Welcome!! This website aims to provide you with information on smoking and to highlight local efforts to reduce smoking rates in Rotherham.

Smokefree Rotherham is a partnership between the statutory, non statutory and voluntary sectors with the aim of reducing smoking prevalence.  Smoking is the single greatest contributor to health inequalities and a Public Health priority. Smoking kills over 80,000 people in the UK every year. Smoking is dangerous at any age and is linked to over 20 fatal diseases and 50 non fatal diseases. In Rotherham smoking kills approximately 473 people each year, five times more than the combined deaths associated with road traffic accidents, other accidents, poisoning & overdoses, alcohol abuse, murders/manslaughter and suicides.

In order to improve health and reduce illness and disease we must continue to promote the smokefree norms, prevent illegal access to tobacco, educate the public and support smokers to stop smoking. By doing so people in Rotherham will live healthier and longer lives and health inequalities will be dramatically reduced through tobacco control measures. Protecting children from the harm caused by smoking is particularly important.

The Health Bill 2009, currently before Parliament, includes proposals on two areas to safeguard children - provisions to prohibit the display of tobacco products and regulation-making powers to limit access to tobacco vending machines.  More information can be found at www.dh.gov.uk