Burying their heads in the ash
June 26, 2026 by thecritic.co.uk
Burying their heads in the ash
UK tobacco policy risks burying its head in the ash if it ignores the role safer nicotine products can play in reducing smoking. Cigarettes remain the most harmful option, yet restrictions on vaping, pouches and other smoke-free alternatives may make switching less attractive for adult smokers. Harm reduction does not mean denying risk — it means recognising that not all risks are equal. Public health should focus on moving people away from combustion, not making safer choices harder.
11.80% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 6.7 million current smokers in United Kingdom 13.60% of men are current smokers but only 10.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
