Arsenal has the lowest number of fans who smoke in the Premier League
New Haypp study reveals the UK’s fittest football communities
A new survey from Haypp challenges stereotypes about Premier League football fans, showing patterns of exercise, alcohol consumption and junk food intake. The research, which analysed lifestyle habits of fans of every Premier League club, shows that positive lifestyle behaviours are a defining feature of many clubs’ fan communities.
Smoking patterns
Clubs such as Arsenal and Bournemouth report the lowest daily smoking rates (14% and 15%), which is still quite a bit higher than the UK daily smoking rate of 10.6%. Other clubs like Sunderland (29%), Crystal Palace (28%), and Burnley (27%) have significantly higher rates. Male fans are significantly more likely to smoke, with 16% reporting they smoke more than once a day, compared with just 9% of female fans.
Fitness fanatics
Sunderland supporters stand out as the UK’s fittest fans, with an exceptional 98% saying they exercise at least once a week, the highest figure recorded across the league! They are closely followed by Bournemouth and Everton fans, both at 92%, along with Crystal Palace at 91%, and Brighton at 90%, highlighting that high physical activity levels are spread widely across the league.
Junk-food loving
In terms of diet, football fans seem to be quite fond of their takeaways. Tottenham Hotspur supporters have the lowest levels of takeaway consumption in the Premier League, with 53% consuming junk food at least once a week, in comparison to the League average of 63%. They are followed by Nottingham Forest at 54% and West Ham at 55%, significantly lower than clubs with the highest levels, which include Brentford, Manchester City and Crystal Palace, where more than 70% of fans consume junk food weekly.
Alternative Nicotine Products
The clubs with the highest rates of daily vape use were Sunderland (28%), Everton (27%) and Leeds (23%). Nicotine pouch use is often associated with football fans, and the survey shows that rates of use of pouches are higher amongst fans compared with the general population. Everton supporters have the highest daily usage at 11%, followed by Chelsea at 10% and Brentford at 9%, compared with a 1.1% rate of use amongst UK adults. Taken together, these figures indicate that football fans are much more likely to use alternative nicotine products than to smoke cigarettes, which is positive news from a public health perspective.
Alcohol consumption
Football fans were also asked about their alcohol consumption, and the lowest levels of consumption were among Arsenal supporters, 41% of whom reported drinking alcohol at least once a week, followed by 43% of Liverpool fans and 46% of Manchester United supporters. These figures sit well below the average rate across the clubs in the survey of 62% and are in stark contrast to clubs such as Burnley, where almost double the number (79%) of fans drink weekly, the highest rate in the league. 11% of Premier League fans say they never drink.
Commenting on the findings, Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs at Haypp, said: “Football fans are some of the most passionate communities in the country, and it is encouraging to see so many of them adopting lifestyle habits that support their overall well-being. From Tottenham fans' lower junk food intake to Arsenal’s relatively lower levels of cigarette and alcohol consumption, it is clear that many fans are making choices that go beyond stereotypical matchday traditions.” He added: “Football fans still love a pie and a pint, but these results show that many are now focusing on wellbeing and making positive lifestyle choices.”