Smokin' Lithuania tops list

VILNIUS- The population of Lithuanian smokers is among the highest in theEuropean Union taking fourth according to a recent survey.

Some 36 percent ofLithuanian respondents polled in a Eurobarometer survey announced in March saidthey smoke. Some 28 percent of Lithuanian smokers classified themselves asheavy users, with 8 percent having said they smoke occasionally.

The Greeks have the highestdistribution of smokers in the EU with 42 percent of the country's inhabitantsexercising the habit. Bulgarians, 38 percent, placed second, with Latvia in third place according to thepercentage of smokers with 37 percent. The EU average is 31 percent.

Almost a third of Lithuania's non-smoking population said theyare subjected to second-hand smoke within their homes. Lithuania is second in the EU according tothis index, yielding only to Cyprus.

Nonetheless, 88 percent ofpolled Lithuanians said they support either full or partial limits to smokingwithin work premises, with 87 percent said they feel content with the smokingban in restaurants and 76 percent fully or in part support smoking restrictionsin bars and nightclubs.