A cross-party group of MPs has called for all political parties to back a bold, fully funded strategy to make smoking obsolete within 20 years.
In a new report launched today, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health has proposed ‘polluter pays’ levy, which would require Big Tobacco to contribute £700 million annually to fund initiatives that reduce smoking rates and reduce the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest as well as easing the financial burden on taxpayers.
With smoking still claiming 74,000 lives annually, the report - A Roadmap to a Smokefree Country - sets out an ambitious plan to cut the number of smokers by 2 million within this parliament, building on the progress of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will phase out the sale of tobacco.
Other key recommendations include swift action to curb youth vaping by using new powers in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to restrict marketing of vapes in ways that appeal to children and a call to regulate all tobacco products as strictly as cigarette laws.
“The UK is set to introduce world-leading new laws that will protect future generations from the enormous harms of smoking, but we cannot ignore the millions of people still trapped by addiction,” Mary Foy MP, co-chair of the APPG, said.
“The only people who benefit from smoking is the tobacco industry who generate huge profits from peddling misery and illness. It’s time for them to pay for the damage they cause.”
Bob Blackman MP, co-chair of the APPG, added: “Smoking remains the number one cause of preventable death, costing lives and draining public finances. No government can afford to overlook the devastating impact of smoking on our economy and the NHS. This Report sets out a comprehensive plan that accelerate our progress to a smokefree UK. Further delay comes at too great a cost.”
Furthermore, the report calls for a £97 million annual investment in targeted interventions to support disadvantaged communities – unlocking £3.6 billion of savings to public finances and delivering an £18.9 billion boost to the UK economy over the next five years. While the wealthiest are set to reach less than 5 per cent smoking rates this year, the most deprived areas will not achieve this until 2050 unless urgent action is taken.
