FOI Reference: FOI/2022/4257
You asked
Since the smoking ban was introduced in pubs, how many lives have been saved?
At the time of the ban, we were all advised that the need for the ban was to save lives from passive smoking. In making the decision to ban this activity, you must have statistics that support the need to make the ban. Since inception, you must also have substantial data that shows a reduction in deaths.
We said
Thank you for your enquiry.
ONS mortality data comes from the information collected at death registration. All of the conditions mentioned on the death certificate are coded using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Unfortunately, we do not hold the information you have requested; smoking habits are not recorded as part of this process.
We have, however, produced analysis of Adult smoking habits in the UK, in partnership with Public Health England. The latest data available is for 2020.
We have also produced Deaths involving COVID-19, England and Wales: deaths occurring in April 2020 which shows some pre-existing conditions that could be attributed to smoking, but it does not categorically state if the deceased smoked.
The Deaths Registered Series and 21st Century mortality datasets are available if you wish to look at mortality statistics by underlying cause of death. However, this will only show the cause of death, such as lung cancer which can be attributed to smoking but it will not will not categorically state if the deceased smoked.
This information is also available to you via explorable datasets in NOMIS.
NHS Digital may be better placed to answer your enquiry. They can be contacted via the following email address: enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk. NHS England have produced analysis of smoking-related ill health and mortality, the latter using ONS mortality data. You can view this data here: Statistics on Smoking, England 2020.