Plans announced to make Wales 'smoke-free' by 2030

• Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive Officer of Ash Wales speaks on Wales At Six

New plans to make Wales smoke-free by 2030 have been unveiled in a strategy which aims to tackle health inequality.

Deputy Minister for Wellbeing, Lynne Neagle, has launched the consultation for A Smoke-free Wales.

The long term tobacco control strategy aims to see less than 5% of the population smoking by the end of this decade. Smoking remains the leading cause of premature deaths in Wales.

Lynne Neagle said: “Our ambition is make Wales smoke free and to support people to make choices to improve their health and wellbeing.

"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."

At present, 14% of Wales’ population smoke, with research showing those in more deprived areas are more likely to do so. Research also shows that those with mental health illnesses are twice as likely to smoke.

Adding to these statistics, 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 ill health smoking causes."

Leading the way this year, Wales became the first nation in the UK to turn playgrounds, school and hospital grounds into smoke-free zones. 

Banning smoking in hotels and guest houses, as well as in self-contained holiday accommodation, such as AirBnBs, is also on the agenda for March, next year. 

The Government has also suggested publicly funded organisations may be asked to become smoke-free and help provide support and advice to their workforce on quitting smoking. 

The changes introduced are to protect people from harmful second-hand smoke but also to normalise smoke-free spaces as a way of supporting more smokers to quit. 

Campaigners have criticised plans to make Wales ‘smoke-free’, adding that it's a choice adults make and "must be respected."

Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ group Forest, said: "Tobacco is a legal product. No-one should be forced to quit smoking yet freedom of choice and personal responsibility are being replaced by coercion and creeping prohibition.

"If people choose not to smoke, that’s fine, but setting a target for a smoke-free Wales is a green light for politicians and campaigners who seem determined to regulate and control people’s lives."

Mr Clark said that instead of imposing further restrictions on adults who smoke, a more progressive policy would focus on education and harm reduction.

He added: "Smokers should be informed about safer nicotine products like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco but ultimately, if adults still choose to smoke, that choice must be respected by government and society."

Praising the changes that have already been implemented, Lynne Neagle said more needs to be done: ‘’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.

"I would encourage people to share their views on this consultation and help shape future decisions.’’

The consultation, open until January 31st, will take on board people’s views and opinions on how to create a smoke-free Wales by 2030. 

As well as setting a clear two year action plan, the strategy will also look at additional funding to help people quit through the NHS service and additional support for smokers who are in hospital.