ASH Demands Action
Action on Smoking and Health has demanded action on UK’s ‘top three killers’ ahead of Government's 10-Year Health Plan – but forgets to mention vaping
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by Dave Cross
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The Government is set to publish its 10-Year Plan to improve health. In the lead up, a coalition of health experts led by Action on Smoking and Health is calling for tough action on the UK’s three biggest preventable killers — tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food and drink — “to relieve growing pressure on NHS services”. Their call fails to mention vaping and the huge role it has played in driving down smoking rates.
ASH says: “Strong action on the industries responsible for harming our health has significant public backing with a new poll showing overwhelming public support for making health-harming industries pay for the damage their products cause to people’s health and the NHS.
“The nationally representative survey of over 2000 adults, carried out by Public First, commissioned by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the Alcohol Health Alliance, and the Obesity Health Alliance, reveals widespread public concern about the impact tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food and drink is having on the nation’s health and the NHS. It highlights a deep scepticism of big business and strong appetite for tougher government intervention — even if that means higher prices.”
Key findings include:
- 81% believe companies put profit ahead of public health.
- Just 26% trust businesses to be honest about the health impact of their products.
- 74% want the government to prioritise the public’s health over business growth
- 75% back ‘polluter pays’ levies on the tobacco and unhealthy food companies, with 60% supporting similar levies for alcohol manufacturers.
ASH adds: “The poll shows overwhelming public support for the government to act more quickly and ambitiously on smoking, alcohol and obesity rates. The organisations behind the research say the government now has a clear public mandate to act urgently on its promised shift from ‘sickness to prevention’ as it finalises it’s 10-year strategy for health. They are calling on ministers to set ambitious reduction targets, publish clear, evidence-based roadmaps for action, introduce marketing and availability restrictions, and expand access to treatment as part of a joined-up strategy to deliver Labour’s prevention mission.
“The NHS was ranked the second most important issue facing the country right now (49% of people putting it in their top three), just behind the cost of living (64%) but well ahead of the economy (36%) and immigration (37%). Large majorities of the public identify tobacco (87%), alcohol (84%) and unhealthy food and drink (83%) as significant contributing factors to NHS pressures.
“The public backs bold preventive measures, even if they mean tougher regulations and higher taxes. Despite concerns that such policies could raise product prices, this didn’t weaken support. Support for taxes is even stronger when revenues are reinvested in health services.”
Claimed public backing for preventive measures includes:
- Tobacco: The public back further action to drive down smoking including limits on where tobacco can be sold (79%), higher taxes on tobacco, health warnings on cigarettes (both 71%), a levy on tobacco companies (68%) outdoor smoking bans (67%).
- Unhealthy food and drink: There is strong support for policies on clear and consistent food labelling (84%), warning labels on unhealthy food (79%), further marketing restrictions (69%) and a ban on baby foods high in sugar and salt (75%).
- Alcohol: Support is high for nutritional and warning labels on products (72% and 75%) respectively along with a levy on alcohol businesses (60%) and limits on where alcohol can be sold (72%). Minimum unit pricing received significantly more support than opposition (45% versus 29%).
Caroline Cerny, Deputy Chief Executive at Action on Smoking and Health said: “The public has lost trust in industries that profit from harm, and they want to see the government do more to prevent poor health, as they promised to when elected. People are clear: when it comes to protecting our health and relieving pressure on the NHS, businesses must be held to account. This research shows strong support for bold, evidence-based action to tackle the damage caused by tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food. Now is the time for a joined-up prevention strategy that puts public health first."
Photo Credit:
Smoke Photo by Ruvim Noga on Unsplash
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
