NEARLY 70 PER cent of Irish smokers claim an increase in socialising is the reason for smoking more during the Christmas period with over half planning to quit the habit this coming year.

Research carried out for Aviva Health Insurance has found that 68 per cent of Irish smokers said that socialising more over the festive period caused them to smoke more.

More than a fifth of Irish people (23.6 per cent) smoke according to the Office of Tobacco Control.

More than half of smokers (55 per cent) smoked more than usual over Christmas with 40 per cent admitting they would smoke a full pack or more than they would have done during a normal week, according to a survey of over 1,000 people carried out last month.

The reasons for smoking more over the festive period included:

• “I have more free time” (37 per cent)
• “It’s outside my normal routine” (33 per cent)
• “No work restrictions”
• “Boredom”
• “I’m treating myself”

The research also shows that a higher percentage of men (25 per cent) are smokers, with 22.2 per cent  being female smokers. The trend of young smokers remains with rates of smoking at their highest between 25-34 year olds who account for 30 per cent.

One in seven cigarettes is illegally smuggled