European Commission - 30 percent of Latvian residents still smoking

According to its Barometer study, the European Commission's latest research on European attitudes towards smoking, 30 percent of Latvian residents still smoke. 

The findings stated that of the 30 percent of smokers, 40 percent of those were aged between 25 and 39 years-old. The research also discovered 49 percent of Latvian residents had never smoked. 

The study went on to say that despite a two percent reduction in the number of European smokers from 28 percent in 2013, 26 percent of residents on the continent still smoke.

It also stated the European country with the least number of smokers is Sweden with 11 percent, while Greece is the highest at 38 percent. 

On May 21, 2015, the Latvian Health Ministry announced it had put forward a number of anti-tobacco laws, which keep in line with a European Parliament directive passed on the sale of tobacco products in March 2015.

The directive includes a ban on tobacco products being on display in shops, a ban on selling cigarettes in 10 packs, and a ban on smoking areas outside pubs and restaurants.