Following neatly on from last week’s look at alcohol policy and independence, it’s time to look at one old vice (smoking) alongside a much newer one (vaping).
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The evidence to date suggests that while smoking is in decline (not only in Wales but across the rest of the UK) smokers still make up around 14% of the adult population.
According to the Office of National Statistics3, men are more likely to smoke than women. Also, there are suggestions that smoking rates actually increased amongst people aged 25-34, against the trend with other age groups.
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As you can see, there are regional differences within Wales. While smoking rates have dramatically fallen since 2015, they remain noticeably higher in the Valleys and across the north.
ONS figures also show that smoking rates are much higher amongst people with no qualifications (27.5% across the UK), but are very low amongst degree-holders (6.5%).
According to the National Survey of Wales4, only 7% of people aged 16+ use e-cigarettes/vapes, though the rate was higher amongst the under-45s (9%). The rate has remained largely unchanged since the question was asked.
A Market in Death
The domestic tobacco market is dominated by three companies. Imperial Brands (Bristol, formerly Imperial Tobacco), Phillip Morris (New York City) and Japan Tobacco International (Tokyo). According to ASH, in 2016 cigarette sales in the UK were worth £12.1billion5.
In addition, British American Tobacco – based in London – is one of the largest tobacco companies globally.
All UK-based cigarette production ended in 2017. In light of declining tobacco sales, these companies have started to switch attention towards vaping.
Tobacco is a significant source of tax income too.
UK Government figures state that tobacco duty raised £8.8billion in 2023-246. According to the Wales Fiscal Future report7, tobacco duties raised £512million in Wales in 2018-19 – though it’s hard to tell if the figures now would be lower in light of declining smoking rates.
3. Office of National Statistics (5th September 2023). “Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2022” Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2022
4. StatsWales. “Adult lifestyles by age and gender”. Available at: https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/National-Survey-for-Wales/Population-Health/Adult-Lifestyles/adultlifestyles-by-age-gender
5. ASH (January 2017). “The UK tobacco industry”. Available at: https://ash.org.uk/uploads/UK-Tobacco-Industry.pdf
6. HM Revenue & Customs (30th August 2024). “Tobacco statistics commentary July 2024”. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tobacco-bulletin/tobacco-statistics-commentary-april-2024
7. Cardiff University, Wales Governance Centre (March 2020). “Wales’ Fiscal Future” (p65). Available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1767424/Wales_Fiscal_Future_FINAL.pdf
