In Scotland, a government target to reduce the number of smokers to less than 5% by 2034 may not be met unless there is a dramatic drop in tobacco users over the next few years.
THE NUMBER OF SMOKERS WHO QUIT MUST DOUBLE TO REACH THE GOAL!
The Scottish government's goal of having a population of less than 5% smokers by 2034 is far from straightforward. According to a study by Frontier Economics, commissioned by the tobacco giant Philip Morris Limited, Scotland will be ten years behind its target if the number of smokers continues to decline at the current rate.
The report found that meeting the 2034 target would require an average of 36 people to quit smoking each year - more than two and a half times the average annual decrease of 000 smokers observed over the past five years. Achieving that figure would require greater use of the NHS 'tobacco control services and increased shift to less harmful alternatives, the report said.
The Scottish government set the 5% target in 2013, as part of its five-year tobacco control strategy, “Create a generation without tobacco».
The report says switching to electronic cigarettes is another way to reduce the prevalence of smoking. However, he adds that although there are already over 300 e-cigarette users in Scotland, the number of new vapers has dropped significantly.
Mark MacGregor, spokesperson for Philip Morris, declares " We need to find new ways to encourage smokers to quit. There are now more options than ever before including electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco. «
