600 children under 16 taking up smoking every day

Up to 600 children under the age of 16 take up smoking every day in the UK.  

 

The study, conducted by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, looked at data drawn from surveys of secondary school pupils in England of children aged 11 to 15.

 

According to the research, which was published in medical journal Thorax, an estimated 463 kids start smoking every day in England, 50 in Scotland, 30 in Wales and 19 in Northern Ireland.

 

The data was surveyed by specialists from Cancer Research UK and Imperial College London who found that: “Each day, 67 children, more than two classrooms full, start smoking in London.”

 

The study says there is “compelling evidence that young people are susceptible to branding and advertising and are influenced by the depiction of smoking in films.”

 

Experts call for legislation to be implemented to counter the efforts of the tobacco industry and Dr. Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, says: “With this research showing that nearly 600 children start smoking every day, proposed legislation to prevent this through the introduction of standardised packaging for all tobacco products can't come too soon.”

 

Alison Cox, head of tobacco policy from Cancer Research UK agrees: “We must do all we can to reduce smoking rates, especially because the vast majority of smokers start before they turn 19.”