Christmas can be a stressful time for many and, as a result, people can keep turn to smoking to calm their nerves. Despite this, numerous people see Christmas as their last blowout before a new year’s resolution of finally breaking the habit and giving up. With this in mind new research has revealed the areas in England where smokers are quitting the most, with Slough coming out on top.
The study by online vape retailer Vapekit analysed the latest data available from the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities to see which areas had the most significant change in smoking prevalence in the last five years, between 2018 and 2023.8.18 per cent -52.24 per cent5 Sutton 14.06 per cent 6.85 per cent -51.26 per cent6 Gateshead 17.80 per cent 9.13 per cent -48.69 per cent7 Redbridge 13.20 per cent 6.83 per cent -48.26 per cent8 Greenwich 18.13 per cent 9.74 per cent -46.27 per cent9 Hackney 14.76 per cent 8.00 per cent -45.84 per cent10 Knowsley 18.06 per cent 9.82 per cent -45.59 per cent
It found that the Berkshire area of Slough is where people are quitting smoking the most. In 2018, it had a smoking prevalence of 21.26 per cent, and this has dropped to 8.3 per cent in 2023, which is a drop of 60.95 per cent.
The County Durham area of Stockton-On-Tees takes second place on the list. In 2018, smoking prevalence for adults was 16.44 per cent, and in 2023, it decreased to 6.97 per cent, a drop of 57.59 per cent.
Rutland comes in third place. It had a smoking prevalence of 10.76 per cent in 2018, and this has dropped by 57.49 per cent, now sitting at 4.57 per cent in 2023.
The areas in England most quickly quitting smoking
| Rank | Area Name | Smoking prevalence 18+ 2018 | Smoking prevalence 18+ 2023 | Smoking prevalence percentage change 2018 to 2023 |
| 1 | Slough | 21.26% | 8.30% | -60.95% |
| 2 | Stockton-on-Tees | 16.44% | 6.97% | -57.59% |
| 3 | Rutland | 10.76% | 4.57% | -57.49% |
| 4 | Brent | 17.13% | 8.18% | -52.24% |
| 5 | Sutton | 14.06% | 6.85% | -51.26% |
| 6 | Gateshead | 17.80% | 9.13% | -48.69% |
| 7 | Redbridge | 13.20% | 6.83% | -48.26% |
| 8 | Greenwich | 18.13% | 9.74% | -46.27% |
| 9 | Hackney | 14.76% | 8.00% | -45.84% |
| 10 | Knowsley | 18.06% | 9.82% | -45.59% |
The London area of Brent takes fourth place on the list. In 2018, smoking prevalence was 17.13 per cent for adults over 18, the highest it had been in the years studied. In 2023, this decreased to only 8.18 per cent, a drop of 52.24 per cent.
Another London area, Sutton, comes in fifth. In 2018, the smoking prevalence was 14.06 per cent, but this decreased to just 6.85 per cent in 2023, a drop of 51.26 per cent.
In contrast, Ealing, located in Greater London, comes out as the area with the most significant increase in smoking. 2018’s smoking prevalence was 9.17 per cent, which has increased to 22.31 per cent in 2023, and this is a whopping 143.44 per cent increase.
The areas in England where smoking has increased the most
| Rank | Area Name | Smoking prevalence 18+ 2018 | Smoking prevalence 18+ 2023 | Smoking prevalence percentage change 2018 to 2023 |
| 1 | Ealing | 9.17% | 22.31% | 143.44% |
| 2 | Croydon | 11.37% | 17.10% | 50.44% |
| 3 | Harrow | 10.83% | 16.06% | 48.29% |
| 4 | Camden | 10.95% | 15.40% | 40.69% |
| 5 | Merton | 10.87% | 14.72% | 35.39% |
| 6 | Bracknell Forest | 10.94% | 13.89% | 27.00% |
| 7 | Westminster | 11.52% | 13.69% | 18.88% |
| 8 | Windsor and Maidenhead | 8.41% | 9.14% | 8.63% |
| 9 | Buckinghamshire UA | 10.32% | 11.19% | 8.39% |
| 10 | Middlesbrough | 17.44% | 18.58% | 6.54% |
Commenting on the findings, Guy Lawler, Managing Director of Vapekit, said, “While quitting smoking can be extremely difficult, especially for long-term smokers, it’s clear from this data that in a range of areas there are many attempting to quit and many also succeeding. It will be interesting to note how this relates to vaping prevalence in these areas as an alternative to smoking, especially with the government’s recent intentions to raise the minimum age to purchase cigarettes each year.”
Source: Office for Health Improvement & Disparities. Public Health Profiles. 2024
Methodology:
- Data was collected for smoking prevalence in over 18s for each year between 2018 and 2023.
- The percentage difference between 2018 and 2023’s smoking prevalence was found from this.
- Areas were ranked highest to lowest based on the size of the decrease in smoking prevalence between these years.
