A survey carried out to mark World No Tobacco Day has revealed a downward trend in tobacco use across Europe.

A Eurobarometer on Europeans' attitudes towards tobacco also show that Ireland's rate of smoking is falling faster than any other country in the EU.

However, 26% of Europeans are still smokers - down from 28% in 2012.

The figures show significant variations in tobacco consumption across European countries. The lowest consumption rates are in Sweden (11%) and Finland (19%), with the highest rates in Greece (38%) and Bulgaria (35%). Ireland is on 21%.

The European Commission research also shows that 59% of smokers have tried to quit, including 19% in the last 12 months.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs James Reilly has welcomed the news - and says he is committed to fighting any legal challenge by the tobacco industry to his plain packaging regulations.

Minister Reilly said, “our Plain Packaging legislation is being challenged in the courts by tobacco companies, as we expected would be the case, but we are determined to introduce this measure, in particular to dissuade young people from taking up this killer habit in the first place."

General Practitioner Dr Ciara Kelly says smoking is a serious risk factor for diseases like lung cancer, but the Irish figures are encouraging:

Separately, 50% of those surveyed by BUPA for No-Tobacco Day say that films glamourise the habit.

Seven in ten respondents to the global survey said the health risks associated with smoking are not portrayed realistically.

Kathleen O'Meara of the Irish Cancer Society says the impact of smoking in the media isn't taken seriously enough:

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation is calling on governments to clamp down on tobacco smugglers.

The business group Retailers Against Smuggling is welcoming the WHO's intervention.

Spokesperson Barry Gilsenan says smuggled cigarettes are unregulated, and therefore are potentially very damaging to smokers' health:

Originally published at 7.44am