More adults in Winchester were smokers last year, new figures show – bucking the trend across the UK.

It comes as public health charity Action on Smoking and Health urged the Government to bring forward its bill to end the sale of tobacco and to create a generation "free from the harms of smoking".

Based on the 144 respondents to the Office for National Statistic's annual population survey in Winchester, an estimated 9.9% of adults in the area were smokers in 2023 – up from 5.5% the year before.

The survey asked people if they "smoke cigarettes nowadays".

READ MORE: 'Lay off the smokers' says Khalid Aziz

Two-thirds of adults in Winchester have never smoked (Image: Pixabay) The figures also showed 23.5% of adults in Winchester were ex-smokers, while 66.6% have never smoked.

Across the UK, smoking levels reached their lowest level since national records began in 2011, with 11.9% of adults saying they smoked cigarettes. In the South East, 10.6% smoked.

ASH chief executive Hazel Cheeseman said the figures are proof the country is "ready to be smoke-free".

She added: "There is cross-party support for ending the sale of tobacco and creating a generation free from the harms of smoking and Government should bring forward the bill as soon as possible."

Despite the progress, she said there is still more to be done.

She added: "Our poorest communities continue to pay the price for tobacco company profits, as do our public services and economy.

"Alongside creating a smoke-free generation, the Government must maintain the commitment of the last Government to invest in support to help the 6 million people currently smoking to quit."

The figures also showed those aged 25 to 34 years had the highest proportion of current smokers in the UK. In the South East, 45 to 54 year-olds made up the highest proportion (12.4%).

Publication of the smoking statistics comes after the Government revived plans to introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in July, which could progressively increase the age at which people can buy tobacco, preventing anyone born in or after 2009 being legally able to do so.

It could also lead to restrictions on the flavours, packaging and display of vapes.

Separate figures from the ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey found around 5.1 million adults aged 16 years and over (9.8%) used an e-cigarette daily or occasionally in Great Britain last year.

E-cigarette use was highest among people aged 16 to 24 years, with 15.8% using e-cigarettes either daily or occasionally.

Professor Nick Hopkinson, respiratory physician and chairman of ASH, said: "Vaping has helped millions of adults quit smoking and is much less harmful than smoking. However, it is not risk-free and high levels of use among young people and growing use among never smokers is a concern."

He said the new bill must provide a "tough" regulatory framework to control the marketing and sale of e-cigarettes.

SEE ALSO: Smoking levels among adults in the UK, by local authority area

"We need to reinforce the role of vaping as a tool to stop smoking, not a lifestyle accessory," he added.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Vapes can be an effective way for adult smokers to quit, but we have always been clear children and adult non-smokers should not vape."

They added: "Meanwhile, smoking claims 80,000 lives a year, puts huge pressure on our NHS, and costs taxpayers billions. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will protect future generations from the harms of tobacco and nicotine, saving thousands of lives and easing pressures on the NHS."