BUTTERING UP

摘要

Even among Eastern European countries, which are known for their high smoking rates, Georgia holds a dubious record. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the small Caucasus nation in 2015 ranked sixth out of 129 countries in smoking prevalence among males aged 15 years and older. While there has been a notable decline in smoking since the turn of the century, 57 percent of men and 7 percent of women out of Georgia's 3.72 million population currently smoke, according to data from the Tobacco-Free Union. Cigarette use is also widespread among children. The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs found that 12 percent of Georgian schoolchildren were regular smokers in 2015, with 4 percent of them claiming to have begun smoking before the age of 13.