Source: Office for National Statistics: Adult smoking habits in Great Britain and E-cigarette use in Great Britain
Notes:
- The chart shows the percentage of current cigarette smokers and the percentage of current e-cigarette smokers, by sex, aged 16 and over in Great Britain from 1974 to 2004 in fiscal years and from 2005 to 2020 in calendar years.
- Data for the proportion of current cigarette smokers was collected on a 2-yearly basis prior to 2000. In addition, the data are only weighted from 2000 onwards. Estimates for 2004 and 2005 both include the period 1 January 2005 to 31 March 2005 because of a change in survey period from fiscal year to calendar year.
- Data for the proportion of current e-cigarette smokers is weighted. From 2018 the survey question used to measure e-cigarette use changed. In addition, from 2018 ex-vapers only includes those who vaped regularly; previously this group also included those who vaped occasionally. However, it is noted that data for ‘current e-cigarette users’ is comparable across the entire time series (2014 – 2020).
| Key dates | |
|---|---|
| 1962 | Publication: Smoking and Health - Royal College of Physicians The report often cited as the beginning of changes in attitudes towards smoking. |
| 1964 | Television Act The Government used the 1964 Television Act to ban commercials from advertising cigarettes. (Introduced in 1965). |
| 1971 | Introduction of health warnings on packaging Introduced government warnings onto all cigarette packaging. |
| 2006 | Health Act Banned smoking in enclosed public spaces. (Introduced in 2007) |
