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Which country smokes the most?
What would we do without The Economist and its great sidebars? This one shows just how much certain countries smoke. According to ERC, a market research company, the heaviest smokers come from Greece, with an average of 3,000 cigarettes per person in 2007. At 20 cigarettes per pack, that makes 150 packs in a year; a lot of puffing.
Despite recent smoking bans in many places, European countries still manage to hold 18 of the top 20 spots. The most surprising statistic? That France smokes less than the U.S. Whatever happened to the stereotypical image of the French, dressed in all black, a serious look on their face and a Gauloises glued to their fingers? It could have something to do with the price of cigarettes; a pack runs about 5 euros in France, equaling just a little under $8.
Click here to see how these results changed from 2006.
Despite recent smoking bans in many places, European countries still manage to hold 18 of the top 20 spots. The most surprising statistic? That France smokes less than the U.S. Whatever happened to the stereotypical image of the French, dressed in all black, a serious look on their face and a Gauloises glued to their fingers? It could have something to do with the price of cigarettes; a pack runs about 5 euros in France, equaling just a little under $8.
Click here to see how these results changed from 2006.
Which countries *cough* smoke the most?
Filed under: Learning, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Travel Health
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Mark May 13th 2008 12:48PM
Snoking bans do not make sense. Quite simply, ETS is not present in anywhere near the quantities to be a major risk factor. The anti-tobacco lobby has exagerated the risk. Think of it this way - people's breathing competes with the building's ventilation system for the available smoke. People breathe at about 8 l/min or about 0.28 cfm. Building codes generally require 10 to 20 cfm of outdoor air. This means that about 35 to 70 times as much smoke will be removed by the ventilation system than by people breathing. In addition, a significant quantity of smoke is still in the air at the end of the day, when people leave the building.
If anyone is interested in calculating actual dose, I suggest you use National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST.gov) CONTAM computer program. While it takes some conversions, one can get something equivalent to dose.
Sooky May 13th 2008 12:49PM
I'm a smoker and I love and Hate the smoking laws... I do not allow anyone to smoke arround my children, it's harmful~ I also do not like other smokers, smoke being blown in my face or the area filling up with smoke, it's gross... So I love that the laws help make it possible for my family to enjoy life, smoke free. But, I dont think it's fair that after a meal I can not go out to have a smoke with out non smokers being confrontational. You dont smoke~ Great we get it, I dont drink, so were even...
I went out to a shopping mall, after lunch I stepped out to "enjoy a smoke". I'm standing under a group of tree's in the middle of the parking lot, and a couple and child begin walking tward me; so I make it obviouse I have a cigarett, thinking they had not noticed. These people had to go out of the way to walk past me, and while they did they are grumbling to each other how "they need to outlaw smoking" "I'm sick of being exposed to second hand smoke" blah, blah, blah... Well, I'm sick of negligent parents walking thier children threw my smoke so they can gripe about my cigarett. And I'm sick of everybody thinking it's thier job to educate me on my heath.
Smokers do a pretty good job of staying in the "smoking area's" or far from people, non smokers though do not respect the rights of smokers and will walk right into the smoking area and complain about the smoke. How Rude!!!!
Still A Smoker "Butt" Trying To Quit May 13th 2008 1:11PM
I am a smoker but am so sick of it all, the health risks, the nasty stink, the nasty taste, and all the other nastiness that comes along with it. I am 40 and began smoking at the "know it all, but in reality, know nothing at all" age of 13, and am quite scared at the damage I've probably done. Yes I know about the positives of quitting no matter how many years a person has smoked, but it's still unsettling. But I have had enough of the butts and will continue to battle the evil nicotine and say goodbye once and for all. By the way, I did quit a few times before and let me tell you, I did feel better....but ended up succuming(sp?) to stupidity and started up again.
One other thing....I used to live in Connecticut where smoking has been banned from public places for quite some time and now live in Pennsylvania. I can't believe how stupid this state is to still allow smoking indoors...even in over crowded general admission concerts! I took my daughters to a couple of these concerts, and let me tell you, it is like you're a sardine...even worse when the start pushing and shoving and moshing...and there are people in the midst of all of this smoking! Duh! I am surprised that there haven't been any fires since the floors are wood...and I pray there never will be any. I have also been burned from some of these idiots. Now, like I said above, I smoke but will not smoke indoors, especially in places like this, or around my kids....ever! If anyone living in PA reads this, we need to get these "knuckleheaded" politicians to ban smoking in ALL public places.
DespisesControlFreaks May 13th 2008 1:20PM
Maybe there should be a ban on the Anti-Smoking Nazi instead. Don't like cigarette smoke? Then stay away from smokers. It's not rocket science. It's a proactive, albeit simplistic solution. Whining on the Internet about it, isn't proactive at all. The Anti-smoking Crusades have gone overboard... and I never actually see anyone so adamantly against it put their money where their mouth is, and find a resolution to ridding the addiction conveniently rolled into cigarettes, by directing their energies at manufacturers. And why? Because it's simply easier to just lambaste a smoker instead. Hell, it's almost become fashionable to do so. And that kind of sanctimony just breeds more contempt in a world already overloaded with intolerance. (What do you do for an encore? Kick a homeless person for fun?)
Smoking will likely never be made illegal entirely, since the tax revenue lost would be exorbitant. Many states are scrambling to make up for lost revenue in cigarette taxes from people who opted to quit. (Keyword: opted!) Seriously people, keep it in perspective: Thousands dead between a cyclone and an earthquake in the past couple of days... smokers and non-smokers alike... that to incessantly bitch about cigarette smoke seems utterly trivial in the grand scheme of things. Goes to show you that we all die of something... it's just a matter of when and from what... and sometimes happens in spite of whether we can control other people's actions/habits/addictions or not. How about just trying to control yourselves instead? Gee, what a novel concept! Honestly, it seems sometimes that people just aren't happy, unless they're complaining about something... yet are immediately offended if someone speaks out against their own idiosyncratic, linear attitude. Fact is, this world's big enough to hold everyone. Don't like the space you're in? Have the sense to shut your mouth, and move your feet instead. 'nuff said.
Danny May 13th 2008 2:06PM
I especially like to watch non-smokers seat themselves and ther children in the smoking section of a resturaunt because the table is avail sooner. Yea, toss you high and mighty morales out the window when it;s conveniant for you. Just a bunch of self-righteius hypocytes...
bruce May 13th 2008 1:52PM
Greeks as a country smokes the most....ok....Never have said much as to the smokers killing themselves early....as I have always had poor eating habits...way to much sugar and fats.......good luck to us all.............
McKaiken May 13th 2008 2:23PM
I would like to say that what one does with their own life is their business. Maybe I find fat people disgusting and offensive. Maybe all those bratty kids that I see at the grocery store are offensive. Does that mean that all fat people with bratty kids should go and live somewhere else or be banned from being in public or socializing with skinny people that have well mannered children? It's just ridiculous for anyone to tell ME how to live MY life. God gave me free will and I choose to use it however I feel. The government will eventually move on to other topics to control until they have complete control. The Constitution states "We the People", well folks, WE are the people and this country is OURS not the politicians or the "Let's ban everything" junkies. I see both sides of the coin but why should only one side have their way? It's called compromise! Look it up! Whether I smoke, u smoke, I drink, u drink or u decide to not do either then that is your decision it should be no one elses. Everyone just mind their own business and quit trying to tell everyone else what to do. If someone is offending you then confront them and deal on a one on one basis. Don't make the school bully fight your battles for you.
Molly6 May 13th 2008 4:20PM
Nicotine is addicting & cig companies have altered the tobacco to make it more addicting & have added additional nicotine (great new taste they used to say) to keep people addictied to cigs. That's what makes them even more dangerous, and more easily addicting. Kentucky would have less smoking laws because it still grows a lot of tobacco. Genetic testing on super tobaccos is going on right now to deliver more nicotine. And smoking stinks to high hell!
Bobby May 13th 2008 2:23PM
Smoking articles in general draw the attention of extreme difference. You have the smokers & non smokers who can both argue valid points.
The more valid of the two in my opinion is that cigarettes can be legally purchased throughout every state in the country. This fact alone stands to reason that a truly free society should be able to utilize that legal product for its true intent wherever they please. Even with restricted areas of non smoking the continuing argument & total disdain for those who choose to smoke is baseless. Why purchase any legal product if opposing self policed groups say you can't use the product for its intended purpose?
What kills me more than anything is the same ones that flock to these "anti everything" groups are the same ones the put civil liberties above everything. They argue that open pornography is freedom of speech slanting the true meaning & overall effect of porn's social detriment at the same time imposing their will against issues they're PERSONALLY OPPOSED TO without once considering the infringement on others' rights. In the end their stance becomes one of an 'agenda' moreso that recognition of right or wrong. I'd put a stamp of illustration on the ACLU & PETA as being two classic examples.
Freedom of choice should be inclusive to every group based on merit, such as legality, not personal preference of the majority....
Bobby May 13th 2008 7:20PM
Despisescontrofreaks,
I didn't read your comments before I posted. We're spot on with our opinion. At least we prove there's not a consensus against "true freedoms"...
Alexi Hurde May 13th 2008 8:10PM
Wherever did the idea that smoking causes lung cancer come from? There is NO direct link with smoking and lung cancer. The medical findings came from research animals having heavy smoke pumped into them 24/7, far beyond what any smoker could inhale. Even then, many did not develop lung cancer. Dr.s in research are now admitting that many more people who never smoked and/or weren't inhaling second-hand smoke are getting lung cancer while many smokers do not. Since irresponsible research studies are responsible for the anti-smoking rhetoric and campaigns, it's not likely that they'll admit any time soon, that their studies were flawed and slanted. Besides, the politicians love that cigarette tax money for their pet projects.
If you want to compare health habits with high cost, then obesity and those who are overweight take the lead. From medical care costs to accomodations for those that have difficulty fitting into society's healthy-weight facilities, we're paying more than we'll EVER pay for smoking. If smokers can be targeted, why not have special menus for the overweight in restaurants? Or seating them in separate rooms? Why should they be allowed to indulge in a past-time, a bad habit that affects all of us?
Alcohol takes a massive toll on our highways, in family abuse and lost work time. I don't know of one person that has NOT been affected negatively by someone who has had 'one-too-many'. I wonder how many families living with someone that is an abusive alcoholic would exchange the abuser's drinking for smoking? Or a drunk driver for a smoker?
But targeting smokers was and is oh-so-easy... better that a smoker is the pariah while over-eaters and alcoholics are written off as disabled and helpless. Perhaps we can ask smokers to smoke responsibly, just as we expect others to behave.
andrew Dec 19th 2008 2:55PM
Is the 3000 cigs/person/year among smokers, adults, or per capita? That statistic seems misleading...