest episode of the ‘prevention is the new cure’ podcast hosted by Steve Brine MP, Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee and Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, GP and former Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Steve and Helen delve into the details coming out of Party conference season including the major announcement by the Prime Minister that children turning 14 or younger this year can never legally be sold cigarettes in their lifetime. The episode also takes a look at the Liberal Democrat's 'Transforming the Nation's Health' plan. Other topics include Steve's time in Ghana which involves a deeper look at HIV and AIDS, maternal health and the fight against malaria. Pod Surgery opens once again to hear from Clare and Vijay.
Source: Podcast: Prevention is the new cure, 5 October 2023
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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