“Every year around 76,000 people in the UK die from smoking, with many more living with debilitating smoking-related illness. The cost of smoking to the NHS and our economy is estimated at £17 billion a year.
Despite progress in recent years as a result of effective, evidence-led policy – including the indoor smoking ban – smoking remains the single greatest cause of health inequalities in the UK, driving death, dementia and poverty.
Smoking damages the health of not only the smoker, but those who breathe in second-hand smoke. Long-term exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, containing chemicals including nicotine, benzene, carbon monoxide, and ammonia is estimated to increase the risk of lung cancer in non-smokers by 20-30% and coronary heart disease by 25-35%.
Where cigarette smoke is likely to be more concentrated, for example in outdoor terraces or gardens of bars and cafes, the health risks of second-hand smoke – including to staff working in these venues – is significant. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, and even brief exposure can cause immediate harm, particularly for the young, elderly, or those with pre-existing conditions such as heart disease.
The Faculty of Public Health supports this Government’s commitment to protecting the health of populations across the UK by re-introducing the world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill and signalling a willingness to go further in reducing the number of lives damaged by smoking.”
