According to a study, the number of young adult smokers in England rose by a quarter in the first lockdown, reports BBC.

The number of 18 to 34-year-olds classifying themselves as smokers increased by a quarter, from 21.5 to 26.8 per cent, says Cancer Research UK. The data does not explain why the changes occurred but experts believe many turned to cigarettes in response to stress.
The findings, published in the journal Addiction, come from monthly surveys. Researchers compared the responses given in the seven months before to the first lockdown in spring 2020 with those given during it.
Based on population estimates for England, the findings suggest that 652,000 more young adults smoked than before the pandemic, the report said. The data also suggests the pandemic may have been a trigger for many smokers, including young adults, to think about trying to quit tobacco.
The number of smokers who successfully quit has increased, and the overall number of smokers among adults has remained stable, according to the figures.