 |
|
Updated 07 January 2002, 10.02 
Every day 450 children, even nine year olds, take up smoking.
Cancer charities try to campaign against smoking, especially among young people.
And now Mel C is the latest celebrity to back an anti-smoking campaign.
But do you listen to celebs who tell you not to smoke?
Unfortunately this topic is now closed but there are Comments pages on other subjects on the main Chat index.
 I think kids start smoking because they want to get into a gang and act cool but they are not acting cool, they are being stupid. Wendy, 12, Kiddminster
I think people smoke for many reasons. One of them is cause their friends do it. Also sometimes when their parents find out they're not bothered about it. Ally, 14, Newport
Kids smoke because it's easy to get hold of it and because their friends do it. I would never smoke but celebrities telling us not to won't help at all, kids won't take any notice. Alice, 15, Bath
Smoking is a drug, it is bad for your health and it can kill you. But children who are stupid enough to start smoking wouldn't listen to any popstar. Heather, 14, Southampton
Kids aren't gonna listen to popstars, they'll listen to their friends. Loads of people smoke at my school, it makes me sick, but there isn't enough happening to put a stop to it. Sarah, 14, Newtown
If kids wanna get cancer let them its there life and no popstars going to stop them!!! Although I wouldn¿t smoke if someone gave me £1000000 Emily, 11, Sheffield
I think that kids start to smoke because of peer pressure or to fit in somewhere. But it could also be that often you see popstars or famous people smoking. Perhaps if some celebrity that was a role model to lots of young people talked about it they would realise it is awful for they're health as well as anti-social! Bex, 11, Copenhagen
Kids smoke because they're influenced by their friends or because they think it's cool, they're not going to listen to celebrities Laura, 12, Chelmsford
I don't think that people will listen to popstars because they are already too addicted to give up Ruth, 12, Leicester
Popstars may help but I don't think they'll make all that much difference in the rate of kids smoking. Facts have to be given, long before they already are cos as well all know once you start it's very hard to stop Lisa, 14, Glasgow
I don't think that celebs backing anti smoking campaigns is going to make a difference. If people are going to do it, their going to do it regardless, and people aren't going to quit if they already smoke. Celebs think they can influence us, but they cant. They are just the same as us Kelly, 14, Milton Keynes
Most kids smoke, coz they think it is really cool but if I see a kid smoking I think that they just do it to show off or because they want to fit into a gang or a group that smokes
Natalie, 11, Glasgow
I don't think pop stars would help to stop smoking because there is no point. They'll say "Hey don't smoke because it is bad for you" but will any one listen to them?? I don't think so
Rohit, 13
I don't think people would listen to a celebrity, because even when people put up lots of posters nobody listens or reads them
Cozy, 13, Blackpool
I think that children like to be seen as "cool" and don't usually listen to the facts - it's not up to the popstars to tell them that - it's up to the parents
Natalie, 12, Liverpool
Just having popstars going around saying "hey kids don't smoke its not cool" isn't going to make a difference
Vanessa, 14, Nottingham
I think mums and dads should tell children how bad smoking is. If parents can't stop them then celebs can't either
Eethar, 13, Riyadh, KSA
I think people just smoke to be cool. Two of our friends went off and one of them started smoking and the other one just came back and told us what he was doing and we were all like "what!?"
Kathryn, 12, Edinburgh
I think that popstars won't work, but telling kids the horrible facts will make them think again
Ellie, 13, Leamington Spa
Children will always smoke: it's the way they think they're hard. No popstar will stop that
Vicki, 14, London
People smoke because of peer pressure, and I don¿t think the popstar method really works
Kayleigh, 13, Wethersfield, USA
I don't smoke and never will, so it doesn't matter what celebs say 'cos I never will start. But out of my class 9/17 DON'T smoke and the rest will probably never give up even if celebs say things
Jay, 13, Inverness
Smoking is pointless, basically you just pay to kill yourselves. People will not listen to celebs as they don't think that cancer will effect them but the statistics show that it probably will!
Simone, 13, Manchester
If children want to smoke they want to smoke, it doesn't matter what any popstar says
David, 11, Bedford
It doesn't matter what popstars say. Any smart person knows that they are being paid to say these things 'coz they think they have influence over us!
Laura, 12, Rochdale
I think kids take up smoking because their mum or dad smoke or they are trying to fit into a gang
Charlie, 11, Glasgow
I think people smoke 'cos their friends do. Doesn't matter what popstars say
Susie, 12, Isle of Lewis
|
|
|
|
|
Vote on smoking
