Table 1 Characteristics of hardcore and other smokers. Figures are numbers (percentage) of people unless stated otherwise




Hardcore (n=1216)

Other smokers (n=6550)

Want to quit 0 4205 (64.2)
Intend to quit

0

4461 (68.1)

Attempted to quit in past 12 months

0

2646 (40.4)

Median time without smoking in past 5 years*

<1 day

1-4 weeks

Men

545 (44.8)

2974 (45.4)

Mean age (years)

51.9

41.4

Completed education by age 16

1029 (84.6)

4736 (72.3)

Living in rented housing

541 (44.5)

2699 (41.2)

Manual occupation

777 (63.9)

3838 (58.6)

First cigarette within 30 minutes of waking

824 (67.8)

3584 (52.8)

Mean daily cigarette consumption

15.4

13.6

Started smoking before age 16

565 (46.5)

2646 (40.4)

* Original responses were choices from several ranges.