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Webinar
Statistical

Webinar: Understanding the costs of smoking

Sep 2026

This ASH webinar brings together leading experts in public health and economics to explore the economic impacts of smoking and the tobacco industry in the UK.

Chaired by Michal Stoklosa, Economist in Fiscal and Legal Measures for Health at the World Health Organization, the session examines how the costs of smoking to the UK economy are measured, what happens when consumer spending shifts away from tobacco, and the pricing strategies that enable the tobacco industry to remain highly profitable.

Speakers and presentations included

  • Welcome and introductions
    Michal Stoklosa, Economist, Fiscal and Legal Measures for Health, World Health Organization
  • Overview of the cost of smoking to the UK economy and how this is calculated
    Dr Tessa Langley, University of Nottingham
  • What happens to the economy when people stop buying tobacco?
    Dr Howard Reed, Landman Economics
  • Economics of the tobacco industry, profitability and pricing tactics
    Dr Rob Branston, University of Bath
  • Communicating the costs of smoking
    Hazel Cheeseman, Action on Smoking and Health
  • Q&A

 

Resources 

Slides: Overview of the cost of smoking to the UK economy and how this is calculated

Slides: What happens to the economy when people stop buying tobacco?

Slides: Economics of the tobacco industry, profitability and pricing tactics

Slides: Communicating the costs of smoking