Credit: Fondation Cancer
A recent survey by Fondation Cancer and TNS Ilres has revealed that Luxembourg recorded a 6% increase in smokers in 2019 compared to the previous year.
The results of this survey, carried out on 3,316 Luxembourg residents aged 16 or over, showed that the number of smokers increased by 6% over one year, going from 21% to 27% of the population between 2018 and 2019.
The number of female smokers rose by 5%, whilst that of male smokers went up 6%. Smoking reached its peak among 18-24 year olds, 37% of whom were smokers. The number of young female smokers, which has been rising steadily since 2013, jumped 8% between 2018 and 2019, from 30% to 38%. Likewise, the number of young male smokers increased by 14% over one year, going from 22% to 36%.
The study also found that more than one in four teenagers (aged 16-24) smoked hookah (shisha) - up 1% compared to 2018. The number of 25-34 year olds smoking hookah rose from 12% to 16% in one year. Fondation Cancer recalled that a hookah session exposes smokers to more toxic smoke than cigarettes.
Lucienne Thommes, Director of Fondation Cancer, commented: “These figures are particularly alarming: in Luxembourg, tobacco consumption is rising again dramatically. This is an unequivocal sign that anti-smoking policy must be strengthened to protect the health of all, especially the youngest. Only a significant increase in the price of tobacco could effectively stem this growing tobacco consumption, especially among young people. This is a measure for which Fondation Cancer has been calling for many years, has proven its worth in other countries and is widely endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO)".
