Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-02
**Lead**
A comprehensive global health study has estimated that chewing tobacco was responsible for 250,000 deaths worldwide in a single year, a figure that underscores the often-overlooked economic burden of smokeless tobacco products. While the United Kingdom has made significant strides in reducing smoking rates, the findings highlight a persistent and costly public health challenge that carries substantial financial implications for the National Health Service (NHS), employers, and the wider economy.
**Context**
The study, published in a leading medical journal and drawing on data from the Global Burden of Disease project, analysed mortality and morbidity linked to the use of chewing tobacco, snus, and other smokeless tobacco products. Researchers found that these products, which are often marketed as less harmful alternatives to cigarettes, still pose severe health risks, including cancers of the mouth, oesophagus, and pancreas, as well as cardiovascular diseases. The 250,000 deaths represent a conservative estimate, as many cases go unreported in regions with weak health surveillance.
In the United Kingdom, chewing tobacco use is less prevalent than in South Asia or Scandinavia, but it remains a concern among specific communities, particularly within British Asian populations where traditional products such as gutka and paan masala are consumed. According to data from Public Health England, around 2% of adults in England use smokeless tobacco, with rates significantly higher among certain ethnic groups. The NHS spends an estimated £2 billion annually on treating tobacco-related illnesses, and chewing tobacco contributes a disproportionate share of oral cancer cases, which are among the most expensive to treat due to the need for surgery, radiotherapy, and long-term follow-up.
The economic impact extends beyond direct healthcare costs. The study’s authors note that premature deaths from chewing tobacco result in lost productivity, reduced tax revenues, and increased welfare payments. For the UK, where the average cost of a premature death to the economy is calculated at over £1 million when factoring in lost earnings and output, the 250,000 global deaths translate into a staggering economic loss. Even a small fraction of those deaths occurring in the UK – estimated at several hundred per year – represents a multimillion-pound drain on the nation’s finances.
**Analise**
Why does this matter for the UK economy? The answer lies in the intersection of public health and fiscal sustainability. The NHS is already under immense pressure from an ageing population and rising chronic disease rates. Every death from a preventable cause such as chewing tobacco adds to the burden on intensive care units, oncology departments, and palliative care services. Moreover, the patients affected are often of working age – the study found that the majority of chewing tobacco deaths occur in people aged 35 to 64 – meaning the economic hit is felt acutely in labour supply and household income.
From a policy perspective, the findings strengthen the case for tighter regulation of smokeless tobacco products. Currently, the UK bans the sale of snus (a type of moist chewing tobacco) under EU-derived rules, but other forms such as chewing tobacco and nicotine pouches remain legal. The study suggests that these products are not harmless alternatives and that their continued availability may undermine efforts to create a smoke-free generation. Economists argue that the cost of prevention – through taxation, public health campaigns, and cessation support – is far lower than the cost of treatment and lost productivity. For every pound spent on tobacco control, the UK government saves an estimated £10 in healthcare and social care costs.
Another key trend is the rise of novel nicotine products, including pouches and lozenges, which are often marketed as safer. The study’s authors caution that the long-term health effects of these newer products are not yet fully understood, but early evidence suggests they carry similar risks to traditional chewing tobacco. If the UK is to meet its target of being smoke-free by 2030, policymakers must not overlook the economic damage caused by smokeless tobacco. The 250,000 deaths figure is a global wake-up call, but for the UK, it is a reminder that even a relatively small user base can generate outsized costs.
**Fontes**
- Global Burden of Disease Study, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) - Public Health England, ‘Smokeless Tobacco Use in England’ (2023) - NHS Digital, ‘Statistics on Smoking, England’ (2025) - Office for National Statistics, ‘Cost of Premature Mortality to the UK Economy’ (2024)