Dominant preference for non-smoking. - Youth are decreasing their smoking rates, particularly cigarettes.
Fewer young people are taking up smoking cigarettes these days. As per a recent report by the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA), the number of young men and women who smoke cigarettes has dropped considerably since 2001. The acting head of BZgA commented, "Smoking cigarettes is no longer deemed cool by the majority of youngsters."
Declining numbers for both genders
The percentage of male young smokers dropped from 27.2% in 2001 to 7.2% in 2023. Similarly, the percentage of young women smokers lessened from 27.9% in 2001 to 6.4% in 2023. What's interesting is that figures for 18- to 25-year-olds have also reduced. Out of this age group, 46.7% of men and 42.2% of women were smokers in 2001, whereas in 2023, these numbers fell to 33.6% for men and 18.4% for women.
The rise of disposable e-cigarettes
Youngsters seem to gravitate towards disposable e-cigarettes: 6.9% of those aged 12-17 and 12% of the 18-25 age bracket had used these devices in the 30 days preceding the survey. A total of 7,001 people participated in the survey, which took place from April to June 2023.
Disposable e-cigarettes appear to be popular among the youth due to their small size, vibrant colors, and affordability, as per the Federal Government Commissioner for Addiction and Drug Issues. It's worth noting that tobacco use still causes the deaths of nearly 127,000 individuals annually. This includes fatalities from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Lung cancer remains the second most common type of cancer in men and the third most prevalent among women in Germany.
Sources:
- Bottomline: Auf dem Höhepunkt der Tabakgefährdung | Bzga.de
- Junge Raucher _ Rauchen|Lernen
Read also:
- Lifestyle 2023 from "Breathless" to cinnamon buns
- Unanimous decision: faster wolf culls possible
- New Year's Eve fireworks: What applies in other countries?
- Ban on New Year's Eve fireworks: no bangs here
Despite the decline in cigarette smoking amongst young men and women, some still turn to alternative smoking options like e-cigarettes. For instance, disposable e-cigarettes have gained popularity among 12-17 and 18-25-year-olds, with 6.9% and 12% of them using these devices within the past month, respectively.
Conversely, organizations such as BZgA continue to advocate for the reduction of smoking among all age groups, including men and women, as tobacco use remains a major health concern, causing close to 127,000 fatalities annually in Germany.
Source:
