New figures reveal that the total annual cost of smoking to Calderdale is an estimated £158 million.
Published by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the figures highlight the significant economic and social impact of smoking across the borough, underlining the substantial burden it places on individuals, communities, public services and the wider economy.
The data shows that around 17,800 adults in Calderdale still smoke, and how smoking can cost society through loss of productivity, healthcare, social care and fire costs.
The £158 million total is made up of:
- £89.6 million in lost productivity costs
- £60.1 million in social care costs
- £6.90 million in healthcare costs
- £1.34 million in costs linked to fires caused by smoking
In contrast, revenue from tobacco taxation brings in around £26.3 million to Calderdale in a year (excluding VAT).
The new costs come as ASH’s annual public opinion survey shows strong public support for action to address smoking, with 67% of adults in England supporting a goal to make Britain a country where no one smokes.
Scott Crosby, Chair of Breathe, the region’s tobacco control programme, said: “These figures are a stark reminder that tobacco is draining Yorkshire and the Humber – from our economy to our NHS and our communities. Tobacco companies continue to make significant profits from a uniquely lethal product, while the costs fall on the public sector and wider society. That imbalance is not sustainable.
“A ‘polluter pays’ levy would help address this – ensuring the industry contributes directly to the cost of the harm it causes, and providing funding for prevention and support to help people quit.
“These figures highlight the need for sustained action to reduce smoking rates and help more people quit.”
Calderdale Council’s Director for Public Health, Debs Harkins, said: : “These figures highlight the wider cost of smoking and how it impacts families, our economy, social care services and the NHS. They demonstrate how the harms of tobacco go beyond physical health and why improving health and wellbeing is a priority to protect our communities
“We know stopping smoking can be difficult, but we’re committed to helping people to quit through our local stop smoking service and free access to the Smoke Free app. There are now so many options to support your stop-smoking journey , so even if you’ve attempted to quit in the past, this could be the time you’re successful. “
ASH Chief Executive, Hazel Cheeseman, said: “Reducing smoking rates would not only ease pressure on the NHS and boost productivity, it would also improve the lives of millions of people and families affected by smoking. Too many communities, particularly those in areas of high deprivation, where smoking rates are highest, continue to bear the greatest health and financial burden, while the tobacco industry remains the only real beneficiary of people continuing to smoke.
“A levy on tobacco companies could help bring forward a smokefree future while funding the practical support people need to quit for good.”
The release of the new figures follows the launch of Turn the Corner, a regional stop-smoking initiative coordinated by the Humber and North Yorkshire Centre for Excellence in partnership with 15 local authorities and Yorkshire Cancer Research. The aim of the campaign is to inspire smokers to quit by raising awareness of the powerful message that every cigarette steals an average of 20 minutes off your life.
Scott Crosby added: “Campaigns such as Turn the Corner are vital in raising awareness of the harm caused by tobacco. We’ve spoken with many former smokers who have first-hand experience of the devastation that tobacco can have on your health, lifestyle and finances.
“Quitting smoking can genuinely help people turn a corner in their lives.”
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK, causing around 80,000 deaths each year [1]and harming nearly every organ of the body.
Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale offers up to 12 weeks of free support, along with access to free nicotine replacement options, to help you quit smoking. Visit https://calderdale.yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk/(external link) to find out more.
If you live in Yorkshire and the Humber, you can get six months access to all features on the Smoke Free app for free, including nicotine replacement medication as part of the Turn the Corner campaign, worth up to £300. Find out more at www.YesToQuit.co.uk(external link).
[1] Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Global Burden Study of Disease(external link), 2023, United Kingdom