Study Reveals Smoking Rates ‘Increasing’ in Some Areas of England
Researchers have warned that the progress in reducing smoking rates across England has “stalled” in recent years, with some areas even experiencing apparent increases. The findings come from a study conducted by academics from University College London (UCL), who analyzed data from the Smoking Toolkit Study, which included 368,057 adults in England between 2006 and 2024.
The study, published in the journal Addiction, found that while the national average for smoking prevalence fell from 25.3% to 16.5% during the 18-year period, the largest and fastest decline was observed in the north of England. Smoking rates in the North almost halved, dropping from 28.8% to 15.8%, helping to narrow the regional differences “considerably.”
The North West saw a significant decrease, with rates falling from 28.3% in 2006 to 15.7% in 2024. Similarly, Yorkshire and the Humber experienced a decline from 30.0% to 16.0%, and the North East from 27.4% to 16.0% over the same period. The researchers attributed this progress to regional tobacco control programs, which appeared to contribute to the faster-than-average decline in the North.
However, the study also revealed that progress in reducing smoking rates nationally has “stalled” in recent years, with some regions even showing apparent increases. Between 2020 and 2024, the South West saw a rise in smoking rates from 16.0% to 18.7%, while the South East and London experienced small increases from 15.4% to 16.8% and 15.8% to 17.0%, respectively.
Dr. Sarah Jackson, the lead author of the study from UCL’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, emphasized the importance of making stop smoking services easily and equally accessible across the country. She stated, “It’s vital that stop smoking services are made easily and equally available across the country, so that everyone – wherever they live – can access the right tools to quit for good.”
The study was funded by Cancer Research UK, and Dr. Ian Walker, the organization’s executive director of policy and information, highlighted the need to maintain momentum in the fight against smoking. He urged that budget pressures and changes to NHS England should not compromise funding for programs that help people quit, stating that tackling smoking must be a key priority as health services evolve.
The UK government has introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to create the first smoke-free generation by gradually raising the age at which tobacco can be bought for anyone born after January 1, 2009. The Bill also includes a total ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, and disposable vapes will be banned from June 2025 under separate environmental legislation.
The Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting current smokers in quitting, stating, “We’re investing an additional £70 million for local Stop Smoking Services this year, and we are working to ensure that all NHS hospitals offer ‘opt-out’ smoking cessation services.”
As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill progresses through Parliament, health advocates and researchers stress the importance of maintaining efforts to reduce smoking rates and protect public health across England.
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