Wales: rollout of smoke-free places

New announcements aimed at making Wales tobacco and smoke-free by 2030 have been made as part of a strategy to tackle health inequalities.[1]Smoking remains the leading cause of premature death in Wales with 5,600 deaths each year.

Although smoking prevalence in Wales has declined steadily in recent years, it remains high, with 18.41 TYP3T users among adults (18+), and with large disparities across population groups. More than a quarter of adults (261 TYP3T) in the most deprived areas of Wales smoke, compared to 111 TYP3T of residents living in the most affluent areas. Smoking-attributable mortality is approximately 3.5 times higher among women from the lowest income quintile compared to women with a high income. For men, this mortality difference is 2.5 times higher depending on the income level.

Expansion of tobacco- and smoke-free places and strengthening of assistance for quitting

March 1, 2021[2], new legislation has come into force in Wales that bans smoking in playgrounds. The measure also applies to the outside perimeters of hospitals, as well as schools, outdoor nurseries and all childcare facilities. Wales thus became the first nation in the United Kingdom to have implemented such regulations. From 1^er From March 2022, smoking will also be banned in hotel rooms, guest houses, and self-contained holiday accommodation such as cottages, caravans, and AirBnBs. In addition, mental health units will be required to phase out all smoking rooms by September 1, 2022, and home care workers will be able to demand to work in a smoke-free environment (and conversely, people receiving a service will be able to legally require that the worker not smoke in the home). These measures aim to protect people from tobacco smoke but also to denormalize tobacco consumption while encouraging smokers to quit and ex-smokers to maintain their cessation.

The new strategy will also examine how additional support can be provided to help more people quit smoking through the National Health Service's free service, Help Me Quit. Similarly, tailored support is planned for hospitalized smokers. Finally, smokers working in government-supported organizations could benefit from special support.

Keywords: Wales, Smoke-Free Places, Tobacco-Free Generation, Smoke-Free Generation, 2030

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