LEADING charity Cancer Research UK has called on the Senedd to take action on tobacco following a major new report which shows that around 3,100 cases of cancer are caused by smoking every year in Wales.
The charity’s latest Cancer in the UK report also notes that more than 1 in 10 (13%) of the Welsh adult population still smokes.
While smoking levels are at their lowest on record, levels aren’t declining fast enough. Wales isn’t yet on track to meet its target to be smoke-free (less than 5% adult smoking prevalence) by 2030 and isn’t due to reach this target until the early 2040s.
Cancer Research UK is urging Senedd politicians from all parties to vote in support of legislation that would make it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. This could have a profound impact in Wales, where tobacco kills one person every three hours.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is currently going through the House of Lords and has already received the support of many politicians in Westminster.
Politicians in Scotland and Northern Ireland have also already voted in favour of the Bill, meaning it can now be implemented in those nations once it receives Royal Assent.
Simon Scheeres, Cancer Research UK’s public affairs manager in Wales, said: “It’s unacceptable that thousands of cancer cases in Wales every year are still being caused by smoking.
“The age of sale legislation within the Tobacco and Vapes Bill offers a historic opportunity to help prevent young people from suffering a lifetime of addiction, ill-health and premature death, both in Wales and across the UK.”
The annual Cancer In The UK report also highlighted that cancer incidence rates have increased by almost 30% in Wales over the past five decades. There are now around 20,200 new cases every year, that’s around 55 per day.
Cancer is also the leading cause of death in Wales, causing around 4,100 deaths a year.
Simon added: “By voting in favour of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, politicians from all parties in Wales have the power to help turn the tide on tobacco harms.
“It’s essential they get the opportunity to do this soon, so this important legislation can be introduced as quickly as possible.
“As well as protecting future generations, it’s also vital to support people who currently smoke to stop by ensuring services that support people in Wales to quit are adequately funded and sustainable”
Jody Bullock from Cardiff knows all too well the devastating impact smoking can have on a family. His grandfather, Lesley, died from lung cancer at just 56 years old. Lesley started smoking at the age of 12 and, by the time he became seriously ill, was smoking 40 cigarettes a day.
Jody was especially close to his grandfather, having lived with him and his grandmother, Patricia, for two years during his childhood.
“I was only 11 when my grandfather passed away,” said Jody. “It happened so quickly. He was diagnosed in March 1991 after visiting the doctor with a dry cough and fatigue. Just five weeks later, he died from stage 4 lung cancer. We were devastated, but sadly, not surprised as he had smoked his entire life.”
Now a father to two daughters, Annie, 16, and Mollie, 11, Jody is passionate about protecting the next generation from the harms of tobacco. He believes the proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill in Wales could be a turning point.
“If this Bill is passed, my daughters may never have the opportunity to start this deadly habit. That gives me hope,” he says. “It’s shocking to know that one in ten people in Wales still smoke. I understand that the reasons people smoke are complex, and we must support those trying to quit – but preventing young people from starting in the first place could spare them a lifetime of addiction.”
Jody, 44, works as a programme manager at BT and is also a Cancer Research UK Campaigns Ambassador. He has previously campaigned for tobacco control measures, including the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes.
“That was a monumental shift, and I was proud to play a part in that legislation,” he says. “Now, I’m committed to supporting the next step – ensuring future generations are protected from the harms of tobacco.
“Our politicians now have the chance to protect the nation’s health – and raising the age of sale for tobacco would help do just that. This historic legislation will mean that my children will never be able to legally be sold cigarettes.
“When it comes to saving lives and making avoidable deaths like my grandfather’s a distant memory, we can’t afford complacency. If we’ve got the chance to stub out smoking for good, we must take it.”
