Smoking and drinking among Gypsy and Traveller communities with Eve TaylorSmoking and drinking among Gypsy and Traveller communities with Eve Taylor
Addiction Audio
Dr Elle Wadsworth talks with Dr Eve Taylor about smoking and drinking patterns in Gypsy and Traveller communities in England using data from the Smoking Toolkit Study. The conversation highlights stark inequalities, gendered patterns, stigma, and the need for better data and more accessible services.
15:41•2 Apr 2026
Smoking, Drinking and Hidden Inequalities in Gypsy and Traveller Communities
Episode Overview
- Smoking prevalence among Gypsy and Traveller communities was around 34%, roughly double that of other white communities.
- Overall drinking rates were slightly lower than other white groups, but heavier and possibly dependent drinking appeared higher at stronger screening thresholds.
- Aggregating Gypsy and Traveller communities into a general white category hides important health disparities and distorts ethnicity analyses.
- Stigma, literacy, language barriers and lack of knowledge about health pathways can make treatment and support services hard to access.
- Community-based outreach and peer-led smoking cessation work have shown promise, but need wider use and better recognition.
“"34% of this community reported current smoking, and the second highest, I think 17% of people from Arab communities reported smoking."”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This conversation between host Dr Elle Wadsworth and researcher Dr Eve Taylor zooms in on smoking and drinking among Gypsy and Traveller communities in England, using hard data to highlight health inequalities that often get missed. The chat has a relaxed, curious tone, but the subject matter is serious.
Eve explains who is meant by “Gypsy and Traveller communities” in the UK context and why they’re so important to study: they face much lower life expectancy, worse reported health, and high levels of conditions linked to smoking and alcohol. As she notes, these groups are often “smushed into white” in datasets, which hides the real picture. Using the long-running Smoking Toolkit Study, Eve and colleagues compared smoking and drinking patterns in Gypsy and Traveller communities with other ethnic groups.
One headline finding? “34% of this community reported current smoking,” roughly double many other groups. Drinking looks different: overall rates are slightly lower than other white groups, but heavier and potentially dependent drinking appear more common at higher screening thresholds. You’ll also hear how gender shapes these patterns, and how stigma around drinking—especially for women—may make it harder for people to seek help until crisis point.
The episode touches on practical barriers too, like literacy, language, and health system know-how, which can all make services feel out of reach. Eve points to council-led outreach, peer mentoring, and smoking cessation schemes within communities as promising examples, while stressing the need for more granular ethnicity data so inequalities aren’t hidden in averages. This one is ideal for researchers, clinicians, students and anyone interested in health equity or service design.
It’s a data-led look at how smoking and drinking intersect with culture, discrimination and access to care, and it might leave you asking: who else is missing from the statistics you rely on?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.