Public support for Government action on tobacco in Great Britain

Summary

This briefing sets out support for government action on tobacco in Great Britain broken down by voting intention. The results are from a representative survey of over 12,000 adults aged 18+ in Great Britain carried out by YouGov for ASH online in February/March this year.1 Data is representative of GB adults by key demographics, but party vote is not controlled for and is based on natural fallout.

• Three quarters of adults in England and Scotland (75%) support their government’s smokefree ambition, and 69% of adults in Wales, with similar results for those voting in the last general election for all the political parties represented in Westminster.
• More than three quarters (77%) of adults in Great Britain support tobacco manufacturers being required to pay a levy to government for measures to help smokers quit and prevent young people from taking up smoking, with 6% opposed. Three quarters or more of those voting in the last general election for all the political parties represented in Westminster supported the levy.
• There is majority support for all key interventions with low levels of opposition.

For full graphs of national public support for the whole GB population, not broken down by voting intention, download here.

Support for a smokefree ambition by voting intention in England, Wales and Scotland

The Government has set a target for England to be smokefree by 2030. ‘Smokefree’ is defined as smoking rates of 5% or less. Three quarters (75%) of the public in England support the government’s smokefree ambition including 73% of those voting Conservative in the 2019 general election, 79% Labour, 84% Liberal Democrat, and 83% Green. A Smokefree 2030 in England is supported by more smokers (42%) than oppose (27%), with 31% saying they neither support nor oppose or don’t know.

The Welsh Government’s target is also to be Smokefree by 2030. This ambition is supported by 69% of adults in Wales, including 61% of those voting Conservative in the 2019 general election, 78% Labour, and 81% Liberal Democrat and Plaid Cymru. A Smokefree 2030 in Wales is supported by the same proportion of smokers (38%) as are opposed (38%), with 25% saying they neither support nor oppose or don’t know.

The Scottish Government’s target is to be smokefree by 2034. This ambition is supported by 75% of adults in Scotland, including 65% of those voting Conservative in the 2019 general election, 75% Labour, 78% Liberal Democrat and 83% Scottish National Party. A Smokefree 2034 in Scotland is supported by more smokers (38%) than oppose (26%), with 36% saying they neither support nor oppose or don’t know.

Support for a levy on tobacco manufacturers

More than three quarters (77%) of adults in Great Britain support tobacco manufacturers being required to pay a levy to government for measures to help smokers quit and prevent young people from taking up smoking, with 6% opposed. Three quarters or more of those voting for all the political parties represented in Westminster support a levy, ranging from 75% of those who voted Conservative in 2019 to 87% of those voting Liberal Democrat or for the Green party.

Support for increased government investment in public education campaigns

70% of adults in Great Britain support increasing government investment in public education campaigns on smoking aimed at adults and children, with 7% opposed. The highest levels of support are among those voting Liberal Democrat (78%) Labour (77%), SNP and Green party (76%), but two thirds (67%) of Conservative voters were supportive and one in ten (10%) opposed.