Press Releases - Action on Smoking and Health

Mental Health Foundation Chief Exec to lead Mental Health and Smoking Partnership

28 July 2022 The Mental Health and Smoking Partnership, coordinated by Action on Smoking and Health, is delighted to welcome Mark Rowland Chief Executive of Mental Health Foundation as the new Co-Chair of the Partnership. The Mental Health and Smoking Partnership is a coalition of 25 organisations who aim to reduce the disparities in smoking […]

Fears of growth in children vaping disposables backed up by new national survey

7th July 2022 The annual YouGov youth survey for ASH carried out in March and published today [1] shows current vaping among children 11-17 up from 4% in 2020 [2] to 7% in 2022. The proportion of children who admit ever having tried vaping has also risen from 14% in 2020 to 16% in 2022. […]

15 years after the smoking ban Government policy still lags behind public opinion

1st July 2022 NEW data released today (1st July) shows the level of public support for action on smoking continues to grow. The public support the Khan Review’s [1] recommendations to make England smokefree: now it’s time for Government to deliver July 1st, 2022, is the fifteenth anniversary of the 2007 smokefree legislation that prohibited […]

New report finds smoking is a cause of depression and schizophrenia

20th June 2022 Smoking increases the risk of developing schizophrenia by between 53% and 127% and of developing depression by 54% to 132%, a report by academics from the University of Bristol published today [20 June] has shown. More research is needed to identify why this is the case, and more evidence is needed for […]

Regional press releases: Khan Review would reduce early deaths and inequality

See below for regional press releases on the publication of Javed Khan’s Independent Review of the government’s ambition to make England smokefree by 2030. These include regional data on the impact of smoking in each region. The national press release can be viewed here. North West North East Yorkshire and Humber West Midlands East Midlands […]

ASH and APPG on Smoking and Health welcome bold Javed Khan review to deliver Government’s Smokefree 2030 ambition

9 June 2022 Calls for immediate investment of £125 million a year will help to make smoking history. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) today (June 9) welcomed Javed Khan’s call for £125 million immediate annual investment to deliver his bold plans to make smoking obsolete. Following publication of the independent review, ASH urged […]

Tobacco is bad for our health and the health of our planet – message for World No Tobacco Day

26th May 2022 NEW YouGov survey finds 8 in 10 people want to see cigarette butts containing plastic banned to protect the environment. Regional breakdown available ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) is calling for more action to end tobacco harm this World No Tobacco Day (31st May), as statistics bring to light the […]

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 […]