Number of young smokers rose by a quarter in first lockdown, England study shows

Stress of pandemic could be behind increase in people aged 18-34, but number who quit habit also rose

The number of young adults who smoke in England rose by about a quarter in the first lockdown, research has suggested.

Nevertheless, the number of people who stopped smoking altogether increased, with the number across all age groups almost doubling during the first national lockdown when compared with the period immediately prior, researchers from University College London (UCL) and the University of Sheffield said.