Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2021

Whether pupil smokes, by smokers pupil lives with

Pupils were more likely to be current smokers themselves if they lived in a household with other smokers.

The proportion of pupils who smoked increased as the number of smokers in the household increased. 16% of pupils who lived with three or more smokers were current smokers themselves, compared to 9% who live with two smokers, and only 1% in households with no other smokers.

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. 39% were exposed on every or most days in the last year, compared to 10% 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 20% in 2021, similar to 2018 but down from 34% in 2014.  2% 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; 11% were exposed on every or most days in the last year, compared with 2% of non-smokers.  

Perceived family attitudes to smoking, by smoking status

Smokers are less likely to have a family that do/would try to stop them smoking, or do/would try and persuade them to stop, than non-smokers; 75% of current smokers compared to 92% of non-smokers.

Pupils’ attitudes towards smoking, by year

23% of pupils reported that it was OK to try a cigarette to see what it was like, and 8% reported that it was OK to smoke once a week.

These are similar levels to recent years, though prior to 2016 there had been a general decline in positive attitudes towards smoking.

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 42% of 15 year olds, or that it was OK to smoke once a week; 3% and 16% respectively.

Perceptions of how many people of pupil’s age smoke (15 year old's only)

In 2021, current smoking prevalence for 15 year olds was 9%.

34% of 15 year old pupils had an exaggerated perception of how many people of their own age smoked, saying all/most of them, or about half of them.

59% of 15 year old pupils said that 'only a few' of people of their own age smoked.

Perceptions for pupils of other ages and all pupils can be found in table 3.19.

Beliefs about why people their own age smoke

Pupils could give more than one answer. 

The most common reasons given as to why pupils believed others their own age smoke was ‘to look cool in front of friends’ (81%), because  ‘they were addicted to cigarettes’ (73%) and ‘their friends pressure them into it’ (72%).

Where pupils have seen cigarette packets on display in the last year

In 2010, the law was changed to provide for a phased ban on retailers having tobacco products on open display. Large premises, including supermarkets, were prohibited from displaying tobacco products for sale from April 2012. The ban was extended to all shops from April 2015.

In 2021, over half of pupils saw cigarettes on display in newsagents/tobacconists/sweet shops (53%), petrol stations (52%), and supermarkets (50%). In all cases these proportions are lower than in 2012, with supermarkets and newsagents/tobacconists/sweet shops continuing to fall since 2018.

29% reported having seen them on display in another type of shop.

19% of pupils had not seen cigarettes on display at any shop in the last year (not shown in chart).