Smoking going out of fashion in Stirling

12pc of population thought to light up

Stirling has one of the lowest smoking levels in Scotland, according to new figures.

Analysis from tobacco giant Philip Morris reveals a 12.4 per cent smoking prevalence in the Stirling constituency compared with the 14.7 per cent nationwide average.

That means 12 per cent of the population in the Stirling constituency are thought to smoke, 11,280 people out of the total 94,000 who live in constituency.

The figures were compiled following analysis of Office for National Statistics data on smoking habits in the United Kingdom.

In the ranking of smoking prevalence across Scotland, England and Wales, Stirling is placed 157 out of 632 Westminster Parliament constituents.

Across Scotland, 44 out of 59 constituencies contain smoking prevalence levels above the UK average.

Stirling is one of just nine Scottish seats to make it into the top 250 British constituencies for the lowest smoking levels.

The Scottish seats which ranked higher than Stirling were Ross, Skye and Lochaber, Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, West Aberdeeshire and Kincardine, Banff and Buchan, and East Renfrewshire.

West Dunbartonshire holds the highest level of smoking of Scottish seats at 20.1 per cent and ranking 609 out of 632 seats across Scotland, England and Wales.

External affairs director at tobacco company Philip Morris Limited, Mark MacGregor, believes the data will make MPs aware for the first time of smoking levels in their constituencies.

He hopes the results will help parliamentarians concentrate on support for smokers.

Mr MacGregor said: “These results show the huge variations in smoking levels across the different parts of Britain. We hope MPs in Scotland will use the figures to better target help for smokers locally, particularly in seats with the highest smoking prevalence.

“If the government is to meet its ambitious target, one of the keys to getting view smoking as a normal part of adult life.

“Across Scotland, high smoking rates closely mirror patterns of economic deprivation and social disadvantage. People who smoke in our poorest communities want to quit as much as anywhere else, but find it harder to do so. Quitting smoking adds years to life and life to years, it is well worth trying and if you don’t succeed keep trying until you find what works for you.”

She added: “Tobacco company Philip Morris talks up its interest in ‘unsmoking’ the world but its words are not matched by its actions. This company’s vast profits come directly from a range of nicotine products, including cigarettes which are engineered to maximise addiction.

“Philip Morris has a well-established track record of protecting its profits with lobbying and PR activities at the expense of its customers.

“Quitting smoking is well worth doing, but your local pharmacist or Quit Your Way Scotland are more reliable friends than this profit-oriented corporation.”