Title: Tackling Smoking: Reducing Inequalities
Funder: Cancer Research UK

Abstract: Action on Smoking and Health Wales is Wales’s national charity seeking to reduce the harm and inequality caused by tobacco. Through CRUK’s support for our policy and advocacy work we are able to influence political action on tobacco and health in Wales Reducing inequalities has been a priority in Wales since devolution, however despite concerted efforts, the difference in life expectancy between the least and most deprived areas has shown little improvement in a decade. Poorer people can expect to die around 9 years earlier than those from more affluent areas and live with ill health for 19 years longer. Tobacco use is the single biggest cause of these inequalities accounting for more than half of the difference in the risk of premature death between social classes. It is well known that Policies designed to reduce health inequalities will have limited success unless smoking prevalence in the most deprived groups is reduced. ASH Wales is seeking three years funding from CRUK to support work to reduce smoking prevalence and reduce inequalities. ASH Wales’s ability to independently challenge and drive forward tobacco control policies in Wales is crucial. Wales in on the verge of missing the 16% target by 2020 and a new strategy is being formed for Tobacco Control. Overarching objectives are: 1. Strategy Development: Influence the setting and delivery of a new tobacco control strategy for Wales to reduce prevalence and tackle inequalities 2. Tobacco Control Measures and Future Developments: Undertake activity to maximise the benefit of tobacco control regulations being implemented and to call for more ambitious polices 3. Cessation Services: Undertake activity to promote existing smoking cessation services and the creation of services for marginalised smokers 4. E-cigarettes and Harm Reduction: Actively promote the use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool and advocate for a harm reduction model to be adopted by key decision makers such as Welsh Government and Public Health Wales 5. Influencing Attitudes and Providing Evidence: Awareness raising: Participate in activity to will raise the awareness of the harms from tobacco use among the public and health professionals 6. Local Action: Support the development of local and regional evidence-based approaches to tobacco control

Lay abstract: Action on Smoking and Health Wales is Wales’s national charity seeking to reduce the harm and inequality caused by tobacco. Through CRUK’s support for our policy and advocacy work we are able to influence political action on tobacco and health in Wales Reducing inequalities has been a priority in Wales since devolution, however despite concerted efforts, the difference in life expectancy between the least and most deprived areas has shown little improvement in a decade. Poorer people can expect to die around 9 years earlier than those from more affluent areas and live with ill health for 19 years longer. Tobacco use is the single biggest cause of these inequalities accounting for more than half of the difference in the risk of premature death between social classes. It is well known that Policies designed to reduce health inequalities will have limited success unless smoking prevalence in the most deprived groups is reduced. ASH Wales is seeking three years funding from CRUK to support work to reduce smoking prevalence and reduce inequalities. ASH Wales’s ability to independently challenge and drive forward tobacco control policies in Wales is crucial. Wales in on the verge of missing the 16% target by 2020 and a new strategy is being formed for Tobacco Control. Overarching objectives are: 1. Strategy Development: Influence the setting and delivery of a new tobacco control strategy for Wales to reduce prevalence and tackle inequalities 2. Tobacco Control Measures and Future Developments: Undertake activity to maximise the benefit of tobacco control regulations being implemented and to call for more ambitious polices 3. Cessation Services: Undertake activity to promote existing smoking cessation services and the creation of services for marginalised smokers 4. E-cigarettes and Harm Reduction: Actively promote the use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool and advocate for a harm reduction model to be adopted by key decision makers such as Welsh Government and Public Health Wales 5. Influencing Attitudes and Providing Evidence: Awareness raising: Participate in activity to will raise the awareness of the harms from tobacco use among the public and health professionals 6. Local Action: Support the development of local and regional evidence-based approaches to tobacco control

Research activity codes: 3.1 PRIMARY PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS TO MODIFY BEHAVIOURS OR PROMOTE WELL-BEING
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;RESPIRATORY;STROKE