2.3 Self-reported measurements of tobacco consumption

Table 2.3 above provides estimates of daily consumption among smokers in Australia based on a variety of official sources which measure tobacco production and taxation. Table 2.5 below shows the average number of cigarettes smoked per day cited by smokers questioned about their personal consumption in national surveys, and suggests little change in daily cigarette use over the survey period. The disparity between the two sets of figures may reflect under-reporting by smokers. It is a recognised phenomenon that smokers tend to under-estimate their tobacco consumption,(22) or, much less frequently may deny that they smoke at all.(23)

Table 2.5:
Self-reported numbers of cigarettes smoked per adult smoker (aged 16 and over) per day by sex, 1980-1995

Y e a r
M a l e s
F e m a l e s

1980
22.1
18.1

1983
18.3
17.3

1986
22.3
19.8

1989
22.0
18.9

1992
22.1
19.1

1995
19.7
18.1

Source: Hill et al, 9 Hill and White, 10 Hill, White and Scollo, 11 Hill and Gray, 24,25 Hill, 26

Weekly consumption reported by schoolchildren who smoked in the last week (classified as 'current smokers') is presented in Table 2.6 below.(27,28 ,29) For each of the survey years, male smokers in most age groups smoked more cigarettes per week than female smokers, although in recent years, this data reached statistical significance only among 15 and 17 year olds. Overall, the mean number of cigarettes smoked per week by 12 to 15 year olds declined between 1990 and 1993 and then increased in 1996 among males. Among the older age-groups, average number of cigarettes smoked did not change significantly between 1990 and 1996. Hill et al observed in their report accompanying the 1990 survey that the acceleration in consumption noted in boys aged over 14 is suggestive of a greater addictive component in the smoking of older schoolboys compared to older girls who smoke(29) although the prevalence of smoking among female students is higher (see Chapter 1, Section 4).

Table 2.6:
Self-reported number of cigarettes smoked per week by Australian schoolchildren who smoked in the last week - 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996

Age
12
13
14
15
16
17

M a l e s

1984
14
19
23
34
35
42

1987
11
15
27
36
37
38

1990
9
19
22
33
38
43

1993
9
12
19
29
37
44

1996
11
15
25
33
34
37

F e m a l e s

1984
7
13
18
27
34
34

1987
10
12
20
26
30
30

1990
8
13
22
27
28
30

1993
7
13
19
24
31
32

1996
6
13
20
23
31
34

Source: Hill et al 27,29 White et al,28 Hill & White 30

Table 2.5: Self-reported numbers of cigarettes smoked per adult smoker (aged 16 and over) per day by sex, 1980-1995
Y e a r	M a l e s	F e m a l e s
1980	22.1	18.1
1983	18.3	17.3
1986	22.3	19.8
1989	22.0	18.9
1992	22.1	19.1
1995	19.7	18.1
Source: Hill et al, 9 Hill and White, 10 Hill, White and Scollo, 11 Hill and Gray, 24,25 Hill, 26

Table 2.6: Self-reported number of cigarettes smoked per week by Australian schoolchildren who smoked in the last week - 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996
Age	12	13	14	15	16	17
M a l e s
1984	14	19	23	34	35	42
1987	11	15	27	36	37	38
1990	9	19	22	33	38	43
1993	9	12	19	29	37	44
1996	11	15	25	33	34	37
F e m a l e s
1984	7	13	18	27	34	34
1987	10	12	20	26	30	30
1990	8	13	22	27	28	30
1993	7	13	19	24	31	32
1996	6	13	20	23	31	34
Source: Hill et al 27,29 White et al,28 Hill & White 30