Plan to end smoking in Wales by end of decade
PLANS to end smoking in Wales by 2030 are being launched by the Welsh Government today. Tackling health inequalities and helping people quit are part of the scheme to make Wales smoke-free by the end of the decade.
Launching a consultation for the long-term tobacco control strategy, Deputy Minister for Wellbeing Lynne Neagle said the target is to achieve a smoke-free Wales by 2030, which means less than 5% of the population smoking.
A consultation on the plan will run until January 31.
Research has also shown that people with a mental illness are about twice as likely to smoke as others who do not suffer from mental health issues.
This year Wales became the first UK nation to introduce smoke-free playgrounds, school grounds and hospital grounds.
Next year, on March 1, 2022, there will be a ban on smoking in bedrooms in hotels and guest houses as well as in self-contained holiday accommodation such as cottages, caravans and Airbnbs.
“Not only does making more public places smoke-free protect people from harmful second-hand smoke, these areas have an important role in making smoke-free the norm and in supporting more smokers to quit,” the Welsh Government said.
The consultation will seek people’s views on how to create a smoke-free society in Wales as well as the actions set out in the first two-year delivery plan.
The strategy will also look at how additional support can be given to help more people quit through the free NHS service Help Me Quit as well as plans to expand help for smokers who are in hospital. Publicly-funded organisations could also be asked to be smoke-free and to support their workforce to get advice and support to quit smoking.
Ms Neagle said: “Our ambition is make Wales smoke-free and to support people to make choices to improve their health and wellbeing.
“Wales has led the way by being the first part of the UK to ban smoking in some public places, including public playgrounds and school grounds where children and young people spend their time, but we know we need to do more to strengthen our smoke-free message, particularly to the next generation, and change how they and wider society view smoking.
“Smoking remains the leading cause of premature death here in Wales and a major contributor to health inequalities. Whilst we have made progress in recent years in reducing the number of people smoking, we want to go further and be ambitious to create a Wales where smoking is far from the norm.
“I would encourage people to share their views on this consultation and help shape future decisions.”
Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Frank Atherton, said: “Smoking is extremely damaging to health. In 2018, around 5,600 deaths in people aged 35 and over and 28,000 admissions to hospital were attributable to smoking.
“We need to work together as a society, including government, health professionals and communities to ensure we are doing all we can to tackle smoking and reduce the illhealth smoking causes. I would encourage anyone wanting to give up smoking to access Wales’ free NHS support service, Help Me Quit for help and support.”
Dr David Tuthill, officer for Wales at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: “Smoking is detrimental to the health of young people throughout their lives, from higher rates of cot death to unnecessary hospital admissions for chest problems.
“In our flagship report, State of Child Health 2020, we called on the Welsh Government to set targets for a smoke-free generation by 2030, so this announcement is extremely welcome news. The real work starts now to make sure this ambition is realised and the RCPCH looks forward to responding to the consultation.”