Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

The number of smokers has not changed over a year; however, now less people smoke in public places.

MOSCOW, June 16, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey describing how many Russians smoke; how the tobacco consumption levels have changed over a year; whether smokers observe the law banning smoking in public places.

The number of smokers has almost stayed at the same level – one-third of Russians (35% in 2014 and 34% in 2015). The number of male smokers is 2.5-fold greater than the number of female smokers (51% vs. 19%).  Every fifth (22%) smokes one pack of cigarettes per day or even more. Two or three packs of cigarettes are consumed by 9% of Russians; 3% smoke several times per week or per month.

Currently two-thirds of Russians (66%) do not smoke, including 55% of those who have never tried smoking and 11% of those who managed to give up smoking. Non-smokers are basically women (81%) and retired persons (81%).

Every second tobacco consumer (54%) smokes the same amount of tobacco as a year ago. More than one-quarter of smokers (29%) report to have reduced smoking over a year (35% of women and 36% of residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg). Sixteen percent smoke more often than before.

More and more Russians try to observe the ban on smoking in public places. Thus, a year after the adoption of this law (June 1th, 2014) the share of those who smoke only where it is allowed has increased to 42% (from 34% in July 2014). A further 14% of smokers did not have to restrain themselves from smoking, because they did not smoke in prohibited places. One-third of smokers show opposite reaction. Every fifth (20%) smokes where no one can notice (at apartment building entrance, etc.). Others (15%) do not change their behavior and smoke in public places paying penalties. Those who do so are mainly 35-44-year-olds (20%).

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted May 23-24, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.

            Do you smoke or not? If yes, how often?

(closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

2009

2011

2013

2014

2015

One pack of cigarettes per day or more

21

21

24

20

22

Several cigarettes almost every day

16

13

14

12

9

Sometimes several cigarettes per week or per month  

4

4

3

3

3

I quitted smoking and have not smoked for a whil

8

9

10

13

11

I have n ever smoked

51

52

48

52

55

Don`t know

<1

1

1

<1

<1 

Do you smoke less/more/the same amount of cigarettes than a year ago?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of smokers)

 

2014

2015

Now I smoke more

10

16

Now I smoke less

23

29

I smoke  same as a year ago

66

54

Don`t know

1

1

 

 

How has the ban on smoking shaped your smoking behavior? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of smokers)

 

2014

2015

I only smoke in places where it is allowed

34

42

I try to smoke where no one will notice it (apartment building entrances, etc.)

25

20

I continue smoking in all public places, and if I have to, I pay penalties

17

15

I quitted smoking or plan to do it

5

6

Other

3

2

The ban did not touch me; I did not smoke in places which are now prohibited

14

14

Don`t know

2

1 

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!

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