International market research agency YouGov determined significant personality differences between the smokers and non-smokers of the 13,000 participants in a recent poll.  Of these respondents aged 18 to 34, 10,000 have never smoked while 3,000 were professed regular smokers.   

Those who smoke consider themselves to tend toward individualism.  A slightly larger 31 percent have the penchant to be late in schedules and appointments compared to the 20 percent among non-smokers. Congruently, only 58 percent tend to be early compared to the 71 percent among non-smokers.

Smokers are found to enjoy getting drunk more than the non-smoking respondents.  About 47 percent of the smokers and only 21 percent of the non-smokers found affinity with this statement:  When I drink, I drink to get drunk.

Among the top qualities to which a higher number of smokers admit in comparison to non-smokers are wacky, original, great performer, individualistic, independent, thinker and funny.  

Included in the negative traits that topped the smokers' list are big-headed, insecure, nervous and careless.

Taste in music is more alternative and underground among smokers compared to the non-smoking segment's choice. They prefer actors who portray tough,rebellious roles of social outsiders.  The non-smokers displayed partiality to actors who played characters that had a more wholesome image.

YouGov conducted the poll as part of their effort to assess preferences in brands and media and to track the trend in online behaviour.  While demographic factors including educational attainment and economic situations are the more frequent indicators used in the analysis of smoking habits among young people, the choice to assume a smoker's lifestyle is also found to be indicative of an individual's personality and preferred public image.

In the UK, smoking has dropped to more than half since 1974 as a result of increased tobacco taxation, campaigns against the habit, smoke-free zone appointments and indoor smoking ban.  The numbers have dropped to only a sixth of the population where 22 percent are male adults and 17 percent are female adults.

The reduction of the number of smokers among young people is as significant and encouraging as the drop in the percentage of criminal offenders and drug users.