
According to the latest survey released in Ireland, the smoking rate has increased from 17% in 2019 to 18%. Meanwhile, the e-cigarette usage rate has decreased from the record 5% in 2019 to 3% this year. NNA Ireland, the new nicotine alliance, is questioning how this has happened.
The Healthy Ireland Survey is an annual survey that targets a representative sample of the population aged 15 and over living in Ireland. Typically, the sample size is around 7,500 people.
The key findings of the 2022 Healthy Ireland Survey are summarized as follows:
. According to recent surveys, 18% of the population currently smoke, with 14% smoking daily and 4% smoking occasionally. The age group most likely to smoke is 25-34, as consistently found in surveys conducted between 2015-2019.
Among all age groups, men are more likely to smoke than women, with the greatest difference being between the ages of 25-34.
Among this age group, over one-third (34%) of men and 14% of women are smokers. In the 25-34 age group, over one-quarter (27%) of men smoke daily, compared to 10% of women of the same age. The equivalent percentage in the 2021 survey was 20% for men and 16% for women.
In the past 12 months, 46% of smokers attempted to quit smoking. Of those who attempted to quit smoking in the past 12 months, 23% were successful.
Three percent of people have used electronic cigarettes, while another three percent said they had tried them in the past but no longer use them. The usage of electronic cigarettes is highest among people under the age of 25, with six percent currently using them in this age group.
Can we attribute this situation to the consistent opposition to e-cigarettes by Ireland's tobacco control? Perhaps not," said NNA Ireland. "We can ask why the smoking rate in the UK was 13.3% in 2021, with an e-cigarette usage rate of 7.7%, which is much better than ours. Is the difference in e-cigarette policies a factor?
According to NNA Ireland, electronic cigarettes are seen as a positive development in the UK. The organization quoted a statement saying that the decrease in the percentage of smokers may be attributed in part to the increase in electronic cigarette use. Data from the Opinion and Lifestyle Survey showed that in 2021, there was an increase in the number of people using electronic cigarette devices regularly and the age group with the highest usage rates was between 16 and 24 years old.
Mark Murphy, spokesperson for the Irish Heart Foundation, commented on these figures, saying: "Unfortunately, we have not seen any further progress this year in reducing smoking rates among the general population, meaning nearly one-fifth of the country continues to smoke. However, the most concerning trend is the significant increase in smoking rates among the 25-34 age group since last year. It is clear that we cannot continue on the current trajectory and the government needs to do more to prevent smoking and encourage those who already smoke to quit.
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.










