NHS: Costs
(asked on 15th June 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost to the National Health Service of treating conditions caused or exacerbated by tobacco, alcohol and drug use.
The following table shows the available estimates of the cost to the National Health Service of treating conditions caused and exacerbated by tobacco and alcohol:
Substance | Estimated NHS cost | Source of Estimate |
Tobacco | £1.8 billion annually | Action on Smoking and Health, 2025 |
Alcohol | £4.9 billion annually | Institute of Alcohol Studies, 2021/22 |
Comparisons of costs should not be made between estimates above because of the different methodologies used in their construction.