Young people
The earlier young people start smoking and the more they smoke over their lifetime, the more likely they are to suffer from smoking-related disease.
It is widely recognised that tobacco advertising has a significant influence on the uptake of smoking by young people. More than 80% of smokers take up the habit before the age of 18, and then go on to regret it.
As such, the Queensland Government has introduced tough new laws for restricting tobacco advertising, displays, promotion and sales to minors.
The Queensland Government also provides school drug education, and other comprehensive school-based programs to build resilience in young people.
School-based health education includes training to resist peer offers of cigarettes and works to help delay smoking uptake. Tobacco control is highly topical and teachers across most curriculum areas are keen to use age-appropriate materials that fit well into learning modules.
It is also important to remember that our efforts in helping adults to quit smoking and reducing exposure to passive smoking in public places, also sends a positive message to young people about not smoking.
The new tobacco laws that commenced on 31 December 2005, mean young people, under the age of 18 years, who misrepresent their age in order to be sold smoking products will be committing an offence and may be subject to a maximum penalty of $1,500.
For details on this new law go to the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998.
This page last updated:
July 2006
Review date: October 2006
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