• The top three groups that secret smokers lie to are medical professionals, their parents and their partners
• 37 per cent of smokers and vapers admit their habits increased during lockdown, while 14 per cent actually started smoking during this time
• GPs estimate that over a quarter of their patient’s smoke, with nearly half of these lying about it
• But GPs urge patients to be honest about their smoking or vaping habits in order to be given the right course of treatment

 

New research¹ from Direct Line Life Insurance reveals half (49 per cent) of people who currently smoke or vape actively hide their habits from others. While official sources² show nearly seven million people across Britain count themselves as smokers, this research means the real number could be as high as 13.4 million when accounting for casual smokers³.

Despite the obvious challenges of hiding habits from people they live with, one in seven current or previous smokers (15 per cent) admit that they’ve lied about smoking or vaping to their spouse or partner, while similar numbers  have hidden it from their children. One in five (19 per cent) kept their habit a secret from their parents, suggesting that even adults feel they are misbehaving when it comes to smoking. Interestingly, GPs and medical professionals are the people smokers and vapers most commonly misrepresent how much they smoke or vape to, with one in five patients (19 per cent) admitting to doing this.

Although good health is more of a priority than ever before due to the threat of coronavirus, lockdown has seen a rise in smoking and vaping habits among many people, with 12.6 million having smoked or vaped since 23^rd March. One in 14 (seven per cent) actually started smoking in lockdown, rising to nine per cent of men and falling to five per cent of women and meaning nearly one million people across the country picked up the habit. Two fifths (37 per cent) of smokers and vapers report their habits increasing during lockdown, with 11 million people (11 per cent) admitting their habits increased substantially.

The impact of lockdown forcing everyone to stay at home meant secret smokers had to go to even greater lengths to continue hiding their habits from others. On average, current smokers and vapers get through 14 cigarettes a day, which equates to more than 4,900 over the course of a year. Furthermore, a quarter (24 per cent) confess to smoking more than 20 every day, a significant number to hide from others. The most common methods for concealing smoking or vaping habits during lockdown were going out for frequent walks (22 per cent), going out for drives (13 per cent) and waiting until family members were in bed. One in four (25 per cent) however, came clean.

Those who have lied or misrepresented their habits to medical professionals say they have done so to avoid feeling judged (32 per cent) or feeling embarrassed about how much they smoke (28 per cent). For others it is due to concerns over a diagnosis, either worrying that the doctor would attribute the problem they have to smoking (27 per cent) or even that they wouldn’t be treated as comprehensively (18 per cent). 

Table one: Reasons for lying to medical professionals

Source: Direct Line Life Insurance 2020

Being dishonest can, however, be dangerous, and GPs⁴ urge patients to come clean with their doctors. Nearly two thirds (59 per cent) of GPs said understanding smoking and vaping habits is crucial in order to provide the right treatment, while one in six (18 per cent) explained that not disclosing smoking habits may result  in patients being given dangerous treatments. At the very least, knowing that someone smokes may help explain the symptoms the individual is experiencing.

The majority (89 per cent) of GPs think that the impact of coronavirus will encourage people to reduce their smoking and vaping or stop altogether. Nearly a fifth (19 per cent) have already seen a reduction in smoking habits and 70 per cent believe it will encourage more people to try and stop smoking in the future. This optimism is shared by smokers themselves. Two thirds (67 per cent) plan to reduce the amount they smoke or vape over the next 12 months with 30 per cent having started to already.

Chloe Couper, Business Manager at Direct Line Life Insurance, commented: “Given public perception about smoking has changed in recent years, it seems many smokers are embarrassed or ashamed of their habit, so are trying to smoke in secret. While it’s understandable that people are flexible with the truth among friends and family, they should be honest about their habits with medical professionals to ensure they are given the right treatment, and with insurers on any life insurance or critical illness policy.”

     - ENDS -

Notes to Editors

1        Research conducted by Opinium among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults between 28^th August – 1^st September 2020

2        “Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2019”, published by the ONS on 7^th July 2020

3        299 of 2,000 UK adults described themselves as current smokers, while a further 211 said that they had smoked in the past year. This totals 510 UK people, or 26 per cent of the adult population. This equates to around 13.4 million people

4        Research conducted by Pure Profile among 100 General Practitioners between 28^th August and 2^nd September

For further information please contact:

Naomi Kombe

PR Manager

Direct Line Group

Tel: 01651 832895

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel, pet and life insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line life insurance policies are underwritten by AIG, part of the American International Group UK Limited, registered office: The AIG Building, 58 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4AB. American International Group UK Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority (FRN number 781109. You can check the FCA register at www.fca.org.uk/register or call the FCA on 0800 111 6768.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0800 077 8297 or visiting www.directline.com/life-cover.