A Smoke Free Life Starts with A Smoke Free Day
Londoners are being urged to quit smoking on No Smoking Day
Londoners who smoke are being encouraged to take the first steps to quit with the message that “a smoke free life starts with a smoke free day”.
Around 10.2% of London’s adult population – around 900,000 people – currently smokes, and this causes 6,000 deaths per year and significant health inequalities.
But new YouGov polling for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), shows the appetite to quit is already strong. Released to mark national No Smoking Day (11 March), the results reveal that 56% of people who smoke in London say they want to stop – and this includes more than one in five (19%) who say they “REALLY want to stop”.
Evidence shows smokers are three times more likely to quit successfully when they have access to effective stop smoking 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.
In London, free stop smoking support offered in all boroughs is complemented by the Smoke Free App. Supported by London Tobacco Alliance and backed by the city’s 33 local authorities, the app offers 24/7 support from trained advisors, motivational support features and 12 weeks’ free vape or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) delivered to your door.
An evaluation of the app shows:
- In 2025, 3,132 Londoners quit using the app – a 49% (self-reported) success rate
- Users appreciated having 24/7 support, with 55% accessing advisors outside standard service hours and 21% signing up over weekends
- People using the app came from a wide range of backgrounds including those from lower socioeconomic groups in which smoking rates are historically higher
- Quit rates were highest among those who used the app most and used NRT.
Yulia, from Ealing, is among the thousands of Londoners who have used the Smoke Free App to help them quit. She told the app team:
“I have tried to quit smoking many times before, but this time – thanks to your app – I finally managed to quit. I truly hope I can stay strong and smoke-free for good… This is such an important and valuable app. My sincere thanks to you and your whole team.”
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. This will make a whole generation who will not need to take steps to kick the habit.
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK, causing around 80,000 deaths each year and harming nearly every organ of the body. The good news is that stopping smoking brings rapid and significant health benefits at any age.
Tracy Parr, Programme Director at Stop Smoking London, said:
“Over the past year we’ve seen thousands of Londoners successfully quit smoking, and that should give real hope to anyone thinking about making a similar change.
“Quitting is absolutely possible and, with the right support, people are much more likely to succeed. In London, every smoker can access that support through the Smoke Free app, as well as the local stop smoking services available in every borough.
“A smoke free life starts with a smoke free day, and we want every Londoner who smokes to know that today can be that day.”
Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of charity Action on Smoking and Health, 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, inspiring the 5.3 million people still smoking to join the smokefree generation and take a step towards ending the harm caused by tobacco.”
