Around £80 million of public money is spent tackling the impact of smoking, drinking and over-eating in the Bradford area every year.

The staggering figure has been revealed by public health chiefs as they try to reduce the impact of the three ‘lifestyle diseases’.

And at a time when we are threatened with unprecedented cuts in public spending, it is a sum that should give everyone who indulges pause for thought.

We all know the dangers to our own health of cigarettes, alcohol and unhealthy food.

Many choose to ignore medical advice and continue to enjoy habits which will undoubtedly shorten their lifespans.

But how many of us actually think about the cumulative impact on society of what we do to ourselves?

It is estimated that £30 billion of public expenditure could be saved nationally over the next ten years if people took more responsibility for their health and changed their lifestyles.

In the Bradford district, reducing the number of smokers to ten per cent or less of the population by 2020 – the national target – would save around £60 million.

That cash could be used to help keep libraries open, to ensure future generations have the best education, to build houses; any number of things to benefit society.

Drinking, smoking and overeating are lifestyle choices we are all free to make – but they need to be fully-informed choices.