Smoking rates rise in Hull, despite England fall

Smoking rates in Hull have risen, despite a fall across England.

Data from the Annual Population Survey (APS) showed 19.5% of adults in Hull smoked in 2025. It is the highest rate in the country and up from 16.6% in 2023.

However, the Department for Health and Social Care said the rate across England as a whole had fallen to 9.5% following sustained action to help people quit.

Scott Crosby from the Humber and North Yorkshire Centre for Excellence in Tobacco Control said: "There's no point having a smoke-free country where the likes of the South of England are tobacco free and Hull isn't. We need more time and we need more investment to go in to help people stop smoking."

The data was released by the Office for National Statistics.

There had been an overall downward trend in smoking in Hull, with the percentage of people smoking at 30.5% in 2011.

Crosby said: "We know that smoking is increasingly concentrated in communities facing deprivation, financial pressures and wider social challenges.

"The children growing up in these communities are more likely to be exposed to smoking, they're more likely to start smoking younger and they're more likely to be addicted to tobacco."

Ali Truman from Smokefree Hull, which helps people in the city give up smoking, said: "We've worked with over 3,500 clients. 2,200 of those have actually set what we call a quit date and 1,000 of those have quit."

"So, to us, that's fantastic but, obviously, in the wider city, there's still more work to be done."

In Hull City Centre, 39-year-old Damon Welham said he had been smoking since he was 11.

"I've tried to quit a few times," he said. "I've cut down with my vape, but I do it because of the stress, just to de-stress."

He said he managed to quit once, but still smokes.

Francis Gallagher, 21, said he smoked on nights out.

"I wouldn't say I'm addicted to smoking, more to nicotine," he said.

"I do vape as well. I did quit before, but when I came back to university I started again."

Coquette Officer, 71, said she had been smoking for more than 30 years.

"I've tried a few times to quit, but probably not with a lot of enthusiasm," she said.

New legislation on smoking is due to take effect in the new year as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

The government aims to create a smoke-free generation by permanently banning the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January, 2009.

The Department for Health and Social Care said: "Record investment is expanding evidence-based support through local services, the NHS and national campaigns, while landmark legislation tackles the supply, promotion and availability of tobacco and nicotine products."

Health minister Alison McGovern said: "We know there is more to do as smoking is still more than four times as common in the most deprived communities and remains higher among people in routine and manual jobs.

"It is vital we support people to quit and lead healthier lives, so we will keep targeting support where it can make the greatest difference."

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