Why is it so common for teens and pre-teens to smoke in Europe?

Answer 1

Less government regulation, payment by American tobacco companies to keep it going. Advertising is not banned like it is in America. Tobacco ads are on everything in Europe.

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Answer 2

First of all, there are many countries in Europe and each one is different. In some of them few people smoke, in others smoking is very common.

I'm from Iceland, but currently live in the Czech Republic. If I compare those two countries in regards to smoking, there is a huge difference. In the Czech Republic a lot more people smoke than in Iceland and the youth here seems to think it's cool. I think a big part of the reason is that here they haven't had a huge anti-smoking campaign and prevention measures. We had those in Iceland for years and they seem to be paying off.

Both countries (and most countries in Europe) have a law that says selling tobacco to minors (under 18 years old) is illegal. But that law is not always respected and I have the feeling it's still pretty easy for kids to get tobacco, especially here.

And another possible explanation is the price of tobacco. It's very cheap in the Czech Republic, but very expensive in Iceland. In Iceland most people prefer spending all that money on something else, while here cigarettes are so cheap that I doubt teenagers care that much about the money they're spending on them.

Answer 3

I'm from Europe, currently live in US and see 5-6 year old black kids smoking pot in the streets. You won't see that in Europe ever.

Answer 4

Yeah, it's been a few years, but I noticed that they seem to smoke everywhere in Europe. It's hard to take when you hate it. I thought Britain was banning it in public places or something?

Answer 5

i know that a lot of people smoke in europe because cigarettes are really cheap. i also dont think there is a law that has an age for smoking.

Answer 6

I use teen & preteen, because I use Yahoo Answers Canada. It's called adolescent in the US version and some others.

Answer 7

for exanple..where I live..cigarettes are cheap..1-2$ a box of 20
so..unlike othere states in europe where it's 7-15$..

Answer 8

Somehow it's considered cool. What surprised be most, was the fact that girls in my son's class were smoking more than boys. Their explanation - "smoking keeps them slim".

Answer 9

officially you can smoke and drinks alcohol ( and buy drags in Netherlands) when yon have up to 18. but in England, Italy and German you can buy beer when you up to 16. but in fact - you can buy it all in Europa without any problems>

Answer 10

not only in eu. it happens everywhere