ASH calls on politicians to listen to the voters and make smoking obsolete

On this day last year the government published Javed Khan OBE’s independent report setting out his recommendations for how to make smoking obsolete.[1] His number one critical ‘must do’ was to urgently increase comprehensive investment in smokefree 2030 policies by an additional £125 million per year, and that if government could not find the funding needed, the tobacco manufacturers should be made to pay.

A year on and the government has found less than a quarter of the investment Khan said was critical, and only partially implemented his recommendations.

Results from a survey of the opinions of over 12,000 adults in Great Britain published today shows that the public support more action on tobacco and more than three quarters (77%) think that the tobacco manufacturers should be made to pay (6% oppose). [2] This includes the overwhelming majority of those surveyed who voted for the 3 largest British political parties at the 2019 general election (Conservative 75%, Labour 82%, Liberal Democrats 87%)

There is overwhelming public support, and little opposition, for a wide range of policies, including licences for businesses selling tobacco (83%), putting health warnings on cigarettes (66% support 10% oppose) and banning smoking in all cars (66% support, 16% oppose). Nearly two thirds (64%) support raising the age of sale from 18 to 21 (65% Conservative, 66% Labour and 67% Liberal Democrat voters surveyed). Half all adults support Khan’s preferred option of raising the age of sale one year every year (50%) with a quarter (25%) opposed.

Three quarters of the public support the smokefree 2030 ambition (75%, 7% oppose). However, updated analysis by Cancer Research UK shows that since the Khan review was published last June we’ve slipped another two years of track, and England won’t be smokefree until 2039.[3]

Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive, ASH said:
“The overwhelming majority of the public support the Smokefree 2030 ambition. Making the tobacco manufacturers pay for the measures needed to deliver is just as popular, including supporters of all the main British political parties (75% of those who voted Conservative at the last election, 82% who voted Labour and 87% Liberal Democrat).It is time for politicians to listen to the public, and deliver what the voters want.”

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

Action on Smoking and Health is a health charity working to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco use. ASH receives funding for its programme of work from Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive, Hazel Cheeseman Deputy Chief Executive, and Professor Nick Hopkinson, Professor of respiratory medicine at Imperial College London and Chair of ASH are available for media interviews. Contact press@ash.org.uk.

References
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/...

[2] All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was [12271] adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 22/02/2023 - 15/03/2023 . The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults. (aged 18+). Data is weighted by age, gender, region, education status, social grade, and ethnicity. Data is not controlled or weighted by past vote or political affiliation.

[3] https://news.cancerresearchuk.....