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!