Gender, Tobacco Control and Elderly Persistent Smoking in Europe

Sep.14.2022
Gender, Tobacco Control and Elderly Persistent Smoking in Europe
The study analyzed the impact of gender and tobacco control policies on persistent smoking in older adults across 11 European countries.

A recently published study, titled "Gender, tobacco control policies, and sustained smoking among older adults: A longitudinal analysis of 11 European countries," gathered data from participants aged 50 and above who have a history of smoking and at least one smoking-related health condition from two surveys: the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). The study covered four waves from 2004 to 2013 and utilized gender-specific logistic regression models with fixed effects for both country and year. It also examined the interaction among gender, education, and the transfer control protocol (TCP).


Despite women being less likely to smoke than men, they are more likely to continue smoking once they start. The impact of education and general tobacco control policies only significantly affects women's likelihood of continued smoking. Compared to women with lower levels of education, those with moderate education (odds ratio [OR]=0.63; 0.49-0.82) and higher education (OR=0.57; 0.34-0.98) are less likely to continue smoking. There is a correlation between tobacco control policies and a reduced risk of sustained smoking among women (OR=0.70; 0.51-0.95), with a stronger association among women with lower levels of education.


Older women, especially those with lower levels of education, are more likely to continue smoking. A recent study has found that traditional Chinese medicine is effective in reducing continued smoking among older women, with a greater impact observed among those with lower levels of education.


Smoking Rates Among Japanese Men Decrease


Meanwhile, a study conducted in Japan in 2020 found that the smoking rate among Japanese men has dropped below 30% for the first time, specifically 28.8%.


According to the findings of a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, individuals in their 40s smoke the most, with 37.6% of men and 13.4% of women being smokers. However, there is some good news as the overall smoking rate for men has decreased by 2.3 percentage points since the previous survey conducted in 2016, now standing at 28.8%.


According to the National Livelihood Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare every three years, the smoking rate among women has decreased by 0.7 percentage points to 8.8%.


When grouped by age, smokers in their 20s experienced the biggest decrease, with a drop of 4.1 percentage points to 27% among males and a drop of 1.9 percentage points to 8.3% among females.


Statement:


This article is a compilation of information from a third party and is intended for industry-related communication and learning purposes.


This article does not reflect the views of 2FIRSTS and 2FIRSTS cannot verify the authenticity and accuracy of its content. The translation of this article is intended for industry communication and research purposes.


Due to limitations in the translation process, the translated article may not fully convey the same meaning as the original. Please refer to the original article for accuracy.


2FIRSTS maintains complete alignment with the Chinese government on any domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, or foreign-related expressions and positions.


The compilation information belongs to the original media and authors. If there is any infringement, please contact to request removal.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Iowa Enforces Vape Registry Law as Retailers Warn Product Limits Could Increase Store Pressure
Iowa Enforces Vape Registry Law as Retailers Warn Product Limits Could Increase Store Pressure
Iowa has begun enforcing its vape registry law, requiring vape products to be registered before they can be legally sold in the state. The move follows a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to lift an injunction that had blocked enforcement. Retailers have warned that tighter product availability rules could increase pressure on vape shops. One Iowa retailer said that if only a limited number of products remain available, many stores could face significant business challenges.
Aug.06
Earnings Analysis | CTIHK H1 2026 Revenue Falls 26.9% as Core Businesses Diverge and New Growth Drivers Remain to Be Proven
Earnings Analysis | CTIHK H1 2026 Revenue Falls 26.9% as Core Businesses Diverge and New Growth Drivers Remain to Be Proven
China Tobacco International (HK) reported a 26.9% revenue decline in H1 2026, while gross profit fell only 9.5%, revealing sharp divergence across its businesses. Tobacco leaf imports contracted, while leaf exports and Brazil operations expanded strongly. Cigarette exports faced China duty-free market transition, and new tobacco products remained small. Meanwhile, CTIHK continues to strengthen its role as an investment and financing platform, though major external deals have yet to emerge. 2Firsts examines what these shifts mean for its next growth drivers.
Capital Markets
Aug.24
NAS 2026 | Cliff Douglas: Risk Continuum Should Play a Central Role in Tobacco Policy
NAS 2026 | Cliff Douglas: Risk Continuum Should Play a Central Role in Tobacco Policy
Cliff Douglas, a veteran U.S. tobacco-control and public health policy figure, told NAS 2026 that the “continuum of risk” should play a central role in tobacco policy. He called for clearer market pathways, stronger risk communication, differentiated regulation and enforcement, and said possible FDA reforms to PMTA reviews could be a “welcome correction” if they create a more efficient, predictable route for scientifically substantiated lower-risk products. Read 2Firsts’ on-site coverage.
Sep.26
South Korea Extends Vape Rules to Unmanned Stores After Bringing Synthetic Nicotine Under Tobacco Law
South Korea Extends Vape Rules to Unmanned Stores After Bringing Synthetic Nicotine Under Tobacco Law
South Korea's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said on September 14 that it plans to designate unmanned e-cigarette stores as businesses where minors are prohibited from entering or working. Operators would be required to verify customers' ages and display notices restricting access by minors. The proposal is open for public comment through October 6. The move follows an April expansion of South Korea's statutory tobacco definition that brought products made with natural or synthetic nicotine under the Tobacco Business Act. Nicotine-free liquids and products using nicotine analogues such as 6-methylnicotine, however, remain an emerging regulatory issue.
Sep.21
U.S. Ninth Circuit Upholds FDA Denial of MH Global’s Flavored Vape PMTA Applications
U.S. Ninth Circuit Upholds FDA Denial of MH Global’s Flavored Vape PMTA Applications
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the FDA’s denial of MH Global LLC’s applications to market flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The court ruled that FDA’s comparative-efficacy framework, which requires applicants to show that flavored products provide greater cessation or switching benefits than tobacco-flavored alternatives, is consistent with the Tobacco Control Act’s “appropriate for the protection of the public health” standard. The court also found that FDA was not required to establish the framework through notice-and-comment rulemaking.
Aug.26
Product | SnowPlus Launches Nicotine-Free DASH in South Korea, Localising an Established Disposable Platform
Product | SnowPlus Launches Nicotine-Free DASH in South Korea, Localising an Established Disposable Platform
SnowPlus has introduced a nicotine-free version of DASH in South Korea, adapting an existing overseas disposable platform for the local market. The Korean version retains the series’ flat duckbill-style mouthpiece, ceramic heating architecture and disposable form factor while reducing nicotine content to 0%. By comparison, the overseas DASH 4000 platform typically features 7.5ml of prefilled e-liquid, up to 4,000 puffs and a 530mAh rechargeable battery, with nicotine-containing variants available in some markets. The product update centers on formulation localisation rather than a new hardware generation.
Aug.31