Lawyer smoking rates well below average
Information contained in a study by University of Otago, Wellington medical researchers shows that there is a very low smoking rate for lawyers and the judiciary.
The study, Setting a Good Example? Changes in Smoking Prevalence Among Key Occupational Groups in New Zealand: Evidence From the 1981 and 2006 Censuses, has been published in the English journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research (December 2011 issue - note that payment is required for access). The authors are Richard Edwards, Jo Peace, Stanley James, June Atkinson, Nick Wilson and George Thomson.
It describes smoking prevalence by occupational groups - which are seen as role models in society - using data from the 1981 and 2006 censuses.
According to the 2006 census data, of 8,715 individuals who categorised themselves as "lawyers and judiciary" in the 2006 census, 7.8% were smokers. This was a significant drop from a smoking rate among lawyers and judiciary in 1981 of 19.4%.
The smoking rate for all occupations in 2006 was 21.7% and 35.3% in 1981.
The study focuses on "role model" occupations, noting that people in particular occupations could act as role models for smoking acceptability among children and youth, by virtue of their status and high visibility, or due to their positions of authority and influence, or both. It uses census date to investigate the differences between occupational groups which are identified as potential role models. Lawyers and the judiciary are included in a group which are seen as public figures and include MPs, the media and public relations professionals and ministers of religion.
Information in the study on smoking rates among a number of professions were as follows:
Crude Smoking Prevalences by occupation based on data collected in census
| Occupation |
1981 |
2006 |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyers and judiciary |
19.4% |
7.8% |
| Actors/dancers/singers |
41.7% |
21.2% |
| Dentists and dental assistants |
25.2% |
8.8% |
| Doctors |
14.2% |
3.6% |
| Firefighters |
37.5% |
13.4% |
| Member of Parliament |
20.0% |
11.4% |
| Minister of religion |
8.9% |
2.7% |
| Nurse |
31.4% |
14.2% |
| Police |
31.3% |
12.6% |
| Prison Officers |
47.8% |
28.2% |
| Public relations |
30.2% |
14.4% |
| Social worker |
28.9% |
24.2% |
| All Occupations |
35.3% |
21.7% |