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Tobacco
Smoking remains the main cause of preventable disease and premature death in the UK. In England alone, over 80,000 deaths per year are due to smoking and about 8.5 million people still smoke in England today. That is why the Government White Paper Choosing Health: Making healthier choices easier, (building on the 1998 White Paper Smoking Kills), promised new action to tackle tobacco.
The Department's tobacco programme is split into six 'strands', which each contribute to the overall reduction in smoking. Since 1998 adult smoking rates in England have fallen from 28 percent in 1998 to 21 percent in 2007 - a fall of nearly 2.5 million. These are the lowest smoking rates in England on record.
You can find out information on each strand by using the links below
A smokefree future
Published: 1 February 2010
The new tobacco control strategy for England establishes a vision of eradicating tobacco harms and creating a smokefree future, so that we can support people to live healthier and longer lives.
To deliver a smokefree future, the strategy sets out three overarching objectives to make significant progress towards a smokefree society:
- To stop the inflow of young people recruited as smokers.
- To motivate and assist every smoker to quit.
- To protect families and communities from tobacco related harm
Health Bill 2009
The Health Bill 2009 was introduced to Parliament on 15 January. It includes proposals to remove tobacco displays in shops and to restrict the sale of cigarettes from vending machines, which were discussed in the consultation on the future of tobacco control.
Revised infection control guidance on the use of CO Monitors and Spirometers has been prepared in light of current swine flu situation.
A report on the consultation on the future of tobacco control
The Department of Health ran the 'Consultation on the future of tobacco control' from 31 May to 8 September 2008. This consultation was the first step in developing a new national tobacco control strategy and a report summarises the responses that were received
Smokefree England
Virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England must be smokefree, including all pubs, clubs, membership clubs, cafes and restaurants as of 1 July 2007, in accordance with the Health Act 2006.
Reducing exposure to secondhand smoke
Secondhand smoke (also known as 'environmental tobacco smoke' (ETS) or 'passive smoking') is a mixture of side stream smoke from the burning tip of a cigarette, and mainstream smoke exhaled by a smoker. Secondhand smoke kills, and scientific evidence shows that there is no safe level of exposure.
NHS Stop Smoking Services and Nicotine Replacement Therapy
The Government has set up a comprehensive NHS Stop Smoking Service. Services are now available across the NHS in England, providing counselling and support to smokers wanting to quit, complementing the use of stop smoking aids Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and bupropion (Zyban).
Tobacco media/education campaigns
A key strand of the Government's tobacco control programme is the provision of an ongoing media/education campaign. These campaigns are now the number one reason smokers in the UK decide to try and quit.
Reducing availability of tobacco products and regulating supply
Price increases have been a highly successful way of helping people become non-smokers: UK budget changes to tobacco duty have saved lives and prevented much serious illness
Reducing Tobacco Advertising and Promotion
Strong evidence exists linking the prohibition of tobacco advertising with a decrease in smoking levels. That is why the UK has a comprehensive ban - just like many other countries in Europe and beyond. It is estimated that in the long term, the UK advertising ban will lead to a 2.5% decrease in smoking levels.
Regulating tobacco products
This strand of the Government's tobacco control programme concerns regulating the contents of tobacco products and the labelling of packaging. The relevant legislation is the Tobacco Products (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale) (Safety) Regulations 2002. These regulations were required for the UK to comply with a 2001 European Directive on tobacco products and labelling.
International issues
Information on European and WHO initiatives to reduce tobacco consumption.
Local data on pregnant women smoking at time of delivery
The Government recognises that helping pregnant women give up smoking leads to health benefits for themselves and their unborn children. Since the beginning of the NHS Stop Smoking Services in 1999, local Services have had a particular focus on helping pregnant women who smoke to give up.
Local data on GP recorded smoking
The government PSA for smoking states that reducing adult smoking rates (from 26% in 2002) to 21% or less by 2010, with a reduction in prevalence among routine and manual groups (from 31% in 2002) to 26% or less. To assist this process GPs are now required to collect information on people on thier register who smoke.
Regional Tobacco Policy
Each of the nine Government Regions has a Regional Tobacco Policy Manager. Their role is to provide strong regional leadership on tobacco control to deliver the goals of the national tobacco control programme through region wide action involving key partners and to facilitate regional change.
Tobacco Publications
Key DH-published tobacco policy documents and press releases.
Additional links
Media campaigns
Take a look at the recent advertisments that highlight the impact smoking related diseases can have on families.
Smoking, drinking and drug use
Statistics on the use and misuse of alcohol, on smoking including smoking cessation services, and on drug use, misuse and treatment.
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