An overall fall in the number of UK smokers looks to be offset by the rapidly growing adoption of the habit in some areas, research has found.
Though the number of those classing themselves as smokers fell by 6.19% across the UK between 2018 and 2021, some areas saw the habit take off.
Wychavon, Rushcliffe, Chorley, Ribble Valley, Brentwood and Broadland all saw the number of smokers more than double over the five-year period, vape retailer Go Smoke Free reported.
Combined, this represents an increase of around 60,500 people from just the six regions, the retailer said, based on Office for National Statistics data.
Given well over 100 areas marked a rise over the five years, the actual number is likely much higher, with the localised growth coming despite government aims to discourage smoking.
Britain has aimed to cut the number of those using cigarettes to below 5% come 2030, as part of a “smoke-free” target.
However, with the likes of Oxford, Liverpool, Belfast, and Sheffield among tens of other cities and regions recording higher numbers of smokers, progress looks skewed.
“These regional differences in smoking prevalence underscore the importance of continued research and awareness campaigns,” a Go Smoke Free spokesperson said.
The company pointed to the uptick as the UK enters into October - a month dubbed by Public Health England as “Stoptober” as smokers are encouraged to quit.
Despite public attempts to slash the use of cigarettes, tobacco giant Imperial Brands PLC (LSE:IMB) has repeatedly hinted at regional changes in recent years.
“Smokers have strong regional preferences,” the FTSE 100-listed firm said in its May interim results statement, prompting the relaunch of its cigarette brands in some areas.
This “geographically targeted approach” has seen the Embassy brand reintroduced in London and the south of England in the past year, while Regal cigarettes were relaunched in Scotland.
In spite of an overall 17.9% reduction in the UK’s tobacco market over the first half of the year, the firm added its “local jewel brands, Embassy and Regal, continued to gain traction,” as this regionalised difference in smoking appeared.
Imperial Brands was approached for comment.