An analysis has found that England may not achieve its "smoke-free" goal until 2039, as reported by The Guardian on November 4.
In 2019, the UK government announced a target for the country to become "smoke-free" by 2030, meaning that the proportion of smoking adults would not exceed 5%. However, according to the latest analysis by Cancer Research UK (CRUK), even with a continued decline in smoking rates over the next few years, the timeline for reaching this "smoke-free" goal will still be pushed back to 2039.
Currently, about 6 million adults in the UK smoke, the lowest percentage in history, having dropped from 20.2% in 2011 to 11.9%. In England, the smoking rate is 11.6% (approximately 4.9 million), while Scotland has the highest rate at 13.5%.
Although the overall number of smokers is expected to continue declining, CRUK's projections indicate that this trend will not sufficiently reduce the so-called "poverty gap." For example, the wealthiest 10% of the population is expected to reach the 5% smoking rate target by 2025, while the poorest 10% may not come close to this level until 2050.
Even if the "smoke-free" goal is achieved by 2039, the number of tobacco users in the poorest groups will still be nearly four times that of the wealthiest. It is estimated that about 459,000 people in the poorest areas will still be smoking, compared to around 119,000 in the wealthiest regions.
CRUK's CEO, Michelle Mitchell, urged the government to promptly publish the long-promised Tobacco and Vapes Bill. "About 160 people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer each day due to smoking, and the government must prioritize national health by implementing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill as soon as possible," She said. "Any further delays could hinder the progress toward a smoke-free future."
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