On November 21, 2024, in honor of No Smoking Day, the Advocacy Center "Life" and the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) presented the results of a survey on the consumption of tobacco and nicotine products among the adult population of Ukraine at the Ukrinform news agency. The survey was conducted in September-October 2024 as part of the regular Omnibus project through computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI).

The findings demonstrate a continued downward trend in the consumption of tobacco and nicotine products: 27% of Ukrainians use tobacco or nicotine products, with 23% smoking daily and 4% occasionally. This may indicate the effectiveness of the Anti-Tobacco Law No. 1978, which fully came into effect in 2023, as well as the policy of annual excise tax increases.

"Compared to December 2023, the share of those consuming tobacco or nicotine products has decreased from 30% to 27%. In 2022, this figure was 32%. This suggests a trend of decreasing tobacco and nicotine consumption among the adult population. We also observe a decrease in traditional cigarette consumption, while the use of emerging tobacco and nicotine products is on the rise. Overall, younger respondents are more likely to smoke", said Victoriia Zakhozha, Deputy Director of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.

The survey results show the highest levels of consumption among the younger age group (18-39 years): 27% of respondents in this age range smoke daily. Additionally, the consumption of heated tobacco products (HTPs) is growing, particularly among the youth: 45% of young Ukrainians aged 18-29 smoke HTPs, compared to 37% a year ago.

These figures correlate with the level of exposure to tobacco and nicotine product advertising: 43% of all respondents are exposed to such advertising, with 63% of respondents aged 18-39 reporting exposure. The most common places where respondents see tobacco and nicotine advertising are points of the sale (32%), followed by online banner ads (18%).

“To overcome the tobacco epidemic among children and youth, my colleagues and I have registered draft law No. 12091, which proposes banning tobacco displays in points of sale, online banner advertising, prohibiting flavored tobacco products, and implementing combined health warnings on all tobacco product packaging. These measures will reduce the appeal of harmful products and protect children and youth from nicotine addiction”, said Lada Bulakh, Member of Parliament of Ukraine.

Researchers also found that combined (pictorial + text) health warnings on smoking tobacco products, implemented from July 11, 2024, are highly effective: 94% of smokers notice such warnings, and 62% of smokers were motivated to take steps toward quitting. Among users of heated tobacco products, 74% notice text warnings, but only 44.5% have considered quitting.

"For heated tobacco products, preferential conditions have been created in Ukraine: no ban on flavorings, exceptions for banner advertising, and only text warnings on packaging. As a result, the consumption of such products has been increasing year by year. Additionally, the tobacco industry is pushing for a 20% tax relief on HTPs compared to cigarettes, which is unacceptable. Adopting such a policy would lead to disaster. WHO emphasizes that heated tobacco products should be regulated the same way as traditional cigarettes”, emphasized Dmytro Kupyra, Executive Director of the Advocacy Center "Life ".

The majority of Ukrainians support anti-tobacco measures aimed at protecting youth from being attracted to tobacco and nicotine products.

The vast majority of respondents support banning advertising of electronic smoking devices and e-cigarettes (70%) and banning the visible display of tobacco product packages in points of sale (68%). Two-thirds of respondents support banning flavored tobacco products (62%), and more than half support raising excise taxes on tobacco products and e-cigarette liquids (56%). The introduction of plain packaging is supported by 50% of respondents.

Full survey report

Infographic on tobacco and nicotine product consumption and advertising

Infographic on the effectiveness of combined health warnings

Contact Information: Olha Masna, Media Coordinator of the Advocacy Center "Life", +380 73 089 65 70, olha.masna@center-life.org