UK: Official Figures Reveal Fall in Proportion of People Smoking in Wales

Source from:  Wales Online 05/22/2014

Wales has seen a drop in the proportion of people who smoke, according to latest figures.

Results of the Welsh Health Survey show that the percentage of adults who smoke fell from 23% to 21% between 2012 and 2013.

Campaigners welcomed the drop, which is a move closer towards the Welsh Government's target to reduce smoking prevalence to 16% by 2020.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford cautiously welcomed the drop in smoking levels, but warned that there were still too many people making poor lifestyle choices.

"This is why we have set out radical proposals in our Public Health White Paper to take action to protect our nation's health, including introducing restricting the use of e-cigarettes in public places to address concerns these products normalise smoking and introducing a tobacco retailers' register requiring businesses to inform enforcement authorities if they sell tobacco, with stiffer penalties for those which sell to under 18s." Enditem