Public health charity calls for the Chancellor to do his
bit to help smokers quit in his first Budget which falls on No
Smoking Day this year.
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is joined by over 10
public health organisations including Cancer Research
UK, British Lung Foundation and British Heart
Foundation in calling on the Chancellor to do more to reduce the
affordability of tobacco products; one of the most effective ways
to reduce smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of premature
death, killing 100,000 people in the UK each year and leaving
thousands more living with a serious smoking-related
illness.
Specifically, charities want to see the Chancellor
reintroduce the tax escalator and take steps to close the gap in
tax between hand rolled tobacco and factory-made cigarettes. Most
importantly they want to see Treasury backing for a new Smokefree
2030 Fund to deliver on the Government’s commitment for a
smokefree country by 2030. The charities are calling for a
specific levy on tobacco companies to raise a £300 million annual
fund to pay for the measures needed to help more smokers quit and
prevent children from taking up smoking.
Hazel Cheeseman, Director of Policy, Action on Smoking and
Health (ASH) said:
“With his first Budget falling on No Smoking Day the
Chancellor has an opportunity to take a real stride forward in
protecting the public’s health. Making tobacco less helps
smokers to quit while children are less able to afford
cigarettes. However, as we raise the price of tobacco it is only
right that we also invest in the measures that will help more
people to quit or never to start smoking.”
If the Government is to meet its ambition of a Smokefree
England by 2030,[1] funding is needed to help smokers quit and
prevent young people from taking up smoking. ASH, together with
over 70 organisation is calling for a Smokefree 2030 Fund to make
the tobacco industry pay for the damage it does.[2]
This week The King’s Fund published a
report highlighting the positive
contribution taxes have made to addressing public health problems
such as smoking and advocating for further action.
ENDS
Notes to the editor:
About Action on Smoking and Health:
Action on Smoking and Health is a health charity working to
eliminate the harm caused by tobacco use. For more information
see: www.ash.org.uk/about-ash
ASH receives funding for its programme of work from Cancer
Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.
References:
[1] Cabinet Office and Department of
Health and Social Care. Advancing our health:
prevention in the 2020s – consultation
document. July 2019.
[2] Smokefree Action Coalition. Roadmap to a Smokefree
2030. March 2020.
