A recent study conducted by the Kantar agency has found that a third of all Russians smoke conventional cigarettes and 2 per cent use alternative nicotine delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes, TASS reported.

The report states that all e-cigarette users had previously smoked conventional cigarettes, although the reasons for making the switch varied. 76 per cent of e-cigarette smokers wanted to smoke something they believed was less harmful to their health. Another 50 per cent said that they found the smell of conventional cigarettes unpleasant, in comparison to the smell of e-cigarettes.
The demographic of e-cigarette users was also surveyed, with 94 per cent of smokers being over the age of 28, TASS stated. 59 per cent were male, 82 per cent had degrees and 88 per cent were employed, with a regular income of over USD 1,000 a month.
In Moscow, the number of cigarette smokers was lower than the national average, with only 27 per cent of residents smoking cigarettes. However, the numbers of e-cigarette users was slightly higher, with 2.5 per cent of residents, around 220,000 people, smoking them.
The study also found that 38 per cent of e-cigarettes were purchased in tobacco retail shops, 27 per cent in dedicated vape shops, 23 per cent in supermarkets or convenience shops and 11 per cent via online retail.