New research shows that smoking-related cancers are at an all time high in the UK, with six people diagnosed every hour.
In addition, the number of new cases have reached 160 per day – an increase of 17% compared to 2003 levels.
Compared to 20 years ago, more than 20 more people are being diagnosed with cancer caused by smoking each day.
This comes despite the news that tobacco use is declining across the globe, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report.
Cancer Research UK has said that, despite smoking rates declining, a growing population means there are still some 6.4 million smokers in the UK. There are also 57,600 smoking-related cancer diagnoses per year.
As a result, the charity has called on the new government to re-introduce former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Charity calls for smoking ban
This comes as the Labour Party won the 2024 general election by a landslide last week.
The bill, which was first proposed by Sunak in October last year when he was Prime Minister, included a smoking ban and new provisions to reduce youth vaping. However, the bill was dropped prior to the recent general election as it had not yet fully passed through the House of Commons.
Dr Ian Walker is executive director of policy at Cancer Research UK. He said: ‘Right now, six people are diagnosed every hour in the UK with cancer that was caused by smoking.
‘Raising the age of sale of tobacco products will be one of the biggest public health interventions in living memory, establishing the UK as a world-leader.
‘It’s vital that this bill is re-introduced at the King’s Speech, passed and implemented in full so the impact of smoking is consigned to the history books.’
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