Edinburgh smoking rates at record low amid vaping rise

Smoking rates in Edinburgh reached a record low in 2022, figures show.

However, charity Action on Smoking and Health said the figures are a "wake up call" as rates across the country are not falling fast enough to meet the Government's target of 5% or less by 2030.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 8.3% of adults in Edinburgh smoked in 2022 – down from 9.7% the year before and the lowest rate since records began for the area in 2012.

It follows trends across Scotland, where the national rate of smokers was 13.9% in 2022, the lowest level on record for the country.

Across the UK, smoking among adults also fell to its lowest level of 12.9% in 2022 – a drop on the 13.3% reported in 2021.

James Tucker, head of health analysis at the ONS, said the figure is "consistent with the continuing trend towards a decline in smoking prevalence over recent years".

However, Deborah Arnott, ASH chief executive, said: "Smoking rates are falling, but not nearly fast enough to deliver on the Government’s ambition of 5% or less by 2030. Financial stress and poor mental health are on the rise, which we know makes it harder for smokers to quit."

The ONS figures also showed 5.2% of people aged over 16 used e-cigarettes daily in 2022, up from 4.9% in 2021.

Ms Arnott said the growth in vaping among adult smokers and ex-smokers was welcome as vaping is a very successful aid to quitting smoking.

However, she added there is a worrying growth in vaping among teenagers of school age and young adults with 15.5% of young people aged 16 to 24 years vaping daily or occasionally in 2022.