Creating a smoke-free Brighton & Hove

Data from Brighton & Hove GPs has revealed that an estimated 53,000 people over the age of 15 in the city are smokers. 

To tackle this, our public health team is working with local partners to help make Brighton & Hove a smoke-free city. By achieving this, we can also:

  • lift thousands of households out of poverty 
  • increase local productivity and economic prosperity 
  • protect children from harm 
  • reduce inequalities 
  • increase the number of years people live healthy lives 
  • improve the quality of life in our communities 
  • save thousands of lives

Tobacco and Vapes Bill

The government is introducing plans for tougher action to protect people from the harms of smoking through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

The bill will allow us to help more smokers stop smoking for good. It will also prevent young people from becoming addicted to smoking in the first place.

This includes creating a smoke-free generation – so children who are 15 or younger this year can never legally be sold tobacco. There is also tougher action to support local enforcement to prevent underage sales and disrupt the supply of cheap illegal tobacco. 

Measures to stop vapes being marketed to children will also help to ensure vaping is only used as an aid for adults who are trying to give up smoking. 

The bill also includes powers to expand indoor smoking restrictions to outdoor public spaces and workplaces. 

This will help reduce the harms of passive smoking experienced by the majority of the population who are non-smokers, particularly children, pregnant women, older adults and people with chronic health conditions who are most vulnerable to passive smoking. 

A smoke-free city

Councillor Tristram Burden, Cabinet member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Service Transformation, said: “Action on smoking and vaping is one of the most significant public health measures the government can implement. This will save thousands of lives and improve the health of tens of thousands of our residents. 

“The ambition outlined in this bill also comes with much-needed additional funding to support local work helping people quit smoking for good. 

“Data from GPs suggests that 53,000 people in Brighton & Hove still smoke. That’s 53,000 too many. To make Brighton & Hove a smoke-free city, we need to support more smokers to make more successful attempts to quit, and measures in this bill will help us do so. 

“I quit smoking and switched to vaping in 2018. The difference it made to my physical fitness was extraordinary. But I had help! And nobody should be expected to do it alone.

“Becoming a smoke-free city benefits everyone. It will help protect non-smokers from the harms of passive smoking and, crucially, ensure young people don’t get trapped in the cycle of nicotine addiction. 

“We’ll be running a campaign in the new year encouraging smokers to try quitting and signposting to the support available. We know it’s not easy and may take a few attempts, but it’s well worth it.

“We’re determined to make our ambition of a smoke-free Brighton & Hove a reality to ensure all residents can live happier, healthier lives.”

Benefits of quitting

The earlier you quit smoking, the more you're likely to benefit. But it's never too late – because quitting will improve your health whatever your age and no matter how long you have smoked.

The day you stop, your body starts clearing itself of all those nasty toxins and the repair process begins.

You'll notice some benefits within days or weeks:

  • your sense of taste and smell improve
  • you start to breathe more easily
  • you have more energy

Other benefits will follow, including:

  • better blood circulation to your heart and muscles, which will make physical activity easier
  • improved lung function, leading to reductions in any coughing, wheezing or other breathing problems

Did you know?

Quitting smoking can improve your mental wellbeing within as little as 6 weeks. Evidence shows that after the withdrawal stage of quitting, people have reduced anxiety, depression and stress.

The average smoker can save around £38 a week by quitting smoking. That’s £2,000 a year!

Get support

If you or someone you know smokes and wants to get free support from a friendly local advisor to quit, contact our Healthy Lifestyles Team: