Smoking is the now the principal avoidable cause of premature death in Britain. It hits the worst off people hardest of all. Smoking is one of the principal causes of the health gap which leads to poorer people being ill more often and dying sooner.

In this quote, Frank Dobson highlights the severe public health issue posed by smoking, which has become the principal avoidable cause of premature death in Britain. He emphasizes that smoking remains a major contributor to mortality rates, even though it is preventable. By calling it the "principal avoidable cause," Dobson underscores the fact that many of the deaths linked to smoking could be prevented with lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or never starting in the first place.

Dobson further explains that smoking disproportionately affects poorer people, with the most disadvantaged in society suffering the greatest consequences. These individuals are often more likely to smoke and less likely to have access to the resources needed to quit. This makes them especially vulnerable to the health risks associated with smoking, which exacerbates existing inequalities.

The quote also points to smoking as one of the main causes of the health gap, which refers to the disparity in health outcomes between different socioeconomic groups. Smoking contributes to this gap by leading to a higher incidence of illnesses and premature death among the lower-income population. These individuals are more susceptible to chronic diseases like lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses, all of which are strongly linked to smoking.

Ultimately, Dobson’s words serve as a call to action for public health interventions aimed at reducing smoking rates, particularly among vulnerable populations. His message stresses the importance of addressing smoking not just as a health issue, but as a significant factor in reducing the health inequalities that persist within society.