New smoking research welcomed by Surrey healthy lifestyle service as “the ambition of a smoke-free generation”
New research published this week that says a law banning the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 2009 could see smoking in young people drop below 5 per cent decades earlier than expected has been welcomed by local health service One You Surrey as indicating “the ambition of a smoke-free generation”.
The research from the University of Nottingham found smoking prevalence among 12-to- 30-year-olds in England could drop below 5 per cent and by 2075, the policy could deliver around 88,000 additional years of healthy life compared with no new law.
Commenting on the research Sarah Norris, Head of Service at One You Surrey, says:
“We welcome the ambition of a smoke-free generation. Most people who smoke start when they’re young, and once nicotine addiction takes hold it can be very difficult to stop, which is why prevention is so important. Around 64% of people who smoke say they wish they had never started and would like to quit.
One You Surrey offers free, non-judgemental support, practical advice and access to treatments that reduce cravings. Many people need more than one attempt before they quit for good, and we’re here to support them every step of the way.”
Based on data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and local Surrey studies, smoking prevalence among young adults is relatively low compared to older demographics, with a significant rise in vaping, which has surpassed cigarette smoking in some age groups. Overall, about 10% of Surrey's adult residents are estimated to be current smokers. The 25 to 34-year-old age group has the highest smoking prevalence in the UK, at 12.6% in 2024.
“Quitting smoking is the single most effective way to lengthen and improve someone’s life,” adds Sarah.
“Children who live with smokers are three times more likely to become smokers themselves whilst smokers take in 15% of the smoke from a cigarette, 85% goes into the air around them. We know that 70% of smokers want to quit their habit; we also know that 24 hours after quitting, the risk of a heart attack is dramatically cut and that smokers who quit save on average £1,300 in the year after quitting.”
One You Surrey offers 12 weeks of both free in-person and telephone support to help you quit, with your own dedicated stop smoking advisor and easy access to stop smoking medication. The programme includes free stop smoking aids like e-cigarettes, nicotine patches, lozenges and gum. The benefits of quitting begin almost immediately, your sense of taste and smell improves, breathing becomes easier, energy levels rise, and your lungs start to recover.
The government plans to introduce the “smoke-free generation" law as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which would progressively raise the age of sale so that anyone born in 2009 or later can never legally be sold tobacco, starting from 2027.
Around 6 million adults smoke in the UK. While teenage smoking prevalence has declined over the past decade, some 400,000 11- to 15-year-olds in England have tried smoking at some point and 100,000 smoke now, according to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).
According to a Healthy Surrey report, smoking costs the county an estimated £950 million per year. This annual cost includes approximately £649 million in lost productivity, £259 million in social care costs, and £35.3 million in healthcare costs.
Residents who would like to self-refer or find out more information about the programme, should visit oneyousurrey.org.uk/programmes/stop-smoking/