New data shows that the number of smokers in the UK reached a historic low last year, but more people are using e-cigarettes.
According to data from the UK's National Statistics Office, approximately 13.3% of people aged 18 or older smoked in 2021, which is lower than the 14.0% reported in 2020.
However, among people aged 16 and above, 7.7% of them reported using e-cigarettes, compared to 6.4% in 2020.
The first record from the UK National Statistics Office about smoking was in 2011, which found that 20.2% of people had smoked at some point.
The UK's National Statistics Office has stated that the latest data represents a "statistically significant" decrease.
Is vaping a risk-free choice? Should disposable e-cigarettes be banned? James Tucker, who works in data analysis for the UK's Office for National Statistics' social care and health department, suggests that the decrease in smokers may partly be due to more people turning to e-cigarettes.
He said, "This is the lowest current smoking rate since 2011, when we began documenting smoking rates through the annual Population Survey (APS).
According to the UK's National Statistics Office, electronic cigarettes and other vaping devices have played a "significant role" in reducing the number of smokers in the UK.
According to the report, the use of electronic cigarettes is highest among current smokers, at 25.3%, followed by former smokers at 15.0%. Only 1.5% of those who have never smoked reported using e-cigarettes.
However, it added that electronic cigarettes may not be the only factor contributing to the decline in smoking. (Translated from Chinese)
This may also be due to increased public awareness campaigns and the implementation of smoke-free policies in places such as bars and offices.
The government's tobacco control program aims to reduce smoking rates among adults in England to 12% or lower by the end of 2022.
According to the UK's National Statistics Office, Scotland currently has the highest proportion of smokers in the country for 2021 at 14.8%, while England has the lowest at 13.0%.
In other locations, Wales and Northern Ireland have reported respective current smoking rates of 14.1% and 13.8%.
By 2021, men are more likely to be current smokers in the UK with a smoking rate of 15.1% compared to women's rate of 11.5%.
Currently, the age group with the most smokers is 25 to 34 years old, accounting for 15.8%, while the lowest is people aged 65 and over, at 8%.
According to the UK's Office for National Statistics, those who are not qualified are currently more likely to smoke, at a rate of 28.2%, compared to those with a degree or equivalent educational qualifications, who have a smoking rate of 6.6%.
According to the NHS website, while electronic cigarettes are not without some risk, that risk is lower than that of traditional cigarettes. However, the long-term effects of using electronic cigarettes have yet to be fully understood.
Selling e-cigarettes to those under the age of 18 is illegal.
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