15 May Smoking habits in The UK
The proportion of smokers has massively decreased in the last couple of years. Since 2016 it has significantly fallen to 15.1% of currents smokers.
Smoking is probably the most common addiction in the world. Also in the UK 9.4 million of the whole population smoke cigarettes. Although the numbers have fallen immensely in the last couple of years, people still get addicted.
Most smokers reported are in Scotland with 16.5% of the whole population being smokers. After Northern Ireland follows with 16.3% smokers. followed by Wales with 16.1%. The lowest rate has England with 14.9%. If you compare these numbers with the population of each country it gets really interesting. England has the highest population among these countries and lowest smoking rate. Northern Ireland has the lowest population with only about 1 Million. The price of cigarettes are in the UK all the same. It has much more to do with the habits and the cultural differences of these countries.
After asking some people on the streets of London Julie Miller, who is originally from Ireland, told me that people smoke much more when they go out. The drinks are not as expensive as they are in London so people spend more money on cigarettes. She also told me that smoking is way more tolerated in Ireland than in England. After talking to more people on the streets they all agreed on Julies statement that it is more tolerated in Scotland and Wales as well.
The UK is trying to do everything to stop people from smoking. Part of this is the Stoptober campaign. It suggests people, stop smoking during October and was supported and financed by the government. The NHS gives support in helping people to stop their habit such as online and with support of a doctor. Another campaign introduced by the government was the littering penalty. This forces people to stop littering and if they get caught littering a smoked cigarette that has to pay a fine worth £150.
Smoking habits in the UK have changed. due to the high impact of E-cigarettes people started to swag from smoking to vaping. Vaping is the new smoking. People enjoy vaping much more than smoking. it helps to cut the cigarettes, it is less smelly and you can have it in different flavours. And it is less harmful than cigarettes although there are no long terms studies regarding this as it hasn’t been around for long enough.
The figures of vaping have risen immensely in the last years. In 2011 it where only 5% of the British population vaping, in 2018 it was 42%. These numbers are very interesting. Elena Bechthold has changed from smoking cigarettes to the vaping option from Marlboro Iqos. She finds the vaping option cheaper and easier, in some places, she is even allowed to smoke inside because it doesn’t smell like cigarettes.
Not just in the UK worldwide the smoking habits have changed in the last decade. People have been made aware of the many risks of smoking. Alternatives have been brought out and the cigarette prices have been made more expensive. 
