New figures released to mark National No Smoking Day (11 March) show that more than 106,000 people in Yorkshire and Humber quit smoking in 2025.
Analysis from UCL’s Smoking Toolkit Study found that, among people in Yorkshire and Humber who reported they had smoked in the past year 34.3% tried to stop, and of those, 33.6% had quit successfully – equivalent to 106,000 people across the Yorkshire and Humber region.
Separate YouGov polling for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) shows the appetite to quit is already strong: 43% of smokers in Yorkshire and Humber region say they want to stop, including 19% 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 The South Yorkshire Tobacco Control Alliance (SYTCA) and health charities say this landmark moment must be matched with practical, properly funded support to help smokers quit.
The SYTCA is a collaborative partnership between the four South Yorkshire local authorities — Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield — the NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).
and partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Its aim is to accelerate efforts to eliminate smoking across the region and contribute to achieving the first smokefree generation by 2030, in line with government ambition.
Smoking continues to have a devastating impact on the region’s health, economy and communities. It remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK, causing around 80,000 deaths each year and around 5,900 deaths annually in South Yorkshire alone. Smoking drives stark health inequalities and disproportionately affects people who are the worst off.
This No Smoking Day, the Alliance is sharing powerful real-life stories on Facebook and Instagram from smokers across South Yorkshire. They speak honestly about their regrets in ever starting, and why quitting – with the help of local stop smoking services – was the best decision they ever made. By sharing their experiences, we hope to inspire others to take the first step and become part of the Smokefree generation. Visit www.SmokefreeStarts.co.uk to access support today.
The Alliance is also 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
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.
Dr Zak McMurray, Co-Chair of the South Yorkshire Tobacco Control Alliance said:
“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, by inspiring the 150,000 people still smoking in South Yorkshire to join the smokefree generation and take a step towards ending the harm caused by tobacco.”
“Quitting smoking is a double win: better health and more money in your pocket. Patients quickly notice they can breathe more easily and enjoy food again as their taste and smell return. The money saved over a year can even pay for a family holiday. Stopping smoking doesn’t just reduce the risk of serious illness in the future — it improves daily life almost immediately. I want to urge all smokers in South Yorkshire to visit www.Smokefree Starts.co.uk and access local support to quit today.”
Professor Sarah Jackson, University College London adds:
“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.”