Press Releases - Action on Smoking and Health

The NHS, local government, MPs and peers stand together to commit to a smokefree future

09 March 2022 At a parliamentary event to celebrate No Smoking Day [1] the Public Health Minister heard leading figures from across health and local government affirm their commitment to securing the Government’s goal of a smokefree country by 2030. The Public Health Minister was speaking together with Local Government Leaders and senior figures from […]

Don’t give up on giving up: The message from healthcare professionals to smokers this No Smoking Day

9th March 2022 Smokers are being urged to give quitting another go this No Smoking Day (9th March) as a series of powerful new films [1] from those working in the NHS are launched. The films offer advice to people on the importance of stopping smoking and come as new YouGov data [2] commissioned by […]

A third of smoking households in England are living in poverty with rates highest in the North

9th February 2022 Local breakdown and further regional and local data available New analysis of national data commissioned by charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) finds that the proportion of smokers living in poverty is highest in the north and midlands. The new breakdown [1] published today [Wednesday 9th February] shows that In England […]

Local council support for smokers better than pre-pandemic – but chronic funding pressures remain

24th January 2022 Findings from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and Cancer Research UK’s annual national survey of local government stop smoking support [1] show improvements compared to before the pandemic hit. In 2021, 76% of local authorities were providing some form of dedicated specialist service for smokers, compared to 69% in 2019. However, […]

Smoking costs society £17bn – £5bn more than previously estimated

Friday 14th January 2022 Regional and local breakdown available New economic analysis of national data for ASH finds the cost of smoking to society is significantly higher than previous estimates have shown. Commissioned by charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) the new figures [1] published today [Thursday 13th January] show the cost of smoking […]

ASH comment on New Zealand’s plan to ban cigarette sales for future generations

Commenting on new measures being introduced to end smoking in New Zealand,[1] ASH Deputy Chief Executive Hazel Cheeseman said: “In New Zealand they set an ambition to be smokefree and now have a plan to achieve this. Our government, with the same ambition, is yet to make any clear commitments to tackle smoking – despite […]

ASH at 50: Nearly 8 million lives in the UK lost due to tobacco since 1971

A new analysis to mark the 50th anniversary of ASH finds that smoking killed nearly 8 million people in the UK over the last 50 years with an estimated 2 million more expected to die in the next 20 years without radical changes to smoking rates.[1] The modelling was by Professor Sir Richard Peto, world […]

MHRA enhanced guidance on medical licensing for e-cigs welcomed by health leaders, clinicians and tobacco experts

The updated guidance for e-cigarette firms seeking a medicinal licence for their products published today by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) [1] has been welcomed by health leaders, clinicians and tobacco experts. Rt Hon Sir Norman Lamb, former health minister and Chair of the Science and Technology Select Committee said, “As an […]

Budget a small step forward for tobacco but still not enough

Tobacco duties In line with the escalator duty rates on all tobacco products will increase by 2% above (RPI) and on hand rolling tobacco by 6% above (RPI). All changes will take effect at 6.00pm today. [1] The changes add 54p to the price of a pack of 20 cigarettes, £1.11 to a 30g pack […]

Ending smoking in the UK would increase the number of UK jobs by nearly half a million

23rd October 2021 New analysis of national statistics [1] published in advance of the Budget and Spending Review on Wednesday finds major benefits to the UK economy if all expenditure on tobacco ended. In summary: UK smokers spend around £15.6bn a year on legal and illicit tobacco If all spending on tobacco ended and consumers […]

Smoking-related poverty concentrated in the North and Midlands

23rd July 2021 New analysis [1] of national data commissioned by health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) finds that 3 in 5 of all households containing smokers living in poverty live in the North and Midlands while fewer than 1 in 5 are in London and the South East. The link between smoking […]

Delays in regulatory reform leave children exposed to e-cigarette promotion

19th July 2021 Public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) today [Monday 19th June] criticise the Government for failing to address loopholes that allow children to be given e-cigarettes as freebies although the law bans their sale to under 18s. New findings, published today, also find additional opportunities for regulations to protect children. […]

House of Lords vote on smokefree pavement licences as councils hail local successes

14th July 2021 UPDATE: This afternoon [Wednesday 14th July] Lord Faulkner of Worcester successfully won a vote regretting the Government’s failure to require COVID-19 related seating outside cafes, pubs and restaurants to be Smokefree. Lord Faulkner’s motion received strong cross-party support from peers across the House. This afternoon [Wednesday 14th July] Lord Faulkner of Worcester […]

Smoking across England costs local government £1.2 billion in social care costs every year

14th July 2021 New analyses [1] funded by the public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) shows the impact of smoking on social care need and the associated costs for each region and local authority in England. Around 1.5 million people have everyday social care needs, such as needing help with dressing, walking […]

During the pandemic smoking in pregnancy fell below 10% for the first time since records began BUT Government still not on track to reach target of 6% or less by 2022

6 July 2021 New NHS data published today [1] shows that smoking in pregnancy fell to 9.5% last year, the first time it has dropped below 10% since records began. Smoking in pregnancy declined six times faster between 2019/20 and 2020/21 than the average for the previous four years. However, in order to reach the […]