Among the more interesting developments in public health in recent years have been a range of efforts to curb smoking, which have included the use of vaping as a less harmful alternative and plans to raise the minimum smoking age by a year every 12 months to create a ‘smoke-free’ generation.

Across the UK, the number lighting up has been falling, with 12.9 per cent of the adult population smoking in 2022, the most recent year for which data is available. This was the lowest proportion on record in the decade that comparable information had been collected.

The rate of smoking was higher than average in Scotland at 13.9 per cent, but this was lower than in Wales or Northern Ireland.

Such a decline has not come about by accident, although the groups who smoke the most are not older demographics from an age where this was more common, but the 25-34 age range.

That suggests many older people have managed to kick the habit. But can you do it, and how? This is when discovering how local pharmacies’ stop smoking services can help can be a great step towards successfully quitting, especially if you have tried to stop in the past but have not managed to.

Vaping is one way that has been frequently tried. Notably, the 16-24 age range saw the largest increase in vape use in the decade to 2022, up nearly a third. This reflects the popularity of vaping with younger people, which, sadly, also comes with the problem that many underage children vape illegally.

However, the NHS backs vaping as a less harmful (though not harmless) alternative to smoking. The chief difference is that vapes lack the tar and other carcinogenic chemicals that cigarettes do, which reduces the potential for users to suffer diseases like lung cancer.

Smoking itself may yet be subject to new legislation that raises the minimum age every year. This idea was first legislated for in New Zealand but dropped following a change of government there.

Some might expect plans unveiled by the Conservative government might go the same way if, as the polls strongly suggest, they lose office in the general election. The calling of the poll for July 4th meant some bills did not make it through Parliament to the statute books before it was dissolved and this was one of them.

However, a new survey carried out by YouGov for the charity Action on Smoking and Health revealed overwhelming public support for such a ban. It found a majority of voters in every one of the 650 constituencies in the upcoming election backed the idea, with support ranging from 57 to 74 per cent.

The idea also had majority support from the 11-15 age group at whom the plan was chiefly aimed. This suggests that, even with a change of government, this is one policy that might still be implemented by whoever is in power on July 5th.

You may be too old to be impacted by such a ban personally, but the public sentiment shows it is increasingly seen as not cool to smoke. That may act as an extra spur for you to stop, but whether it is through vaping, gum, nicotine patches, or something else, make sure you get the help you need to quit for good.