Smoking rate in Jewish population is 19.8%, in Arab population - 24.9%
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It may be the coughing, or perhaps the soaring cigarette prices or anti-smoking laws – but one thing's for sure: The number of smokers in Israel
is declining, according to a new Health Ministry survey.
The Ministry released its annual report on smoking in Israel ahead of the World No Tobacco Day marked Friday.
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After weighting by age and population groups, the survey found that 27.2% of Israeli men and 14.5% of Israeli women smoke. The smoking rate in the Jewish population is 19.8%, and in the Arab population – 24.9%.
More than 30% of the smoking population reported cutting down on cigarettes following the ban on smoking in public places.
Among Israeli youth, the survey found that 26% of boys and 11.8% of girls have experience smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products.
According to figures provided by local authorities on the enforcement of the ban on smoking in public places, the Tel Aviv Municipality tops the list with 2,909 fines given out in 2012. Jerusalem recorded 443 fines, Beersheba – 311 fines, and Haifa – 213 fines.