When people first started smoking tobacco recreationally, it was seen as a symbol of status and wealth – often being advertised on TV and glamourised in films.
It wasn’t until the 2000s that the UK Government decided to take action against people starting to smoke and to help smokers quit.
In 2003, the government banned tobacco advertising in print and broadcast media, on billboards and the internet, and through direct mail, product placement, promotions, free gifts, coupons, and sponsorships.
Since then, there have been subsequent laws passed to deter people from smoking, including the 2006 UK indoor smoking ban, raising the legal age of smoking from 16 to 18 in 2007, and the introduction of plain cigarette packaging.
More recently, the Government committed to ensuring England is smoke-free by 2030 – meaning less than 5% of the population will smoke.
In this article, we will look at how many people currently smoke in the UK compared with previous years, and how nicotine pouches offer a smoke- and tobacco-free alternative to smoking.
How many people smoke in the UK?
The most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which were published in July 2020, stated that 14.1% of people in the UK over the age of 18 smoked cigarettes1.
This figure has declined consistently since 2011, when 20.2% of the population smoked, although the rate has reduced to around 0.5% per year since 2016.
These factors look like a promising start to making the UK smoke-free by 2030, and were no doubt boosted by over a million people who gave up smoking in March 2020 2.
What are the alternatives to smoking?
If you’re looking for an inhalation-free way of enjoying nicotine, ZYN nicotine pouches could be for you…
To use ZYN nicotine pouches, simply slip a pouch underneath your lip and after a few minutes you’ll enjoy up to an hour of nicotine, without the need to smoke or vape.
ZYN nicotine pouches are available in a range of strengths – meaning you can tailor your experience to mirror your current use of cigarettes, vape pens, or e-cigarettes.
Explore our full range of nicotine pouch flavours below…