The number of people in the UK smoking pipes, shisha, and cigars has increased five times in the past ten years, and experts are worried it could lead to more cases of cancer, like mouth and lung cancer.
Last year, a study from UCL academics found that around 772,800 people exclusively used non-cigarette tobacco, which is a big jump from 151,200 in 2013. The study surveyed about 1,700 adults monthly between 2013 and 2023 to gather these figures.
The research shows that young adults saw the most significant increase in using non-cigarette tobacco, with 3% of 18-year-olds using these types, compared to 1.1% of 65-year-olds. The study also found that more men and current vapers are using these forms of tobacco.
In 2022-23, one in ten smokers only used non-cigarette tobacco, like cigars and shisha pipes. These forms of smoking can be more harmful than cigarettes. For example, someone smoking a shisha pipe for 20 to 80 minutes can inhale as much smoke as someone smoking over 100 cigarettes.
The British Heart Foundation warns that even tobacco-free shisha can produce dangerous toxins from the smoke. The study suggests that people might think these types of smoking are less harmful than cigarettes, and financial reasons could be contributing to the rise.
Interestingly, the study noted that the ban on menthol cigarettes in May 2020 did not include these forms of smoking. This might mean that people who liked the menthol flavor might have switched to other products not covered by the ban, such as shisha and cigars.
Tobacco is linked to about 54,300 cases of cancer in the UK each year. The government is thinking about a law that would prevent anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, from buying cigarettes legally in England at any point in their lives. This means the smoking age would go up by one year every year.
Dr. Ian Walker from Cancer Research UK emphasizes that all tobacco products, not just cigarettes, are harmful and can cause cancer. He urges the government’s age-of-sale legislation to apply to all tobacco products to create a smoke-free UK and prevent future generations from getting addicted to tobacco.
Dr. Sarah Jackson, the lead author of the study from UCL’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health, stresses the importance of properly funded smoking cessation services across the UK. These services can support the 772,800 people using non-cigarette tobacco products and millions who use cigarettes to quit smoking.