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The number of smokers is at a record low 10 years on from the landmark smoking ban.

Saturday marks a decade since the law was introduced in England, making it illegal for anyone to smoke inside enclosed public spaces including bars, clubs, restaurants and workplaces.

According to Public Health England, the law’s success has been “phenomenal” with the UK now boasting the second lowest smoking rate in Europe.

Death rates have plummeted in the past 10 years, with the numbers of smokers dying from heart disease and stroke dropping significantly.

Meanwhile London has seen its number of smokers plunge, with smoking rates dropping from 18.2 per cent in 2012 to 15.2 per cent in 2016. In 1974 nearly half of all adults smoked.

According to the Department of Health's Public Health England, the law has sparked a massive cultural change.

“Young people have not had to experience the smoke-filled bars and clubs that once choked their parents and workers,” said Duncan Selbie, the chief executive of PHE. “They’ve grown up in a world where smoking is no longer socially acceptable.

“The law has played a key part in the huge cultural change we have seen in the past decade, especially among younger people, a change that has literally saved thousands from disabling chronic diseases and premature death.”

New figures from PHE show that the number of smokers aged 35 and over dying from heart disease in London has fallen significantly from 38.8 per 100,000 population in 2007-09 to 26.5 in 2013-15.

Deaths from stroke have fallen from 11.5 per 100,000 population in 2007-09 to 8.9 in 2013-15.

Mr Selbie said: “The Smokefree legacy has had a phenomenally positive impact on societal attitudes to smoking. And smokers have seized the opportunity by quitting in unprecedented numbers and, of those still smoking, half have chosen to smoke outside of their own homes to protect their families from second-hand smoke.

“The Smokefree legislation was undoubtedly the single most important public health reform in generations.”

The goal of the ban was to reduce passive smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke, ultimately encouraging huge numbers of smokers to quit and improve the nation’s health.

Since it was introduced, the sight of people smoking outside buildings has become commonplace - even in poor weather.

In the 10 years since, tobacco legislation has undergone an overhaul with another nine pieces of smoking legislation coming into force.

“We’ve seen cigarettes stubbed out in public places, become far less visible in shops and had large graphic warnings put on packs starkly explaining what these things do to the human body,” Mr Selbie said.

Other pieces of government action include introducing a two per cent above-inflation tax on tobacco and a ban on smoking in cars with children inside.

“However, while there is much to be positive about, large gaps still exist between the richest and poorest areas – with the highest rates over five times greater than the lowest,” Mr Selbie said.

“While these gaps persist there is still much work to be done, but these latest figures give us real hope. It’s now hard to believe that back in 1974 almost half of adults smoked.

“But now an end really is in sight and we have a real opportunity to virtually eliminate all the harm, misery and death caused by smoking.”

According to data from organisation Action on Smoking and Health, support for smoking-free public places has never been higher.

Eighty two per cent of people in London now support smoke-free laws, up from 76 per cent in April 2007 shortly before the ban came into force.

Whereas 40 per cent of smokers supported the ban in 2001, now the figure stands at 55 per cent.

Many Londoners back even more action, with currently 67 per cent of people in the capital supporting a new levy on tobacco manufacturers.

But ASH director of policy, Hazel Cheeseman, said “much more needs to be done”.

“Smoking prevalence is at an all-time low in London at 15.2% [1] but smoking remains the leading cause of preventable premature death, responsible for half the difference in life expectancy between the rich and the poor,” she said.

“The Smokefree England survey shows there is strong support for more action to tackle the harm caused by tobacco.”