In a representative sample of adults in England between 2014 and 2021, past-year smoking prevalence was 63% and current smoking prevalence was 58% among people who were at risk of alcohol dependence, with a graded effect where smoking prevalence increased with level of alcohol consumption. Past-year smokers who were at risk of alcohol dependence had higher levels of cigarette dependence (as indicated by cigarettes smoked per day and time to first cigarette) than those drinkers not at risk. The high smoking prevalence among those at risk of alcohol dependence has important implications for policy in that to reduce smoking prevalence in England in line with the UK Government's target of less than 5% by 2030, efforts need to be focused on this group.
