Middle-aged smoke and drink the most: Survey

For both categories, the 45-59 age group reported the highest proportion while the 15-29 reported the lowest

West Bengal and Chhattisgarh had the highest proportions among people who reported to be smokers and alcohol drinkers respectively, data from the Sample Registration System (SRS) Baseline Survey 2014, released by the Registrar General of India show.

A fourth of West Bengal men smoke and a third of Chhattisgarh men drink — the highest among the 21 ‘bigger states’ for which data is available. On the other hand, Maharashtra has the lowest proportion of male smokers and drinkers, at 2 per cent and 2.7 per cent.

Numbers low for women

The survey also reported more smokers (11.4 per cent) than drinkers (10 per cent).

For both categories, the 45-59 reported the highest proportion while the 15-29 age group reported the lowest. In contrast, the numbers are significantly low for women — a mere 0.7 per cent of total women, for both smoking and drinking. At 3 per cent, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have the highest proportion of female drinkers. 13 of the 21 states, however, have more drinkers than smokers, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Telangana — where the difference is the highest.

Caste-wise, reported drinking is more among men belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (18.2 per cent).

This can explain why Chhattisgarh tops the drinking list, as the State has a large adivasi population. Smoking is most prevalent among the Scheduled Castes (16.3 per cent).

Overall, 1.4 per cent people reported to have quit smoking and drinking. For every seven men who smoke and for every eight men who drink, there is one who has quit the respective habit, data shows.

Source: The Hindu, 17-06-2016