PESHAWAR, June 4: A survey has shown that smoking is on the rise among students because of non-implementation of laws prohibiting sale of cigarettes to people below the age of 18 years. “Out of 1,983 students surveyed, 445 were found regular smokers, 41 had quit and the rest were non-smokers,” said the study conducted in six colleges in the district by students of the Khyber Medical College.

The study conducted under the supervision of the Pakistan Medical Research Council showed that most of the students had started smoking because of presence of smokers in their homes.

It said 43 per cent students said the smoked to reduce tension, while 10 per cent said that they smoked to enhance their image.

Most of the non-smoker students said they were health conscious and 546 said they did not smoke because of religious implications.

Among the surveyed students, 176 said smoking was a waste of money. About 32 per cent blamed families for the habit.

The report said the government’s failure to ban sale of cigarettes near schools and colleges and to youth below 18 years of age was the main factor responsible for increase in tobacco use.

It said the ban on smoking in public places and offices was yet to be implemented although an ordinance in this regard was promulgated a year ago. Nobody had been punished under the law, it said.

According to the study, advertisements and lucrative incentive schemes offered by cigarette manufacturers lured students towards the habit.

A study conducted recently by The Network showed that about 100,000 people died annually due to tobacco-related problems in the country and 1,200 people aging between 14 and 20 years took up the habit per day.