The decline of cigarettes in the UK – why has the use of tobacco declined?

On May 31 it is World No Tobacco Day, which informs the public on the dangers of tobacco use and aims to draw attention to the preventable deaths and diseases it causes.

According to the Office for National Statistics, there has been a decline in the proportion of cigarette smokers as well as an increase in the amount of regular cigarette smokers who have quit.

This is perhaps due cigarettes previously being encouraged, as in the 1960s according to The Guardian up to 80% of adults in the UK were hooked as tobacco was socially accepted then – and was advertised as an “expensive handmade luxury good for the urban elite.”

However, with more research and awareness around the dangers of tobacco use there has been a decline in tobacco usage. The positive attitude around tobacco has declined, as the amount of young people who are asked whether smoking is ok to try or do it once a week is declining as shown by the data below:

Photo Credit – Digital NHS

Below, I have attached a video explaining the dangers of smoking / tobacco in more detail.