What was the approximate smoking rate in the 1960s?

The smoking rate in the 1960s was indeed around 44%, reflecting a time when smoking was far more socially accepted and prevalent in many cultures, especially in the United States. This high rate can be attributed to several factors, including the marketing strategies of tobacco companies, a lack of public awareness about the health risks associated with smoking, and cultural norms that normalized tobacco use in various settings.

During this period, tobacco advertisements were commonplace on television and print media, depicting smoking as glamorous and sophisticated. Additionally, comprehensive public health campaigns about the dangers of smoking had not yet fully emerged, which contributed to the high prevalence of smoking during this decade. The subsequent decades saw increased awareness around the health risks of smoking, leading to significant declines in smoking rates in later years.