There are 1.9 million fewer smokers in Britain compared to when the smoking ban was introduced 10 years ago and smoking rates are now the lowest ever recorded, new figures from Cancer Research UK have revealed.

Scotland was first UK nation to go smoke free in March 2006, followed by Wales and Northern Ireland, both in April 2006, and England in July 2017. Since then, the number of smokers in the UK has dropped to 8.3 million, with the most significant drop being in the 16-24 age group – 17 per cent compared to 26 per cent in 2007.

A new poll for Cancer Research UK of more than 4,300 people also revealed that very few people want to revert to allowing smoking in enclosed public spaces, with only 12 per cent in favour.

The most commonly identified benefit of the smoking ban was that people’s clothes do not smell of smoke after a night out (67 per cent), followed by restaurants and pubs are now more family friendly (66 per cent). Almost six in 10 (57 per cent) agree that the health of hospitality workers has improved, and almost four in 10 (38 per cent) say their own health has also benefited from the reduced exposure to second-hand smoke.

Some 20 per cent of smokers said the ban had helped them cut down the number of cigarettes they smoke, and 14 per cent of ex-smokers credit the ban with helping them quit. Almost four in 10 (38 per cent) people across the UK believe that the ban has also helped protect the next generation from taking up smoking.

Sir Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “Cancer Research UK worked incredibly hard for many years to ensure that the [smoking ban] would be effective and that no one would be exposed to toxic second-hand smoke. The impact on public health is huge. It’s rewarding to know that this effort will go on to have a great impact on the health of future generations.”

He continued: “But the job is far from done when we still have more than eight million smokers in Britain and tens of thousands of children taking up the deadly addiction every year. We need this government to continue focussing on tobacco and we urge it to publish the Tobacco Control Plan for England as soon as possible.”