Surge in Non-Cigarette Tobacco Use Among UK Youth Sparks Health Concerns

Study finds a fivefold increase in young adults smoking cigars and pipes, influenced by celebrities and pandemic lockdowns.

Lockdowns led to a significant increase in the use of non-cigarette tobacco products among young adults in the UK, with celebrities possibly influencing the trend.
The number of adults using cigars, pipes, and other non-cigarette tobacco products surged from about 210,000 in February 2020 to nearly one million in May 2022.
Research indicates a fivefold increase in non-cigarette tobacco use over the last decade, raising public health concerns over potential smoking-related cancers.
Cancer Research UK emphasizes the need for government legislation to apply to all tobacco products to prevent future generations from becoming addicted.
Smoking cessation services are urged to be adequately funded to support the approximately 772,800 non-cigarette tobacco users in the UK.