George McNamara, policy adviser at children's charity NCH, says changing attitudes are the main reason for the fall. "Smoking is not as fashionable as it once was, which has had an impact on levels of smoking," he says.
The survey, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2004, also found little change in the percentage of 11- to 15-year-olds who drank alcohol since 1988, but there was a large rise in the amount they consumed. In 1990, the mean number of units was 5.3 but this has doubled to 10.7 in 2004.
McNamara says the rise underlines the need for action to curb teenage drinking.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
