People who live in greener neighbourhoods smoke and drink less on average, according to findings from a new international collaboration led by European Centre researchers.

Published in the journal Health and Place, the study also found that those who make regular visits to nature tend not to smoke, compared to those who visit natural environments less often.

The team’s results suggested people living in the greenest neighbourhoods were 13 per cent less likely to be current smokers and 31 per cent less likely to drink alcohol every day than those in less green areas.

Analysing data across multiple countries and different types of nature contact allowed the authors to highlight the potential of green spaces to act as a public health intervention. And crucially, their findings were consistent across different countries, people’s household incomes, and their level of education – hinting that promoting green spaces near where people live could be beneficial to all and not limited to particular groups.

Part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 BlueHealth project, the study also found that people who make intentional visits to nature away from their home at least once a week are less likely to smoke.

Lead author Dr Leanne Martin said:

“Our finding that nature seems to be beneficial to all in society is hugely important because it goes some way to levelling the playing field in terms of reducing health inequalities. We’ve accounted for a wide range of socioeconomic factors in our research and found the benefits are not determined by things like having a higher income or living in more affluent areas. For those people who don’t live in areas with high green space, we’ve found those intentional visits to nature also have huge benefits.”

The study defined residential greenspace as land comprised of vegetation and natural elements within 250 metres of someone’s home, including private gardens. Data was used from the BlueHealth International Survey, a cross-sectional survey of 18,838 adults from 18 countries and across various socio-demographic groups.

Could these positive effects be harnessed as a public health intervention? The team think this might be a real possibility, providing nature-based interventions for people looking to quit smoking, or to treat alcohol misuse.

Co-author Dr Mat White at the University of Vienna said:

“We don’t think it’s simply a coincidence those who live near to nature smoke and drink less. A growing number of studies are showing that when people spend time in the natural world, they have fewer cravings for substances like alcohol and nicotine. In part we think this is because they tend to be calmer and don’t need that “hit”, which can help them give up smoking.”

The study provides a starting point for even more detailed research looking into whether improved access and maintenance of urban greenspaces could offer public health providers viable strategies for reducing behaviours that pose a risk to health.

The full paper titled ‘Nature Contact and Health Risk Behaviours: Results from an 18 Country Study’ is published in Health & Place and is available at doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2025.103479.