According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, the number of adults smoking in the UK fell from 20.1% in 2010 to 17.2% in 2015, the lowest figure since records began in 1974.
The highest smoking rate was observed in Scotland at 19.1%, followed by Northern Ireland at 19%, Wales at 18.1% and finally England at 16.9%. The fastest declines in smoking rates were in Scotland and Wales.
What role does vaping play?
The data also shows that 2.3 million people, around 4% of the population of England, Scotland and Wales, use vaping products. This is in addition to 4 million people who said they were former vapers , and 2.6 million who said they had tried e-cigarettes but did not use them regularly.
Consistent with previous research, the study found that many smokers have turned to vaping as a way to quit smoking. More than half of the 2.3 million vapers interviewed said they used e-cigarettes to quit smoking , while 22% said they found e-cigarettes safer than cigarettes. Only 10% of vapers used e-cigarettes because they were cheaper than cigarettes, and the remaining 9% because vaping was legal indoors.
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH, said: “The decline in smoking is encouraging and shows that tobacco control measures are working. However, the government cannot leave it to smokers to quit. If this trend is to continue, we will need new tobacco control for England and adequate funding for Public Health England and media campaigns. This is essential if the Prime Minister is to deliver on his promise to tackle health and social equality.”
Ms. Deborah Arnott, CEO of ASH
Vaping actively helps reverse the spread of tobacco
These numbers show that, as health advocates have said, vaping is a great opportunity for smoking cessation. Contrary to the assertions of some, such as the U.S. Surgeon General, that vaping is a pathway to smoking, this study confirms that the opposite is true. Vaping is a gateway to smoking cessation.
Source: Vapingpost
Author: Diane Caruana
Translator: The Vape Club
