Highlights

• The proportion of children aged 8 to 15 who had ever smoked a cigarette decreased from 19% in 1997 to 4% in 2019.
• In 2019, 10% of children aged 13 to 15 had ever tried smoking, compared with 1% of those aged 11 to 12 and less than 0.5% of those aged 8 to 10.
• 9% of children whose mother was a current cigarette smoker had tried smoking a cigarette themselves, compared with 1% of those whose mothers had never regularly smoked.
• In 2019, more children had ever used an e-cigarette or vaping device than had smoked a tobacco cigarette. 9% of children aged 8 to 15 had ever used an e-cigarette or vaping device.
• 79% of children aged 8 to 15 who had ever smoked cigarettes had used e-cigarettes or vaping devices, compared with 4% of those who had never smoked a cigarette.
• The proportion of children aged 8 to 15 who had ever drunk alcohol fell from 45% in 2003 to 15% in 2019.
• In 2019, 35% of children aged 13 to 15 had ever drunk alcohol, compared with 9% aged 11 to 12 and 1% aged 8 to 10.
• 94% of boys and 95% of girls reported that their health was good or very good.

Download the report and tables here.