People are spending nearly £54m every year in Wirral on tobacco products, with smoking costing local NHS services more than £15m.
Statistics in a recent Wirral Council report said smoking was “the biggest cause of preventable ill health” in the area and “drives people deeper into poverty” with an estimated 1,386 deaths every year.
While fewer people smoke in Wirral than the national average, there are huge differences between different areas. Only 6.7% of people in wealthier areas smoke but this is 30% higher in less well off areas.
