Smoking: Young people support the Government's plan to ban smoking in all pubs and restaurants from next January, although those who smoke are strongly against the ban.
However, among young smokers, just 29 per cent support a ban while 71 per cent disagree. This situation is reversed among young non-smokers where 70 per cent agree with a ban, 23 per cent disagree and six per cent have no opinion.
Young people from less well-off households also oppose the ban with 51 per cent against, 45 per cent in favour and four per cent having no opinion. It is strongly supported among the better off ABC1 category with 61 per cent in favour, 36 per cent against and four per cent having no opinion. Among those from farming backgrounds, 61 per cent agree with a ban, 31 per cent disagree and eight per cent have no opinion.
This finding mirrors the higher prevalence of smoking among the less well-off. Overall, some 42 per cent of young people smoke, 57 per cent do not, while one per cent did not say whether or not they did.
However, those from higher income groups and a farming background are much less likely to smoke than those from lower income groups. Among the better-off ABC1 group, 36 per cent smoke, 62 per cent do not and two per cent gave no answer. Among the less well-off C2DE group, 49 per cent smoke, 50 per cent do not and one per cent gave no answer. Among children of farmers, just 32 per cent smoke, 66 per cent do not, while two per cent did not answer.
The level of smoking increases with age. In the 15 to 17 age group, just 34 per cent smoke, 64 don't and two per cent didn't say.
However, among those aged 23 to 24 the percentage smoking has risen to 48 per cent, with 51 per cent not smoking and one per cent declining to answer the question.
There are also significant regional differences. Munster is the only region or category showing a slight majority of smokers among its young people. There, some 50 per cent smoke, 49 per cent do not and one per cent has no opinion. In contrast, just 36 per cent of young people in Leinster (excluding Dublin) smoke, 62 per cent do not.
Figures in Dublin and Connacht/Ulster vary only marginally from the national average. There is no significant difference in the level of smoking among young men and young women. The average age at which smokers began to smoke was 14 with 56 per cent having begun at that age or younger.
Some 88 per cent had begun by the age of 16.
Some 25 per cent had begun by the time they were 12, with eight per cent beginning at 10 and under.