Surge in smoking among young adults during lockdown

Increase of 25 per cent in 18 to 34-year-olds lighting up in March to July 2020 as first wave of pandemic hit

(PA)

Smoking surged among young people in England during the first coronavirus lockdown, new research suggests.

There was a 25 per cent increase in 18 to 34-year-olds with the habit in March to July 2020 as the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic hit, according to a study funded by Cancer Research UK.

This translates to a rise of more than 652,000 young adults who smoke, which researchers have linked to the stress and uncertainty over the period.