The overwhelming majority of smokers begin tobacco use before they reach adulthood. Thus one of the keys to a smoke-free society is to prevent youth from ever starting. This addiction results in an inability to quit when they later wish to do so.
Factors influencing youth smoking Several factors increase the risk of youth smoking.
These include tobacco industry advertising and promotion, easy access to tobacco products, and low prices. Without new young smokers to replace those adult smokers who quit or die, the industry's future is in jeopardy. If the last ten years have taught us anything, it is that the industry is dominated by the companies who respond most effectively to the needs of younger smokers. The appropriate minimum age is one which is high enough to prevent smoking onset during the teen years, and normally should be such that the age is higher than the age of almost all secondary students. While many countries have laws prohibiting tobacco sales to young persons, these laws are normally so poorly enforced that it is common to find that governments collect more in taxes from such illegal sales than they spend on their entire tobacco control strategies.