Council commit to Smokefree county by 2030 with Nottinghamshire smoking rates above national average

An independent national review into tobacco control policies has outlined recommendations to reduce rates of smoking which could help England become smokefree by 2030.

Smoking remains the single biggest preventable cause of death and illness in England, with an estimated 1,124 people in Nottinghamshire dying as a result each year. An alarming statistic as approximately 1000 young people took up the habit in the county in the same period.

Despite a continued decline in smoking, data released by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities revealed that the number of adult smokers in Nottinghamshire is above the national average of 13.9% at 14%. However this varies widely across the county, from 5.9% at its lowest in Rushcliffe, rising to 19.8% in Mansfield and 18.8% in Ashfield.

The recommendations, which are welcomed by public health experts at Nottinghamshire County Council, include the following four critical interventions:

• raising the age of sale from 18 by one year every year, until eventually no one can buy a tobacco product in this country
• increased investment of an additional £125 million per year in smokefree 2030 policies, with an extra £70 million per year ringfenced for stop smoking services
• promotion of vapes as an effective ‘swap to stop’ tool to help people quit smoking
• improving prevention in the NHS so smokers are offered advice and support to quit at every interaction they have with health services.

Councillor Dr John Doddy, Chairman of Nottinghamshire’s Joint Health & Wellbeing Board, said: “As a local GP, I see at first-hand the devastating impact that tobacco can have on a person’s health and wellbeing. So, I’m delighted that the independent review is suggesting these greater powers to help us make smoking obsolete and protect future generations from serious disease and financial loss.

Besides the health benefits of a smoke free county, there could also be economic ones too as each year the cost of smoking in Nottinghamshire is estimated to be around £242 million, this is accrued from health care costs, lost productivity, social care, fires and littering (of tobacco products). Cutting smoking out could release these funds for other projects and initiatives.

There is widespread public support for measures to end smoking. A 2021 YouGov survey commissioned by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), found that more than three quarters (76%) of the public support the Government’s Smokefree 2030 ambition.