Publication, Part of Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England
Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2023
National statistics, Accredited official statistics
Correction to school lessons and guidance (part 12)
Following the initial publication it was discovered that teacher responses from volunteer schools had not been excluded from the analysis (see Appendix A8 for information about volunteer schools). This was corrected and the affected tables and commentary have been re-issued including only teacher responses from sampled schools.
Only Part 12: School lessons and guidance was affected, specifically tables 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9 and 12.10, and the associated charts and commentary in the sections 'Frequency of lessons about tobacco, alcohol and drugs' and 'Lesson contributors and sources of information used to prepare lessons'. Though some of the quoted figures changed by 0-5 percentage points, there was no effect to the order of the most common contributors and sources of information to lessons.
13 February 2025 17:00 PM
Part 3: Young people and smoking: the context
Introduction
This part focuses on the context of young people and cigarette smoking, specifically the circumstances that may influence whether they smoke.
It looks at:
- Smoking behaviours of families and friends.
- Exposure to second hand smoke.
- Pupil and family attitudes to smoking.
Whether family or friends smoke
Smokers pupils know, by smoking status
Almost nine in ten current smokers had a friend who smoked (86%), compared with a quarter of non-smokers.
Only 7% of current smokers reported not knowing anyone who smoked, compared with 36% of non-smokers.
For more data relating to this section:
Tables 3.1 to 3.2, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
Exposure to second hand smoke
In the last year, 63% of pupils reported being exposed to second hand smoke in a home, including both at home or at someone else's home, or in a car. This is up from 52% in 2021, but similar to levels before the Covid pandemic.
Exposure at home
The proportion of pupils reporting exposure to second hand smoke at home or someone else's home was 59%, up from 48% in 2021. 13% were exposed every day or most days.
Exposure at home, by smoking status
Current smokers were far more likely to be exposed to second hand smoke in the home than non-smokers. 44% were exposed on every or most days in the last year, compared to 12% of non-smokers.
Exposure in a car
A ban on smoking in cars with under 18s present was introduced in October 2015.
The proportion of pupils reporting exposure to second hand smoke in a car was 24% in 2023, up from 20% in 2021, but still down from 34% in 2014. 4% were exposed every day or most days.
Exposure in a car, by smoking status
Current smokers were also more likely to be exposed to second hand smoke in a car than non-smokers; 22% were exposed on every or most days in the last year, compared with 3% of non-smokers.
For more data relating to this section:
Tables 3.3 to 3.5, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
Attitudes to smoking
Family attitudes to smoking (current smokers only)
32% of current smokers reported that their family try to stop, or persuade them to stop smoking.
12% said that their family encouraged them to smoke.
Pupils’ attitudes towards smoking, by year
17% of pupils reported that it was OK to try a cigarette to see what it was like, down from 23% in 2021.
Fewer pupils said it was ok to smoke once week (10%).
Pupils’ attitudes towards people of their own age smoking, by age
Younger pupils were less likely to think that it was OK to try smoking to see what it was like; 4% of 11 year olds, compared with 33% of 15 year olds, or that it was OK to smoke once a week; 5%-6% of 11 and 12 year olds, compared to 17% of 15 year olds.
For more data relating to this section:
Table 3.6 to 3.9, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
Last edited: 13 February 2025 4:59 pm