General Article A third of smoking households in England are living in poverty with rates highest in the North

Topic Selected: Smoking and Health Book Volume: 406

New analysis of national data commissioned by charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) finds that the proportion of smokers living in poverty is highest in the North and Midlands.

The new breakdown1 published today (Wednesday 9th February) shows that In England as a whole 31% of households containing smokers live in poverty once spend on smoking is taken into account. Rates are highest in the North East where 42% of households containing smokers live in poverty, while London is lowest at 17%, but this still equates to over 80,000 households in the capital.

The link between smoking and disadvantage is well established, but this new analysis highlights how the impact of smoking on local communities is compounded in regions where household incomes are also lower. The average gross disposable household income per head in the North East is only £17,096, while in London it is £30,256.2

Households where people smoke are poorer because of an addiction which usually started in childhood. T...

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