The incidence of tobacco use in the EU dropped from 28 percent in 2012 to 26 percent in 2014, according to a ‘Eurobarometer’ published on May 29.
The biggest fall was among people aged 15 to 24 where tobacco use went from 29 percent to 25 percent.
The incidence of tobacco consumption was lowest in Sweden (11 percent) and Finland (19 percent), and highest in Greece (38 percent) and Bulgaria (35 percent).
The European commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, said that the average age at which Europeans started smoking remained unchanged at 17.6 years. “Figures show that the fight against tobacco is not won, particularly amongst the young,” he said. “It is unacceptable that Europeans continue to be attracted to smoking when they are teenagers.
“A central aim of the Tobacco Products Directive is to ensure that these dangerous products are not unduly attractive to the young. That is why it bans flavours that mask the harsh taste of tobacco as well as slim packs and packs with less than 20 cigarettes, and makes picture and text health warnings covering 65 percent of pack mandatory.”
Meanwhile, according to the Eurobarometer figures; 12 percent of Europeans have tried electronic cigarettes and 2 percent were using them when the 2014 survey was carried out during November and December last year. These numbers were up from seven percent and one percent respectively in 2012.
Thirteen percent of 15-24 years olds have tried electronic cigarettes, as have three percent of people aged over 55.
Sixty seven percent of Europeans started using electronic cigarettes in order to reduce or stop smoking; 21 percent of smokers were able to cut down their smoking and 14 percent were able to stop smoking.
