Youth smoking

Smoking prevalence among young people has halved in the past ten years.[i]

In 2023, 11% of 11–15-year-olds said they had ever tried smoking, 3% currently smoked and 1% smoked regularly. This is equivalent to around 400,000 11- to 15-year-olds in England that have tried smoking and 120,000 that currently smoke.[ii]

See also:

ASH fact sheet: Young people and smoking

ASH fact sheet: Smoking statistics

The 2011 General Lifestyle Survey revealed that about two-thirds of adults who smoke report that they took up smoking before the age of 18 and over 80% before the age of 20.[iii] Almost two-fifths (40%) had started smoking regularly before the age of 16.

Childhood smoking initiation is associated with a wide range of risk factors including: [iv] [v] [vi]

• Drug and/or alcohol use

• Use of vapes 

• Parental and sibling smoking

• The ease of obtaining cigarettes

• Smoking by friends and peer group members

• Socio-economic status

• Maternal education

• Adverse childhood experience

• Exposure to tobacco marketing

• Depictions of smoking in films, television and other media 

The exact relationship between these associated risk factors is often unclear. Some these risk factors will directly lead to smoking e.g. a parent who smokes provides both a role model and access to cigarettes increasing the chances of a child trying smoking. Others could be bi-directional, for example your smoking might lead your friends to smoke and vice versa. Some might have a common cause for example a young person who drinks alcohol may be more likely to smoke because they are the sort of person who is more likely to take risks.

During the 1980s and 1990s smoking rates among teenagers were almost unchanged. Rates started to fall in the 21st Century due to comprehensive strategy which included: [vii]

• Regulatory measures to limit marketing
• Raising the age of sale to 18
• Increasing the price through taxation
• An effective strategy to tackle illicit tobacco. 

See also:

ASH fact sheet: Key dates in tobacco regulation

There is a notable association between smoking and other substance use. Young people are more than three times as likely to smoke if they had drunk alcohol in the past week and 21 times as likely to smoke if they’d taken drugs in the past month.[viii]

See also:

ASH, AHA and OHA campaign: Addressing the Three Biggest Killers

The proportion of 11-15 year olds who think it is acceptable to try smoking has decreased since the question was first asked in 1999. Currently, 17% believe it is acceptable for people their own age to try smoking to see what it is like compared with 54% in 1999. Only 10% thought it was OK to smoke once a week.[vii]

The younger the age of uptake of smoking, the greater the harm is likely to be because early uptake is associated with subsequent heavier smoking, higher levels of dependency, a lower chance of quitting, and higher mortality.[iv][ix]

ASH fact sheet: Smoking and respiratory disease

ASH fact sheet: Smoking and cancer

ASH fact sheet: Smoking, the heart and circulation

ASH fact sheet: Smoking and other health conditions

Children are also more susceptible to the effects of secondhand smoke. In 2023, nearly two-thirds of pupils aged 11-15 (63%) reported having some level of exposure to secondhand smoke in the last year.

Bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome (cot death) are significantly more common in infants and children who have one or two parents who smoke.[x] [xi] [xii]

See also:

ASH fact sheet: Secondhand smoke

ASH fact sheet: Smoking, pregnancy and fertility

Smoking and pregnancy challenge group: Postnatal Support and Smokefree Homes

Children who experiment with cigarettes can quickly become dependant on the nicotine in tobacco. Children may show signs of dependancy within four weeks of starting to smoke and before they commence daily smoking.[xiii] One US study found that smoking just one cigarette in early childhood doubled the chance of a teenager regularly smoking by the age of 17.[xiv] A UK study suggests that smoking a single cigarette is a risk indicator for children to become regular smokers up to three years later.[xv]