The highest level of consumption of tobacco and nicotine products is among the 18-39 age group: 27% of respondents of this age are daily smokers.
The proportion of Ukrainians who use tobacco or nicotine products in September-October 2024 decreased to 27%, in 2022 this figure was 32%.
This is evidenced by the results of a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.
Thus, 27% of Ukrainians use tobacco and nicotine products, among them 23% of respondents smoke daily, 4% smoke occasionally.
“This may indicate the effectiveness of the anti-tobacco Law No. 1978, which fully entered into force in 2023, and the policy of annual increase in excise taxes,” the authors of the survey believe.
“That is, we are seeing a trend towards a decrease in the prevalence of tobacco and nicotine use among the adult population. The consumption of traditional cigarettes is also decreasing, while the consumption of new tobacco and nicotine products, on the contrary, is growing. In general, the trend remains that respondents in the younger age category smoke more,” noted Victoria Prikhozhaya, Deputy Director of KIIS.
The survey results demonstrate a high level of consumption of tobacco and nicotine products among the young age group 18-39 years old: 27% of respondents of this age are daily smokers.
At the same time, we see that the consumption of electric heated tobacco products is growing, especially among young people: 45% of young Ukrainians aged 18-29 smoke TVEN, while a year ago this figure was 37%.
Such data correlates with the level of influence of tobacco and nicotine product advertising: only 43% of respondents are exposed to it, while among young people aged 18-39 – up to 63% of respondents. Most often, they see tobacco and nicotine product advertising at points of sale – 32% of respondents, in second place is banner advertising on the Internet (18%).
The researchers found a high level of effectiveness of combined (graphic + text) health warnings on tobacco products for smoking, introduced since July 11, 2024: 94% of smokers notice such warnings, 62% of smokers were encouraged by them to take certain actions to quit smoking. Among smokers of heated tobacco products, 74% notice text warnings and only 44.5% thought about quitting.
The absolute majority of respondents also support a ban on advertising brands of electronic smoking devices and electronic cigarettes (70%) and a ban on the visible placement of tobacco product packs at points of sale (68%). Two thirds of respondents support a ban on flavored tobacco products (62%), more than half of respondents support an increase in the excise tax on tobacco products and liquids for electronic cigarettes (56%). The introduction of standardized packaging is supported by 50% of respondents. No. 1978, which equated any smoking products with regular cigarettes. In 2020, the Council also supported a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.