One in nine Worcestershire smokers may quit this year

January is a popular time for smokers to consider quitting as Public Health England data shows 11.1 per cent of the county's adults were smoking in 2020.

The smokers include nine per cent of women in the area and 13.2 per cent of men - but the 11.1 per cent is below the national average of 12.1 per cent.

While 64.7 per cent of Worcestershire residents who never smoked will have no idea how it feels to be faced with the task of quitting, 24.2 per cent of those reporting to be ex-smokers might be reflecting on their success.

And when it comes to quitting, more men than women reported to have been able to kick the habit – 24.2 per cent of women smokers compared to 24.3 per cent of men.

The government has launched a new campaign to encourage people to stop smoking in 2022, as new research shows teens whose parents smoked are far more likely to pick up the habit.

Analysis by The Better Health Smoke Free shows 4.9 per cent of young teenagers whose caregivers smoke also smoke regularly, versus 1.2 per cent of those whose caregivers do not.

Professor Nick Hopkinson of Imperial College London said: “Our research findings are clear – adult smoking has a tangible impact on children.

“Children whose caregivers smoke are four times as likely to take up smoking themselves.

“The most effective way to help prevent this would be for adults to quit smoking – clearly not only does this have enormous benefits for them but it will also benefit their children both now and in later life.”

Health minister Maggie Throup said she hoped the research would give parents extra motivation to quit smoking.

“We know that many people make a quit attempt in January, and while there are so many good reasons to stop smoking for yourself, we hope that this new campaign – by highlighting the inter-generational smoking link with parents influencing their children – will be the added motivation many need to ditch the cigarettes for good this year," she said.