The All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTSIOM) presents the results of a survey of Russians on the consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products. The study was commissioned by "LLC "Indigital".
The structure of tobacco consumption
According to the results of the VTSIOM study, a total of 62% of Russians aged 18 and older have smoking experience (including alternative nicotine-containing products). Currently, three out of ten Russians surveyed (31%) consume tobacco and/or nicotine-containing products*. We are talking about those who prefer not only regular cigarettes, but also heated tobacco (sticks) and/or electronic nicotine delivery systems (vapes).
Consumers of conventional factory-made cigarettes account for 24% of Russians, including 18% who prefer conventional cigarettes, and another 6% combine cigarette smoking and consumption of alternative nicotine-containing products.
In the collected sample, residents of all types of settlements and respondents aged 35-45 years (21%) spoke equally often about the habit of smoking cigarettes. 60% of Russians have ever smoked regular cigarettes.
The total share of vaping consumers is 9%, including 5% who use only vapes, and another 4% combine vapes with other tobacco and/or nicotine-containing products. In the collected sample, the main audience of vapes is residents of cities with a population of over 500 thousand people (14% each), adult respondents under the age of 35 (17-26%). In total, every fifth adult Russian has experience using vapes (21%).
Only 2% of respondents use exclusively tobacco heating systems (sticks), and taking into account those who alternate them with cigarettes or vapes, the share of consumers is 6%. In the collected sample, sticks are most popular among residents of both capitals (12%) and Russians aged 25-44 years (9-10%). 17% of Russians have experience using tobacco heating systems.
Why do they smoke?
The key motives for starting smoking traditional and alternative nicotine-containing products differ. According to the surveyed former and current cigarette smokers, they were encouraged to smoke by friends ("because of smoking friends" - 55%), interest (29%) and stress (25%).
Among the most popular reasons for starting to use heated tobacco (sticks) and vapes are the absence of tobacco odor (43% and 53%), the desire to give up conventional cigarettes (40% each). The surveyed users of tobacco heating systems also name less harm to health — 29%, among the vaping consumers in the sample, 19% gave this answer.
Probably, such differences in the motives for starting smoking are due to the fact that alternative nicotine-containing products are perceived by respondents as a positive analogue of traditional cigarettes.
A step towards getting rid of addiction
The opinions of the surveyed consumers of conventional cigarettes (former and current) on the effects of smoking on their own health were divided: 47% replied that they were more likely to experience a deterioration in well-being due to a bad habit, 46% — that they rather did not. Another 7% found it difficult to assess the impact of cigarette smoking on their health.
About half of the users of tobacco and vaping heating systems who took part in the survey did not note a deterioration in well-being due to consumption of these products — 48% and 56%, respectively, noted a deterioration in well-being 29% and 24%, could not decide on the answer 23% and 20%, respectively.
Most of the surveyed smokers, regardless of the tobacco/nicotine—containing products consumed, would like to get rid of this habit: 64% of the surveyed cigarette smokers expressed this desire with varying degrees of confidence, 56% among consumers of tobacco heating systems, and 62% of vapes.
In the group of those who switched from conventional cigarettes to alternative nicotine-containing products (vapes, tobacco heating systems), one in three (36%) notes a decrease in the intensity of its consumption. About the same number (37%) continue to soar with the same intensity, another 24% began to soar more than they had previously smoked.
* Designed for 3 product categories: cigarettes, heated tobacco (sticks) and 3 formats of electronic nicotine delivery systems — disposable vapes, reusable (open systems), and cartridge systems. It does not take into account smokers of cigars, cigarillos, hookah, etc.
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