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| health information | health news

Smoking ban reduces number of smokers in England

4 July 2008

Figures show the largest fall in the number of smokers on record

Professor Robert West, Cancer Research UK

Key points

The study also showed:

On average, smokers get through 14 cigarettes per day.
An average smoker spends �2.80 per day on cigarettes. That adds up to almost �20 per week and a total of �1,022 per year.
People from a lower social class are more likely to smoke.

The number of people in England who have given up smoking has dramatically increased since the ban was introduced in 2007, a recent study has revealed.

The study surveyed more than 32,000 people in England nine months before and after the smoke-free law came into place on 1 July last year. The researchers found a 1.6 percent reduction in the number of people smoking prior to the ban, compared to 5.5 percent in the following nine months.

The study suggests that more than 400,000 people have quit smoking since the ban was introduced and the researchers believe it could help to save 40,000 lives over the next 10 years.

Professor Robert West, Director of Tobacco Studies at Cancer Research UK, didn't expect the smoking ban to have such a large impact on the number of people giving up smoking in England.

"These figures show the largest fall in the number of smokers on record. The effect has been as large in all social groups, poor as well as rich smokers. I never expected such a dramatic impact."

A spokesperson from Cancer Research UK, which funded the research, told the Bupa health information team: "We were optimistic that the smoking ban would encourage more people to quit, but our figures show the largest fall in the number of smokers on record."

The charity believes it's clear that the smoking ban is helping to reduce the number of tobacco-related illnesses in England. Professor West says that one of the "top priorities" for the government is to provide support services to help smokers quit.

Cancer Research UK stated: "This will improve the health of not only smokers, but also people who are exposed to second-hand smoke."