Smoking at record low

Teenagers in England are less likely to smoke cigarettes than previous generations, with the number falling to its lowest rate on record, reports The Independent, citing a new survey.

National Health Service Digital questioned more than 13,000 pupils aged 11 to 15 across nearly 200 schools in England about their smoking, drinking and drug habits for a biennial poll. The figures showed that just 16 percent of participants said they had smoked a cigarette in their lifetime, down from 19 percent in 2016 and 49 percent in 1996.

However, 25 percent of students admitted to having used an e-cigarette at least once, the same as in 2016. Researchers stated that students who had smoked cigarettes were more likely to also have vaped than those who had not smoked.