You’re more likely to smoke based on where you’re from

If you’re from the North-East, the South-East or East Anglia you’re 60 per cent more likely to be a smoker according to new figures.

But those of us who come from London are the least likely to be sneaking out for a cheeky smoke.

The survey conducted by the Department of Health spoke to 120,000 15-year-olds and found where we’re from has a huge impact on whether we’re likely to bum a cig or be one of those people who moans whenever their mates light up.

A staggering one in 10 young people from Newcastle and the North East admitted to being regular smokers.

Meanwhile most pesky social smokers come from Essex, Devon and Sussex.

What’s more, you’re less likely to smoke if you come from an upper or middle class background.

Over a quarter of teens in the most deprived areas had smoked, compared to just a fifth of young people in the richest hometowns.

And the region with the lowest number of smokers was London where 21 per cent of young people had ever smoked compared with 28 per cent in the North East.

Health chiefs are appalled by the news that young people are regular smokers.

Lisa Surtees, acting director of anti-smoking programme Fresh told the Chronicle: “It is not acceptable that this number of teenagers in the North East are still smoking, and we need to do more to ensure fewer children smoke in the future.

“Smoking is an addiction that usually starts in childhood and starting as a child increases the risks of lung cancer in later life.

“2016 will see the introduction of plain, standardised packs and larger health warnings to end the glamour of cigarette boxes.”

Your gender is also a factor on whether you smoke or shun the cigs.

Girls are officially more likely to light up than boys according to the Department of Health.

28 per cent of girls admitted they had tried a cigarette compared to just 21 per cent of boys.

While 21 per cent of boys said they had tried a cigarette, this rose to 28 per cent for girls.