£308 million goes up in smoke each year in Wakefield as cost of smoking revealed
Tuesday, June 02, 2026
New figures released on World No Tobacco Day reveal that smoking costs Wakefield an estimated £308 million every year. Highlighting the significant impact it has on local communities, services and the economy.
Locally, the figures underline the importance of helping people in Wakefield access the support they need to quit smoking, improving health outcomes for them and their families while reducing pressure on public services and the local economy.
“Smoking continues to have a real impact in Wakefield. On people’s health, on families, and on our local services. These figures show the scale of that challenge, but they also highlight the opportunity we have to make a difference. By supporting more people to quit, we can improve lives, reduce health inequalities and ease pressure on services, particularly in the communities who are most affected.”
Cllr Ansar Hayat
Cabinet Member for Adults and Health
The data, published by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), shows how smoking continues to place a major financial and social burden on areas like Wakefield. Of the total annual cost locally:
- £196 million due to lost productivity, with smoking affecting employment and earnings
- £96.5 million linked to social care costs, as smoking-related illnesses increase the need for support in later life
- £12.8 million linked to healthcare costs, with people who smoke requiring more care in later life as the result of smoking relating in illness
- £2.56 million in costs linked to fires caused by smoking.
Smoking is also having a direct financial impact on residents, with an estimated £99.8 million spent on tobacco in Wakefield each year, an average of £2,964 per smoker.
The Wakefield figures add to a wider national picture, where smoking costs society in England an estimated £44.8 billion each year. In comparison, tobacco taxation raises around £7.5 billion annually.
However, in recent years, thanks to local and national initiatives there has been good progress in reducing smoking rates across the district. Only 1 in 9 adults now smoke in the district, around 34,000 people. At 11.7%, that’s narrowing the gap compared to the national average of 10.9%.
The aim is to see the next generation of children born and raised in a district that is free from tobacco and where smoking is unusual. To achieve this, the Council and its partners will continue investing in collective action to improve people’s health, and support families who are affected by smoking related harm. This matters deeply to families across Wakefield, who want the best possible health and future for their loved ones.
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK. It causes around 80,000 deaths each year, that’s 550 people per year in the Wakefield district, and affects communities in more deprived areas the most.
Action on Smoking and Health is calling for continued and increased investment in tobacco control, including support for local stop smoking services and campaigns to help more people quit. The organisation is also urging the Government to introduce a levy on the tobacco industry to fund this work.
To find local support visit Yorkshire Smokefree or call 01924 252174.