To be flabbergasted that more than 20% of the population still smoke - really?!?

[LaurieFairyCake]

I've just heard this on Radio 5 If someone had asked me what I thought was the percentage I'd have guessed about 5%?

Anyone else surprised? I know about 300 people roughly and I don't know anyone that smokes. In my family I know one, my BIL, who does.

Anyone else surprised by that statistic?

It really doesn't disgust me if other people smoke though (bit envious maybe )

I didn't realise it was so frowned upon by non-smokers.

Actually, I was surprised it was as low as 20%.

Thought it would have been 30-35%, given the amount of whining about the smoking ban in pubs.

I was really suprised it wasnt more.

I thought it was a pretty good figure considering I can remember when you could smoke whilst lying in your hospital bed!

I thought the rate may have risen in my area because the majority of the eastern european men seem to smoke (only from observation ) and we have a high rate of new arrivals from romania, lithuania etc.

Mind you the rate of smoking in british born people round here seems much higher than the average, specially amoung young women.

I wonder if people with BO know how bad they smell?

I wonder of people who drown themselves in terrible scents realise how bad they smell?

I wonder if that woman who eats fried food at home all the time realises how bad she smells?

etc etc

I'm not totally surprised, it'll be an age thing; quite a few old geezers puffing away still.

I expected it to be higher as well, you see loads of people smoking but they have to huddle away in dark secretive places now.

Public smoking has really decreased though, probably the tutting worked after all

I still know a few people that smoke; my young, child-free, good-time friends.
Oh, and my DF.
It makes them look cool

You will all know lots of people who still smoke. The only difference is that these days most of them won't actually tell you that they do. And no you won't always be able to smell it on them.

I don't think the affluent / non-affluent distinction is right

It is.

The GHS has consistently shown striking differences in the prevalence of cigarette smoking in relation to socio-economic group, with smoking being considerably more prevalent among those in manual groups than among those in non-manual groups. In the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, the prevalence of cigarette smoking fell more sharply among those in non-manual than in manual groups, so that differences between the groups became proportionately greater

In the period between 1998 and 2009 smoking continued to fall more quickly in the non-manual group than in the manual group. In the non-manual group smoking fell by a quarter over this period while in the manual group it fell by a fifth. In England in 2009, 26 per cent of those in manual groups were cigarette smokers, compared with 33 per cent in 1998. In the non-manual group 16 per cent were smokers in 2009 compared with 22 per cent in 1998.

And it's not because they're on the cigars.

In 2009 only 2 per cent of men smoked at least one cigar a month, compared with 34 per cent in 1974.

Office For National Statistics, Smoking and Drinking Amongst Adults 2009

The stats at the bottom show the % of smokers in the most and least deprived areas.

Ash

Latsia that's a true fact. I smoked from early teens and only friends knew. I smoked up until I fell pregnant with DS and no body I worked with knew either.
I never smoked at work.

Having worked in a tobacco shop in a deprived area of the north east I am NOT surprised...

One guy still smoked 6 packs of cherry menthol rollers after being diagnosed with throat cancer...

Their stupid and idiotic choice I guess

Ok Narked.

I used to actually LOVE budget day so I could put the price of cigs up at 6pm and watch the smokers kick off...

As if it were my problem!

Either don't smoke or blame the chancellor... Not the minimum wage shop girl

You weren't in In Bransholme East were you Kayano? In 2006 53% of people living there smoked.

Here

I'm grateful to smokers for both subsidising public services for everyone else with all that duty they pay on fags, as well as checking out early from an array of incurable cancers.

No. Funnily enough it was Byker... As in Grove

It wasn't nice. Someone threatened to kick my head in because I wouldn't serve alcohol before 12pm (against our licence)

It was a sad sad place to work

I am grateful to those women who don't go for their cervical smears and check out early due to incurable cancer.

I may have totally outed myself there... Hmmmm may name change lol

I am surpised its so high as I don't see many people smoking now and as they all have to smoke outside smokers are very visible.
When I was growing up in the 70's everyone smoked and it was glamourised on TV and in films, but now smokers are such a minority. A good friend of mine who smokes says she is made to feel like a social leper - she won't give up though!

I am grateful to those who drink more than two alcoholic beverages everyday and check out early from incurable cancer.

I thought it would be higher too. I'd say about 40% of the people I know smoke. Generally those from work/family/DP's family etc which would be working class. When I started uni I was really surprised to see that there were so few smokers. There are literally about 2 or 3 standing around at any time, in a campus which has 19,000 full time students that isn't many.

It is definitely a class related thing. Plus I think lots of people stop when they get pregnant with their first child, which can be a bit of a generational thing too.

Many people I know who smoke are casual/social smokers too.

Other 'smells' a person may have on them, fried food, strong perfume etc don't sit inside there body though.... Smokers just exude a dirty smell even if they are in clean clithes, it just can't be masked!

I live right next to a college and it feels like about 90% of the students smoke. The pavement outside the entrance is always totally covered in cigarette ends and students smoking so I'm not surprised by the statistic. In fact, I'm surprised it's not higher

Quite right Squirrelz. We smokers can and should make way for overeaters for you to demonise next. Obesity is now fast catching up as public enemy number 1, no?