Some areas in South Yorkshire still above the national average for smoking

That's according to new figures out today

Author: Chris Davis-SmithPublished 13th Mar 2024

It's thought the number of people in South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire - who're still smoking - is higher than the UK average of 12%.

New figures - released as part of national 'No Smoking Day' - suggest 16% of people in Barnsley still take up the habit - while 14% in Rotherham smoke too.

Michael Burnell from Chesterfield used to smoke 40 a day at one time - after trying his first cigarette at the age of 13 - but managed to stop for good 6 years ago:

"If you're struggling to quit smoking, speak to someone who has been through that motion; not just someone who wants to make a profit off you.

"A specialist will be able to help in this area - whether that's a designated vape store or a pharmacist.

"Using a specialist helped me to quit cigarettes for good."

Cigarettes are responsible for 64,000 deaths a year in England, no other consumer product kills up to two-thirds of its users.

To tackle the issue and the high numbers of smokers in the UK, the government has joined forces with leading charities to encourage smokers to try and quit.

The campaign comes as the government plans to bring about the first smokefree generation, with proposed legislation so that children turning fifteen this year or younger can never legally be sold tobacco, with ministers also looking into regulation on vaping.

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