British Expats - Light increase in Belgian smokers

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Light increase in Belgian smokers

http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flandersnews.be/News/070209_cigarettes

Light increase in smokers

Fri 09/02/07 - Twenty-two per cent of the Belgians over the age of 15
smoke daily. That's an increase of 2% in comparison to last year. But
compared to the figures of 20 years ago, the number of regular smokers
has dropped figures by OIVO, the Federal Consumers Organisations'
Research and Information Centre.
The figures show that the 2% increase is due to a sharp rise in
Wallonia. The number of Flemish smokers continues to go down.
(Belga)
Between 15 November and 15 December 2006, OIVO questioned 3,065
Belgians about their smoking behaviour. One in four consumers
considered themselves as smokers. Twenty-two per cent of them said
they smoked every day, the other 4% said they only smoked every now
and then.

The survey shows that 75% of the Belgians don't smoke.

In 1982, 40% of the Belgian population smoked. Since then, the number
of smokers in our country has decreased gradually.

Since 2004, the figure had remained stable at around 20%. That is,
until the disclosure of the new figures.

Even so, OIVO believes the figure is remarkably low and proves the
impact of the anti-tobacco campaigns.
Rise is entirely put down to Wallonia
As the figures show, the new increase is entirely due to a sharp rise
in smokers in Wallonia.

Their number has risen by 8% in the last year.
(PhotoNews)
In comparison, the number of Dutch speaking smokers dropped by 3%.

In Brussels, the number of smokers remained fairly stable with an
increase of just 1%.

The study reveals that in rural Wallonia, significantly more people
smoke than elsewhere in the country.

Also in Wallonia, the group between 15 and 39 years old stick out
above the national average.
Anti-tobacco campaigns should nevertheless continue
The figures reveal that women (15%) only smoke half as much as men
(29%).

Furthermore, it seems that 65-year-old males who quit smoking in the
past have now rediscovered the taste for the cigarette.
(Belga)
Whatever the differences among them, there is one thing that unites
smokers. More than half of the interviewees said they intended to stop
smoking in the near future. Though it must be said that have tried to
do so before.

Researchers therefore point at the necessity to not let the anti
tobacco campaigns slacken. In this respect, they expect a lot from the
smoking ban in bars and restaurants and the dissuasive pictures on the
cigarette packages.

Finally, OIVO believes the price of loose tobacco should rise
substantially.

Apparently, many smokers have substituted their cigarettes for loose
tobacco, a switch that most likely was inspired by the growing price
of cigarettes.