18 years since smokefree law – Wiltshire residents urged to quit smoking

To mark the 18th anniversary of the 2007 smokefree law, people across the county are being urged to make a quit attempt.

The smoking ban, which was introduced in England in July 2007, prohibited smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces to protect people from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

It is one of the most popular and successful pieces of legislation to protect health, with a huge amount of public support.  However, smoking is still the leading cause of preventable illness and death in England, killing two out of three smokers. It is also one of the biggest drivers for health inequalities in Wiltshire. 

Since the introduction of the ban on smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces, smoking rates in England have declined from 24% of people aged 16 or over smoked, to 11.6% of adults in England today. 

In Wiltshire,10.6% (approximately 44,000) of people smoke and nine people die every week because of smoking. This is why Wiltshire Council is committed to end the harm caused by tobacco and to create a smokefree county by achieving a smoking rate of 5% or less by 2029. 

Kate Blackburn, Director of Public Health for Wiltshire, said: “The smokefree legislation was huge, not only in terms of its popularity and protecting people’s health, but it was a milestone in changing people’s attitudes towards smoking. 

“It’s amazing to think that there is now a generation of adults who have never experienced a smoke-filled bar or indoor space. 

“While smoking rates in Wiltshire have declined over the last eighteen years, we still have a long way to go to achieve our smokefree ambition of 5% or less by 2029. That’s why we’re committed to helping as many people across the county to quit smoking as possible.”

Cllr Care Cape, Cabinet Member for Public Health, said “We want to make it as easy as possible for anyone who smokes to access free stop smoking support that works for them. 

“We have a new Smoke Free app available to anyone in Wiltshire that wants to quit smoking. The app provides six months’ free access to support to help control cravings, monitor health improvements and money saved, and even chat to a stop smoking expert 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We also have a fantastic team of Health Coaches who are on hand to provide personalised support people on their smokefree journey and offering a range of quitting aids – including rechargeable and refillable vapes, nicotine replacement therapy and stop smoking medication so people can quit for good in a way that works for them.”

Wiltshire residents can seek support to quit smoking either by downloading the Smoke Free app, or via their local expert stop smoking service or GP. For more information, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/smokefree