Smoking remains Wales’ leading cause of preventable death. The next Senedd must finish the job, whilst preventing a new generation of nicotine addiction.
The headline prevalence figure hides a stark divide. Where you live and what you own determines whether you smoke, and whether you get support to stop.
A 22-point gap between social housing tenants and homeowners is not a lifestyle statistic. It is a measure of how deeply inequality shapes health outcomes. The communities facing the highest smoking rates also face the most barriers to quitting.
The human cost of smoking is well documented. But the financial cost to Wales is equally stark — and largely avoidable. Every pound not spent on prevention and cessation is a pound spent on treating the consequences.
Equivalent to 5% of Wales’s entire health and social care budget, consumed every year by a preventable epidemic. The tobacco industry profits from addiction while the NHS, communities and taxpayers pick up the bill. A polluter pays levy would begin to make them pay their share.
Select a health board to explore smoking prevalence, economic costs, and hospitalisation data for each region. Note: figures below are illustrative placeholders, to be replaced with PHW data on publication.
Smoking remains Wales’ leading preventable killer. The next Senedd has a once-in-a-term opportunity to act. These are the six commitments we are asking every Member to champion.
Senedd Members should ensure tobacco control consequential funding is allocated in full to stop smoking services. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill must be fully implemented, including raising the age of sale, introducing a national retail licensing scheme, and delivering a fully funded strategy to tackle illicit tobacco and vapes. Evidence shows sustained investment in cessation delivers both health gains and reduced pressure on the NHS.
Senedd Members should champion a whole-government approach that recognises smoking as a driver and consequence of poverty. Cessation support must be embedded in community settings, including debt advice, food banks, and housing programmes, not limited to clinical environments. Smoking prevalence remains significantly higher in social housing, reinforcing the need for targeted intervention.
Senedd Members should press for the urgent reconvening of the Tobacco Control Strategy Board, alongside agreement of a new national implementation plan from the start of the new term. The previous plan expired in 2024, and continued absence of national coordination risks stalling progress. The Board should re-establish structured engagement with the third sector, including the Wales Tobacco Control Alliance.
Senedd Members should support the reconvening of the Cross Party Group on Smoking and Health to enable ongoing scrutiny and cross-party accountability. This provides an immediate mechanism to track delivery, maintain political focus, and ensure tobacco control remains a priority throughout the Seventh Senedd.
Senedd Members should back calls for the UK Government to consult on and introduce a polluter pays tobacco levy. The tobacco industry generates substantial profits while externalising costs to the NHS, communities, and the environment. A levy would provide a sustainable funding stream for prevention, cessation, and enforcement.
Senedd Members should ensure action to prevent uptake of vaping and other nicotine products among children and never smokers, while maintaining access for adult smokers seeking to quit. This includes robust implementation of Tobacco and Vapes Act measures on restricting flavours, colours, and marketing. Ongoing surveillance and enforcement will be critical to prevent a new generation of nicotine dependence.
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