Half of the Smokers Think That Smoking Within Limits Does not Lead to Health Issues, Reveals 'ICICI Lombard Smoking Habits – 2013' Survey

MUMBAI, May 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Survey highlights:-

• Social factors like friends, peer pressure and social gathering play a leading part as a trigger to smoking, followed by work pressure

• 18 years is the average age when both men and women start smoking

• Amongst smokers, Mumbai leads the average consumption per day at 7-10 cigarettes a day

• Half of the smokers continue smoking as they feel that smoking in limits does not lead to health issue

• Smoking is seen as a style statement and something that helps in relieving stress

• Smokers aged 26-35 years are more inclined to quitting smoking than the younger group

• 5% of the overall cancer related claims in last two years at ICICI Lombard related to tobacco usage (Internal analysis)

• 58% of the respondent smokers do not have health insurance

ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd., the country's largest private sector general insurance company, in association with GfK Mode, unveiled the 'ICICI Lombard Smoking Habits 2013' survey on World No Tobacco Day (May 31). The comprehensive survey delves into the various social and psychological factors that influence smoking. The national survey interviewed 900+ smokers across the cities of Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

The "ICICI Lombard Smoking habits 2013" survey, takes cognizance of the urgent need to spread awareness about lifestyle habits of smoker and the ill effects of smoking. Commenting on the survey findings, Mr. Shankar Nath, Head-Marketing & Direct, ICICI Lombard GIC Ltd. said, "As a leading health insurer, we have a social and moral obligation towards promoting wellness and preventive healthcare. Smoking is one of the biggest threats to health, yet we have a tendency to accept it as a part of our lives and ignore its negative impact. On the occasion of No Tobacco Day, we would like to present our survey findings which decode the triggers and incentives for people to carry on with this deadly habit. We believe that the survey findings, along with our exhaustive claims related data, will help relevant stakeholders and the community at large to address the issue of smoking, thereby enabling people to move towards a healthier lifestyle."

The 'ICICI Lombard Smoking Habits 2013' survey also reveals data about average age at which respondents have started smoking, factors prompting the respondents to take up smoking, frequency of smoking etc. The average smoker smokes 5 cigarettes a day, and half of the smokers continue smoking as they feel that smoking within limits does not lead to health issues. When asked about quitting, 1 in every 2 smoker admitted that they are contemplating to quit smoking. They are of the opinion that their own will power and an alternative chewing gum/cigarette without tobacco will help them to quit smoking.

    Key findings of the survey:

      - Sample included 914 habitual smokers between 18-35 years, who smoke
      atleast once a day, across Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore.

      - Majority of smokers (67%) started smoking between 16-20 years. Friends
      / peers is the most important influencer to start smoking (87%). Another
      key factor to trigger smoking was pressure at work.

      - 30% of women are also influenced by celebrities in films/ ads 52% of
      the female smokers, as compared to 35% of male smokers, didn't show any
      inclination to quit smoking.

      - Mumbai leads the pack with 32% smoking on an average 7-10 cigarettes
      a day, followed by Kolkata with 29% smoking 4-6 cigarettes a day and
      Bangalore with 43% smoking 2-3 cigarettes a day on an average. Delhi was
      the lowest with 35% limiting their average consumption to just 1
      cigarette a day.

      - Kolkata residents are least exposed to passive smoking.

      - 82% of respondents agreed that they find smoking as a style statement
      among today's youth. 92% of Kolkata respondents were highly aware that
      smoking causes lung cancer whereas smokers in both Delhi and Kolkata
      smoke often to relieve stress. Interestingly, a large portion of
      respondents in Mumbai (74%) and Bangalore (85%) felt that Indian society
      prohibits girls from smoking.

      - Shockingly, a large portion of smokers (77%) feel that smoking or
      limited smoking will not have any adverse affects on their health.

      - 52% of the female smokers, as compared to 35% of male smokers, didn't
      show any inclination to quit smoking.

      - While own will power was given the key motivator to quit smoking. In
      Mumbai (22%) and Kolkata (32%) said that support of family and friends
      was a big factor. At the same time a large number smokers in Delhi (29%)
      and Bangalore (31%) feel that a counselor with regular monitoring will
      help them quit smoking.

      - Chewing gum and reducing the number of cigarettes were seen as the
      steps toward quitting smoking.

      - 65% were not aware of the advantages in terms of premiums on health
      insurance, if they are non-smokers.

      - Out of the claim analysis done by ICICI Lombard for last two years, 5%
      of the total cancer claims were tobacco consumption related. Out of
      these 75% were claims made by male customers and 25% were made by female
      customers.

      - 46-55 years was the most affected age group for tobacco related claims
      with 31% male and 41% female customers contributing to the age bracket.

About ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd.

ICICI Lombard GIC Ltd. is a joint venture between ICICI Bank Limited, India's second largest bank with total assets of over USD 99 billion at March 31, 2013 and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, a Canada-based USD 37 billion diversified financial services company engaged in general insurance, reinsurance, insurance claims management and investment management.

ICICI Lombard GIC Ltd. is the largest private sector general insurance company in India with a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of Rs. 64.20 billion for the year ended March 31, 2013. The company issued over 9.2 million policies and settled over 5.07 million claims as on March 31, 2013.

The company has been conferred the "ASTD BEST Award 2012" for Learning and Development, "Porter Prize 2012" for creating Shared Value, "Golden Peacock Award 2012" for Corporate Social Responsibility and "Golden Peacock Innovation Award-2010" for Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. It also received the "Product of the Year" award in the General Insurance category for FY 2012-13 and was voted the No. 1 Health Insurance Product in the survey of 18,000 people over 23 cities in India, a study done by Nielsen. The company has been conferred with 'Celent Asia Insurance Technology Award 2012' under the category Best Mobile Applications.

ICICI Lombard allows instant policy issuance and renewal through its website http://www.icicilombard.com/ for all retail insurance products including Car Insurance, Health Insurance, Travel Insurance, Two Wheeler Insurance and Home Insurance.

Primary Media Contact: Girish J Kalra, [email protected], 91-22-61961461

Secondary Media Contact: Sulakshna Mukherjee, [email protected], 91-22-61961451