The average of all the ages [of people starting to smoke] came out as nine.

21:02 The average of all the ages [of people starting to smoke] came out as nine. 0 Comments

true scale of the challenge to stop children smoking emerged today as it was revealed nine-year-olds are becoming addicted to tobacco.

Nurses in Merthyr Tydfil spoke of how the average age for children to pick up the habit is now nine in the deprived borough.

But health promotion experts told the Western Mail, Merthyr is by no means unique in Wales.

ASH Wales today described smoking as an addiction of childhood, as the Assembly Government said it was committed to adopting tough new measures on tobacco displays in shops.


Tracey Bowen, clinical nurse specialist at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr, said: “The average of all the ages [of people starting to smoke] came out as nine. Unfortunately it is realistic.

“We have lots of good campaigns going on in schools, educational campaigns, but it does not seem to be stopping children trying smoking or starting to smoke.

“I had a patient who did start when he was between two and three – his grandparents gave him cigarettes because they thought it was funny and amusing.”

Carol Owen, principal health promotion specialist and manager of the anti- smoking programme Assist, which works with year eight pupils, said: “There will be nine-year-olds smoking in Merthyr as there will be across the country.

“There are always some children who will start smoking younger than others.”

A survey of child smokers by ASH Wales in 2008 found the average age they started was 11.2 years, although some children said they began to smoke at just seven.

The average number of cigarettes smoked a week was 45, although some children told the charity they smoked up to 200 – almost 30 a day.

A more recent survey among teenage girls, also by ASH Wales, put the average age they started smoking at 12.

One in five said they spent up to £20 a week on cigarettes and almost half said staying slim was important to them.

Tanya Buchanan, chief executive of ASH Wales, said: “We know the vast majority of smokers take up smoking as adolescents and often become life-long addicts of a truly deadly product.

“That is why smoking is an addiction of childhood, not an adult choice.

“While the latest statistics show a decline in smoking prevalence rates among 15 years – 9% of boys, 14% of girls – these rates are still too high.

“We know that the younger people start to smoke the greater their risk of developing chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and respiratory diseases.

“That’s why it is so important that we put tobacco products out of sight of children and ban the sale of tobacco from vending machines.