Public health group calls for levy on tobacco firms to help fight smoking

Health organisations say tobacco industry should pay levy to help smokers quit and prevent young people picking up a habit that costs UK at least 12bn a year

The government should impose a new levy on tobacco companies to help pay for the harm they cause, according to 120 public health organisations launching a proposed new strategy against smoking.

By 2035, the proportion of the population who smoke should be brought down from 18.5% to just 5%, says the group, which is led by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.