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<p>Tobacco is uniquely harmful, with no safe level of smoking, and no other consumer
product that kills two thirds of its long-term users. It causes one in four cancer
deaths, including 70% of lung cancer cases, and takes approximately 80,000 lives every
year. The latest estimates from Action on Smoking and Health put the cost of smoking
in England at over £21 billion. This includes an annual £18 billion loss to productivity
through smoking related lost earnings, unemployment, and early death, as well as costs
to the National Health Service and social care of £3 billion.</p><p>The Department
estimated the annual cost of alcohol consumption to the NHS to be £4 billion in 2021.
The previous estimate published alongside the Government’s 2012 Alcohol Strategy was
updated to reflect inflation. The Department has begun a review of existing methods
and evidence to update this estimate. The estimated costs of alcohol and smoking related
illnesses to the NHS were not designed to be compared, and are based on different
methods, data sources, and time periods.</p>
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