Smoking statistics in Great Britain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Smoking statistics in Great Britain - Essay Example Smoking is incontestably one of the dangerous habits that impose great danger to both smokers and non-smokers. The issue of smoking is a very important matter that needs keen observation due to its worldwide effect. Apart from health problems, smoking also affects the economy of the countries since there are several great hardworking citizens who regularly lost their lives due to smoking. Most governments in the world set big budgets to fight smoking habits instead of using the funds in other sectors that can improve the general lifestyles of their citizens. It is therefore paramount to address smoking and other smoking related issues, as we tend to head to a smoking free world with an intention of saving our lives and economies. This piece of writing features the burning issue of smoking in UK. According to Cancer research in UK, tobacco was initially introduced in UK in the 16th century where it was being smoked in pipes, which later turned to snuff taking and cigar smoking. There has been a record increase in smokers among men since its introduction especially in 1945. Smoking in UK involves both men and women but the number of men smokers are more compared to woman. Smoking is not a common habit among women as compared to men. According to Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) which gave statistical report regarding smoking such as prevalence, habits , attitudes, NHS costs and deaths from smoking related diseases current smokers smoked average of 12.7 cigarettes per day where 20% of the smokers were adults who were aged 16 and over. The report also found that 25% of pupils aged 11 to 15 had tried smoking where as 5% were regular smokers. The number of adult smokers in UK reduced from 39% in 1980 to 20% in 2010 where those aged 20-34 reported the highest prevalence rate of about 27% and adults aged 60 and above reported the lowest prevalence of 13% in 2010. The majority of smokers begin smoking at teenage and the addiction intensifies when they become adults and at this stage, it becomes very difficult to quit the habit. People smoke for different reasons such as the need for adolescent to look mature, peer influence and finally to try out. The fact that most old people such as parents and relat ives smoke, lures the children also to smoke so that they can also look mature. Children may at times be involved in smoking if they see their friends and their peers smoke perhaps to be accepted. People have the tendency of experimenting prohibited things so that they can actually find out the reason for it being outlawed. Parents and the government normally prohibit smoking among children hence making the children sneak away and smoke. It is however interesting to note that grown-ups smoke for some reasons different from the children such as relieving them from stress and pressures due to economic or personal problems. Adults feel that smoking make them feel relaxed or boost their energy as they undergo difficulties such as family burdens or relationship challenges. Adolescent stage is the right age of ascertaining whether a child will be a heavy smoker or not by paying much attention on their behaviors. Smoking vs Demography Marital status according to the HSCIC, plays a signific ant role in smoking where most smokers are reported to be either divorced, separated or unmarried. However, single people are not likely to be chain smokers as it is in the case of the separated and the divorced individuals who take most of their time smoking due to frustrations. The married people are said to be less likely to smoke compared to the unmarried and widowed individuals. Smoking Vs Socioeconomic It is fascinating that the degree of smoking also depends on socioeconomic class where the people in the manual and routine groups were found to comprise of heavy smokers compared to people in the management and specialized groups. Most people in the higher socioeconomic cla