Smoking Habits Of The Gen Z

Recently a study was conducted by the Expert market research to study Gen z’s approach to smoking, which revealed that more than 40% of the consumers avoid engaging in smoking and about 22% admitted that they used to smoke but have now quit. This highlights the awareness of health and wellness amongst the younger generation.

The Gen Z, known for its influence on the rising demand for fitness and wellness products, is simultaneously living in an era which is also marked by the emergence of new smoking alternatives like vapes and e-cigarettes. This makes it necessary to understand the smoking habits and behaviour of the younger generation and what is preferred most by them.

Smoking Preferences 2024

To study this further, a survey was conducted by the Expert market research across tier 1 cities, to learn about the smoking preferences of this modern generation and generating data determining what opinions they hold for smoking.

Based on the findings of the study, majority of the younger generation doesn’t indulge in smoking. Around 62.96% of the total respondents admitted that they completely avoid smoking. Another 22.22% stated that they used to engage in smoking in the past but have now quit. 6.48% cited that they prefer hookah when they are in bars and restaurants. Cigarettes are the choice of 5.56% respondents. The remaining 2.78% participants are users of e-cigarettes such as vapes and other soft drugs.

The results from the expert market research study align with the preconceived notion of health consciousness associated with gen z. With the increased awareness regarding health risks and a significant shift towards a healthy lifestyle, this generation wishes to finally break the chain of nicotine addiction which was prevalent in the millennials. Social media, peer pressure, and public health campaigns play significant roles in shaping one’s attitude towards smoking addiction. This study further explores how online platforms like Instagram, Facebook or twitter also hold power to both positively and negatively impact smoking behaviour of their users, with trends and influencers promoting or discouraging smoking and vaping as people wish to fit in more with their peers.

Emergence Of New Smoking Alternatives

Despite the rise of health concerns, there is a clear consumer consumption pattern which indicates a rise in cigarette alternatives such as vapes, which are often marketed as being less harmful and are thus gradually gaining popularity amongst the younger generation. They are now being looked at as more socially acceptable, yet they carry their own set of disadvantages, leading to exposure of harmful chemicals.

Our study further provides valuable insights on the smoking habits of the youngest adult generation by analysing their frequency of smoking, choice of smoking products, influences, and attitudes toward smoking to help devise targeted strategies for each segment.