The RCP has responded to public polling from The
Health Foundation and Ipsos revealing public support for the
government taking action to tackle tobacco, unhealthy food and
alcohol use.
- 73% of the public support extending the indoor smoking ban to
specific outside spaces to protect children and vulnerable
people, including playgrounds, outside schools and hospitals.
- 62% support introducing a tax on organisations that produce
foods high in sugar or salt, with some of the revenue used to
fund fresh fruit and vegetables for low income families.
- 61% support reducing the number of retailers with licenses to
sell tobacco to limit tobacco availability.
Dr John Dean, RCP clinical vice president, said:
“This latest public polling, published on World Health Day, sends
a strong and timely message: there is widespread support for the
government to take bold action to address the root causes of ill
health. Everything from the food we eat to the air we breathe
impacts our health and it places significant avoidable pressure
on our health service.
“An RCP survey published last
week found that 72% of doctors had seen more
patients in the past three months with illnesses caused or
worsened by wider social determinants of health, 46% said at
least half their workload was due to illnesses linked to
social factors, and nearly 90% expressed concern about the impact
of health inequalities on their patients.
“While the government has made a welcome commitment to
prevention, improving the nation's health cannot rest solely with
the Department of Health and Social Care. It requires a
coordinated, cross-government strategy that uses every available
policy lever.
“Only by acting across all areas of policy can we reduce health
inequalities, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier,
more economically productive society.”
Professor Sanjay Agrawal, RCP special adviser on tobacco,
said:
“The Tobacco and Vapes bill is a once-in-a-generation
opportunity to transform the future health of the country. It
will be a landmark moment in the fight against preventable
disease.
“However, today's polling makes clear that the government can and
must go further. Smoking remains the leading cause of death in
the UK. While the bill will rightly prevent future generations
from ever legally purchasing cigarettes, the health of children
and young people is still at risk from exposure to the 6 million
adults who currently smoke.
“The public clearly supports stronger action to protect young and
vulnerable people. This is an opportunity for the government to
build on the momentum of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, further
protect public health, and deliver a comprehensive approach to
creating a smoke-free society.”
Dr Kath McCullough, RCP special adviser on obesity,
said:
“We face incredibly complex challenges with obesity, particularly
in children and young people. Last year, nearly 10% of children
starting school were living with obesity, rising to over 22% by
the end of primary school. This is nothing short of a public
health crisis. Childhood obesity significantly increases the risk
of lifelong health issues and disproportionately impacts children
from low-income families, further entrenching health
inequalities.
“For too long we have placed the responsibility of weight loss
solely on individuals, ignoring the powerful role of the
environment around them. Today's polling demonstrates most people
recognise they cannot do it alone. A levy on producers whose
products contribute to unhealthy diets – particularly if the
revenue is used to increase access to fresh healthy food – is a
common-sense approach with public support. If we are serious
about improving children's health and narrowing health
inequalities, policies like this must form part of a bold,
joined-up national strategy.”
