In a bold new pilot scheme, ASH Wales has teamed up with local enforcement teams to trial the …
Roadmap For A Smoke-free Wales
ASH Wales Priorities for the 2026 Senedd Elections
A Message from Our Chief Executive
“The path to a smoke-free Wales has never been clearer. With strong leadership and the will of the people, we can create a healthier, fairer future.
Tobacco takes lives, burdens our NHS, and deepens inequality, but we have the power to change this.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a welcome step, but it won’t end the smoking epidemic alone. We must support the 320,000 people in Wales who still smoke and invest in the services that help them quit.
This is about more than health, it’s about fairness. Everyone deserves the chance to live free from addiction and preventable illness. Let’s be the generation that ends smoking for good.”
Suzanne Cass
Chief Executive, ASH Wales
Our Priorities for a Smoke-Free Wales
Smoking causes 3,841 deaths in Wales each year, 1 in 10 deaths among people over 35. Every day it robs families of loved ones, increases pressure on the NHS, and drives health inequalities. We believe a smoke-free Wales is within reach but only if the next Welsh Government shows bold leadership and puts public health at the heart of its agenda.
Prevention: Putting Health First
Preventing illness is one of the most effective ways to protect our NHS and improve lives. Smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death in Wales.
We call on the next Welsh Government to:
Target all tobacco control funding directly to prevention and cessation.
Fund a national strategy to tackle illegal tobacco and vapes with clear communications and enforcement plans.
Embed sustainable, long-term investment into prevention across all public services.
Tackling Inequality: Health for All
Smoking and poverty go hand in hand. We need a whole-government approach that meets people where they are.
We’re calling for:
A national mission to address the link between poverty and smoking.
All departments to actively support prevention and cessation, not just health services.
Community-based cessation support embedded in:
Debt advice and benefits services
Food banks and warm hubs
Housing and homelessness programmes
Equipping staff in these settings with very brief advice (VBA) training will help more people access quit support in trusted spaces.
Innovation: Delivering Evidence-Based Change
Wales needs modern, proven interventions to reduce smoking rates and protect future generations.
We recommend:
A targeted lung screening programme, prioritising areas with high smoking-related illness and offering quit support at every touchpoint.
Sustainable funding for financial incentives for pregnant women to quit smoking – an evidence-based approach with strong public backing.
Co-Production: Working Together for Impact
The third sector plays a vital role in tobacco control. Their expertise must be valued and included in decision-making.
We ask the next Welsh Government to:
Re-establish strong relationships with partners like the Wales Tobacco Control Alliance.
Engage regularly and transparently with the voluntary sector.
Treat third sector organisations as equal partners in policy development and delivery.
