A survey by Cancer Research UK has discovered that only half of people who smoke gain enjoyment from the habit. In a study into why people smoke, only 50% of those polled said they took pleasure from it, while 47% said they smoked to cope with stress.

Of the 2000 people questioned, it seemed that enjoying smoking was more likely amongst the older generation, rarely citing the need to relieve stress or make socialising easier as a key reason for why they bought cigarettes.

The study also revealed that women were twice as likely as men to smoke to lose weight, with men saying that they used cigarettes to help them socialise and give them extra confidence.

Jean King, who directs Cancer Research’s centre for tobacco control, said that understanding the reasons why people smoke was key to developing successful programs to get people to quit. She added that if they could reduce exposure to things that prompt the desire to light up – things like seeing adverts in shops – then this could also help people quit.

However there was an indication that British smokers were still committed to the habit despite the measures already in place, namely the smoking ban. Cigarette manufacturers British American Tobacco , who make the popular brands Dunhill, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall and Kent, today posted profits that showed a signicant rise over the last six months. 

The firm raked in £2.11 billion in the six months leading up to 30^th June, compared to profits of £1.72 billion compared to the same period last year.