Quitting smoking could flow £11 billion a year into local economies, says research
Nearly £11 billion a year could be spent in English communities on money saved on tobacco products if people quit smoking, according to a study.
The study, published in the journal Tobacco Control and authored by academics from the University of Sheffield, looked at how much people spend on cigarettes and other tobacco each year, and analyzed how this money could be spent in cities and towns instead.
It examined data from the Smoking Toolkit Survey, consisting of 18,721 smoking adults who estimate how much they spend on tobacco products. This was then compared with figures from government tax revenues and national estimates of illicit tobacco use.
The research concluded: “The total dividend in England is estimated at £10.9 billion per year, which equates to £1,776 per person who smokes or £246 per adult, regardless of smoking status.”
Dr. Damon Morris, the study’s author, said the money spent on tobacco-related products is money that people “could instead spend on other things, such as in stores, on entertainment or other services.”
“The total economic benefit of becoming completely smoke-free would be greater than £10.9 billion. In addition to the local benefits, the NHS could also realize savings from fewer sick smokers, and benefits to the wider economy from fewer people unable to work due to smoking-related illnesses.”
Meanwhile, a bill on tobacco and vaping has been submitted to parliament. Under the proposed legislation, anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 – essentially anyone now aged 14 or under – will not be able to legally buy a tobacco product in England during their lifetime, as the smoking age will be raised by one year. every year.
If passed, the law would come into effect in 2027. The Department of Health and Social Care said it “has the potential to virtually eliminate smoking in young people as early as 2040”. The legislation “would be the most important public health intervention in a generation,” it added.
Dr. Duncan Gillespie, a senior research fellow at Sheffield’s School of Medicine and Population Health, said: “By reducing the number of smokers and freeing up disposable income, policymakers have the opportunity to alleviate smoking-related deprivation and enable individuals to to be repurposed for essential needs.
“This redistribution of resources can contribute to economic prosperity and help reduce geographic inequality in society.”
A study last year found that the tobacco industry’s £7.3 billion annual turnover came from sales of products known to kill half of the people who use them.