Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 03.12.1990, Page 140

SUMMARY
In the beginning of 1985 a new law regulating tobacco use took effect in
Iceland. The new law, among other required measures, limited smoking in
public places, banned the sale of tobacco products to children, required
that various warnings be put on tobacco products (beginning in mid-1985).
The Committee for Tobacco Use Prevention, which was set up in accordance
with the law, was, among other things, held responsible for keeping track
of tobacco consumption. The Committee hired the polling firm Hagvangur hf.
to carry out three surveys per year for the four years 1985 through 1988.
The sample size for each survey was 1000-1500 people and the response rate
75-79%, giving a total response for the four years of 11473 people. The
results of the survey, which are published in this report, show that during
these years daily smoking declined. In 1985 about 40.0% of adult Icelanders
(aged 18-69) smoked daily, but 36.2% in 1986, 35.2% in 1987, and 34.7% in
1988.
The reduction in smoking has occurred both among men and women and in most
age groups. In 1988 about 35% of the men smoked daily, 27% of whom smoked
cigarettes. At the same time 34% of the women smoked daily and 33% of them
cigarettes (table 84). The men smoked an average of 18 cigarettes per day
and the women 14 (table 77). It appears that the women are stopping smoking
no less than the men (table 21).
The lowest rate of smoking occurred among those who work in public
services, or 30%, and the highest among those involved in ocean fishing, or
50% (table 89). Those with a higher level of schooling smoked less than
others (table 88). The rate of smoking was higher in Reykjavik and
Reykjanes area than in the other districts in Iceland.
The surveys that were run in 1985 are not entirely comparable to the later
ones. However, it seems quite clear, in part with reference to the research
carried out by the National Association for the Prevention of Heart
Diseases, that the rate of smoking has declined in recent years (table 91).
By asking those surveyed in 1988 whether they had smoked for 10, 20, or 30
years ago it became clear that the incidence of smoking had been highest
for men 20 years earlier and for women 10 years earlier (table 80).
Surveys carried out for the Chief Medical Officer in Reykjavik show a
marked decline in smoking among younger school children. In 1974 about 23%
of the students aged 12-16 smoked daily, but only 9% in 1986 (table 92).
The incidence of smoking among students aged 15-20 has also markedly
declined (table 94).
In 1988 the State Liquor and Tobacco Authority sold 2310 cigarettes for
every adult inhabitant (table 103).
The surveys show that 93% of adult Icelanders are in favour of limiting
smoking at work places (table 108), 84% consider it worthwhile having a
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