73,000 in East Midlands quit smoking in 2025, as East Midlands urge smokers to join the smokefree generation

New figures released to mark National No Smoking Day (11 March) show that more than 73,000 people in East Midlands quit smoking in 2025.

Analysis from UCL’s Smoking Toolkit Study found that, among people in East Midlands who reported they had smoked in the past year, 31.7% tried to stop, and of those, 30% quit successfully – equivalent to 73,000 people across East Midlands.  

Separate YouGov polling for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) shows the appetite to quit is already strong: 42% of smokers in East Midlands say they want to stop, including 16% who “REALLY want to stop”.  

With the Tobacco and Vapes Bill reaching its final stage in the House of Lords, the UK is on the cusp of introducing a smokefree generation law that will phase out tobacco sales for good, by ensuring anyone born from January 2009 can never legally be sold tobacco.   

However, with more than five million people in the UK still smoking, East Midlands and health charities say this landmark moment must be matched with practical, properly funded support to help smokers quit.  

They are urging Government to pair the Bill with a comprehensive national quit push, including:  

• A high-profile public health campaign
• Properly funded stop smoking services
• Guaranteed access to free or low-cost quit aids, such as nicotine replacement therapies and prescription medications
• Opt-out referrals via GPs, pharmacies and hospitals
• Targeted help for groups with the highest smoking rates, including people in routine and manual jobs, people with mental health needs, and pregnant women 

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK, causing around 80,000 deaths each year, and harming nearly every organ of the body. The good news is that stopping smoking brings rapid and significant health benefits at any age. Evidence shows that success is much more likely when smokers have access to effective support: while many people need more than one attempt, using stop smoking services and effective quit aids can significantly increase the chances of quitting, with every supported attempt bringing smokers closer to stopping for good. 

While smoking rates in the East Midlands are comparative to the rest of the country, smoking remains a major driver of health inequalities and causes serious harm to people every day. It’s not evenly spread. People in routine and manual jobs are much more likely to smoke, and too many families are still affected by smoking during pregnancy. 

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death, driving higher rates of respiratory and heart disease, cancer, maternal and newborn complications, mental health-related admissions, and unplanned care. That’s why continued investment in local stop smoking services, backed by strong national action and effective legislation, is essential. It will help more people quit for good, reduce inequalities, and prevent avoidable harm. If you are thinking of stopping smoking, you can find your free, local stop smoking service on the NHS.David Johns, Director of Public Health and West Northants Council and Sponsor for the East Midlands Tobacco Control Community of Improvement

History shows that big, high-profile policies create a real ripple effect. When smokefree laws banning smoking in public places were introduced in 2008, almost one in five people who tried to quit said the new law helped motivate them. Now we have the chance to do that again, inspiring the 5.3 million people still smoking to join the smokefree generation and take a step towards ending the harm caused by tobacco.Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of Charity Action on Smoking and Health

The smokefree generation policy is a vital step forward, but it will not on its own address the harm caused by smoking among the millions of people who already smoke. To prevent avoidable illness and premature deaths on a large scale, we must ensure that existing generations of smokers are supported to quit. Making effective treatments accessible, affordable, and proactively offered through healthcare services will be critical if we are to translate motivation into long-term success and reduce the massive burden of smoking-related disease.Professor Sarah Jackson, University College London