UK smoking numbers continue to fall

The number of regular smokers in the UK has continued to fall according to the latest data published by the Office for National Statistics in early July 2020.[1]The country has almost 2 million fewer adult smokers in 2019 compared to 2011.

A prevalence decreasing since the 1970s

The prevalence of adult smokers (over 18 years) in the UK was 14.1% in 2019, or 6.9 million people. Among the constituent nations, England had the lowest rate (13.9%). Prevalence was highest in Scotland (16.5%), followed by Wales (15.5%) and then Northern Ireland (15.4%). The proportion of tobacco users has declined rapidly since 2011 when the smoking rate was 20%. In the mid-1970s, prevalence was still much higher with almost one in two Britons smoking daily (45.6% – age and sex combined).

Smoking, however, remains the leading cause of premature death in the country today. The number of deaths attributable to smoking was estimated at 77,800 in 2017. This number is down from 2007 data when there were 82,400 deaths, a decrease of 6%. In 2019, the sex distribution of mortality attributable to tobacco reported 20% deaths among men and 12% deaths attributable to tobacco for women.

A disparity according to population categories[2]

Different distinctions appear depending on the status concerned.

• On the socio-economic level, the proportion of smokers is significantly higher among the unemployed (26.8%) than among the working population (14.5%); among graduates, only 7.3% are daily smokers while they are nearly 30% among non-graduates.
• There are variations by ethnicity. The highest prevalence of smoking is found in "mixed" populations, regardless of gender. However, large differences can be observed between the sexes within certain communities. This is the case, for example, among the Asian population, which has an average of 13.9% male smokers and only 2.9% female smokers.
• Sexual orientation is also a differentiating criterion: the proportion of smokers is significantly higher among people from the LGBTQ community (22.2%) than among heterosexuals (15.5%).

An arsenal of anti-smoking measures[3]

The United Kingdom is one of the countries that has adopted comprehensive anti-smoking legislation and ensures its continuous implementation. Ban on tobacco advertising, development of smoke-free places, regular and significant tax increases, management of the treatment of tobacco addiction with a structured care offer for the care of smokers, etc.

The country set itself the goal in 2017 of achieving a tobacco-free generation by the end of the year 2022. In this perspective, a new anti-tobacco plan has been developed. It is structured around four main themes.

• Reducing smoking among young people (plain packaging, enforcement of the ban on sales to minors)
• Provide access to training for all healthcare professionals on how to help patients quit smoking (focus on pregnant patients and patients in psychiatric services).
• Maintain high taxation on tobacco products to make these products less affordable.
• Reduce or even eliminate consumption gaps according to the categories of populations concerned by targeting measures.