Bristol will be the first UK city not to smoke by 2024

Bristol is set to become the first city in the UK to be completely smoke-free, and research suggests that this could happen in the next six years.

The city is expected to become the first place in the country to quit by 2024, ahead of York and Wokingham.

The region is one of seven local authorities that should be smoke free nine years from now.

One in nine Bristolian smoked in 2017, the most recent year for which data are available, but smoking prevalence rates have dropped nearly 10% between 2011 and 2017.

The figures, published by tobacco company Philip Morris Limited (PML), also suggest that more people smoke in less-favored areas.

Mark MacGregor, Director of Corporate Affairs, PML, said, "Our company is committed to not smoking as quickly as possible and to stop selling cigarettes.

"What this research reveals is the huge variations in the decline of smoking in different parts of the country.

"We want to play our part by working with local businesses, retailers and local councils in areas with the highest smoking rates.

Bristol started not to smoke before

"There are more options than ever before that can help smokers permanently quit smoking."

The report found that regional declines in smoking rates ranged from only 10% to 1% – with only Cheshire East having smoked more in 2017 than six years earlier.

A smoker from St. Werburghs, who recently resigned, said that they were looking forward to the day Bristol "got in the habit."

"It's a nightmare trying to give up to be honest," said the 10-year-old smoker, who asked not to be named, to Bristol Live.

"And when people around me in the streets smoke, it's even harder to resist cravings.

"I look forward to the day when everyone in Bristol will have gotten used to it. Think how much money that would save our hospitals.