According to new government data, smoking rates in the UK have decreased to just 13.3% - the lowest recorded levels to date - with electronic cigarettes playing a "major role" in the decline.
According to the latest data from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), the smoking rate in 2021 is lower than the 14% low point in 2020, meaning that there are around 6.6 million smokers in the UK.
According to estimates from the annual population survey, the Office for National Statistics in the UK has reported that the current percentage of smokers is the lowest since records began in 2011.
A report has found that electronic cigarettes and other vaping devices have played an important role in reducing smoking rates in the United Kingdom.
In this announcement, we are reporting an increase in the use of electronic cigarettes, which has also been reported by organizations such as Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) regarding a similar increase in e-cigarette use among British adults.
Throughout the United Kingdom, 15.1% of males and 11.5% of females smoke, with this trend remaining consistent since 2011.
The highest proportion of current smokers is in the 25-34 age group (15.8%), while the lowest proportion is in the 65 and above age group (8%).
Individuals who are unqualified are more likely to be current smokers (28.2%) compared to those with a degree or equivalent education (6.6%).
According to a survey conducted by the UK's National Statistics Office, 7.7% of respondents reported that they currently use e-cigarettes daily or occasionally.
According to this group of authors, this is equivalent to approximately 4 million adults in the population, which is an increase from the 2020 estimate, with 6.4% of people reporting daily or occasional use of e-cigarettes.
Advocates for reducing the harm caused by tobacco are pleased with the decrease in smoking rates. "This is definitely good news and I am glad that the UK's electronic cigarette industry has played a role in achieving this goal," said John Dunne, General Secretary of the UK Vaping Industry Association in a statement.
The government must now double its efforts to ensure that its smoke-free goal by 2030 gets back on track and ultimately make smoking history.
Deng En stated that stakeholders should seize this momentum to reach out to remaining smokers and provide them with the facts they need to switch to e-cigarettes. "We must allow e-cigarette companies to use agreed-upon health statements and conversion information to encourage adult smokers to switch to e-cigarettes, and fully utilize the various communication methods available from government and public health agencies," he said.
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