Bulgaria is among the countries with highest number of female smokers, representatives of Fight Against Cancer foundation said.

The age at which girls start smoking in Bulgaria decreased below 13 years, foundation representative Neviana Dipchikova said.

Bulgaria ranks third after Greece and Japan on cigarette consumption, Focus news agency reported. The number of smokers, both women and men, reached 2.6 million people. In the 80s the number did not exceed 1.5 million.

The main reason for the high number of smokers is the lack of information on the negative health effects of smoking, Dipchikova said.

Though smoking is a social and cultural problem of the country, doctors are the people responsible for providing more information on the issue. Dipchikova said medics are responsible for clarifying misconceptions and aiming to decrease the number of smokers.

Bulgaria accepted the international framework convention on tobacco control, which aims at limiting smoking possibilities within the country. Its function is aided through the opening of smoking cessation consultation rooms.