More than 10,000 UK deaths a year linked to smoking, BHF urges swift passage of Tobacco and Vapes Bill

More than 10,000 people in the United Kingdom die each year as a direct result of smoking, and smoking-related heart disease is estimated to claim about 40 lives daily, researchers and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said, as they urged Parliament to pass the Tobacco and Vapes Bill without delay.

The BHF and academic groups said the proposed legislation — introduced in November 2023 — would restrict vape flavours, phase out tobacco sales to people born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, and expand smoke-free zones outside schools, playgrounds and hospitals. The charity described the measures as a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to reduce tobacco-related harm and prevent premature deaths.

Dr. Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said it was "shocking" that smoking continued to cause so many deaths and that tougher measures were needed to ensure future generations did not suffer early mortality because of tobacco. The BHF highlighted an estimate of about 10,800 smoking-related cardiovascular deaths in the UK since the Bill was introduced.

Health experts and researchers reiterated established findings on tobacco's effects on the cardiovascular system. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals, including tar and carbon monoxide, that narrow arteries, damage blood vessel linings and increase blood pressure and heart rate. Over time, these changes raise the risk of heart disease, stroke and potentially fatal blood clots. Recent studies have also reported structural changes to the heart, including thickening and weakening of the heart muscle, which can reduce its ability to pump blood effectively.

Alongside long-term evidence on smoking harm, researchers have raised concerns about the rapid increase in e-cigarette use among young people. A large review of vaping in young people by teams at the University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that adolescents who vape were more likely to go on to smoke combustible cigarettes and that vaping was associated with greater frequency and intensity of subsequent smoking.

Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University warned that vaping may pose cardiovascular risks similar to smoking because many e-cigarette liquids deliver high concentrations of nicotine. Nicotine raises heart rate and blood pressure, can cause blood vessels to constrict and may damage arterial walls, according to the researchers. They said these effects could contribute to long-term risks of dementia, heart disease and organ failure if use becomes widespread and sustained.

The government's policy response has included measures aimed at reducing youth access to disposable vapes. A ban on single-use disposable vapes took effect in June; sellers who breach the ban face a minimum fine of £200, with repeat offenders potentially liable for up to two years in prison, and Trading Standards empowered to seize prohibited products. Public health groups cautioned, however, that partial regulation—such as a disposable ban without wider restrictions on flavours or a generational sales phase-out—could shift young users toward other vaping or tobacco products rather than reducing overall nicotine dependence.

Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in many countries. In addition to cardiovascular disease, smoking has been linked to at least 16 types of cancer, chronic respiratory disease, reproductive harms and other complications. Global estimates attribute more than 8 million deaths each year to tobacco use, including roughly 890,000 deaths from exposure to secondhand smoke. In the UK, analysts estimate smoking costs the economy more than £17 billion annually in healthcare expenses and lost productivity.

Advocates for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill say the combination of flavour restrictions, a generational sales ban and extended smoke-free areas would accelerate progress toward a smoke-free generation. Opponents have raised questions about enforcement, unintended market effects and the balance between measures to prevent youth uptake and options for adult smokers seeking to quit combustible tobacco.

Parliamentary debate on the Bill will determine whether the proposed measures become law. Supporters including the BHF said immediate passage was essential to lock in protections for children and reduce the burden of smoking-related cardiovascular disease, while researchers emphasized the need for comprehensive regulation to address both conventional smoking and the evolving landscape of vaping products.