Generation Z has demonstrated a remarkable shift away from traditional smoking habits, with recent data revealing a substantial decline in smoking rates among young adults. This trend coincides with the UK government's preparations to implement a groundbreaking age-linked ban on tobacco sales.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK's primary source of official statistics, smoking rates have reached their lowest levels on record. The most significant decrease has been observed among young adults aged 18 to 24, with only 9.8% reporting smoking in 2023, compared to 25.7% in 2011. This represents a remarkable 61.9% reduction over a 12-year period.
The UK government is taking bold steps to create a smoke-free future. The proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to progressively increase the legal minimum age for cigarette sales, effectively preventing anyone born after 2009 from ever legally purchasing tobacco products. This initiative aligns with the government's ambitious target to make England smoke-free by 2030, a goal set in response to smoking being the leading cause of preventable death worldwide.
While traditional smoking declines, the use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, continues to rise among young people. The data shows that 15.8% of young adults are now vaping daily or occasionally, more than doubling from 7% in 2020. This trend is particularly pronounced among young women, with 8.7% of females aged 16 to 24 likely to have used vapes daily in 2023, up from 1.9% in 2021.
Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), commented on these findings:
"Today's figures are further proof that the country is ready to be smoke-free. There is cross-party support for ending the sale of tobacco and creating a generation free from the harms from smoking and government should bring forward the bill as soon as possible."
The shift in smoking habits among Generation Z is part of a broader historical context. The first commercial cigarettes were introduced in 1865, and it wasn't until 1950 that the first scientific evidence linking smoking to lung cancer was published. Since then, numerous public health initiatives have been implemented, including the UK's ban on smoking in enclosed public places in 2007 and the introduction of standardized packaging for cigarettes in 2016.
While the decline in smoking is encouraging, experts express concerns about the rise in vaping, particularly among young people who have never smoked. Prof Nick Hopkinson, respiratory physician and chair of ASH, emphasized the need for balanced regulation:
"Vaping has helped millions of adults quit smoking and is much less harmful than smoking. However, it is not risk-free and high levels of use among young people and growing use among never-smokers is a concern."
As the UK moves towards a tobacco-free future, it's crucial to consider the role of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation while also addressing the potential risks associated with their increasing popularity among young adults. The government's upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill will need to strike a delicate balance between supporting smoking cessation efforts and preventing the creation of a new generation of nicotine users.