This post was sponsored by Tobacco Free New York State as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.
Did you know that the average age of a new smoker in New York State is 13 years old? This is an alarming statistic, and I find it especially scary considering I have a tween. While I have talked to my daughter a lot about the dangers of smoking, picturing kids her age smoking is disheartening. While we have always talked to our children about tobacco use, it is also sad that there are so many kids out there who pick up smoking at a young age.
The discouraging part is the amount of money spent to entice young people to smoke. Think about all the ways that our children are exposed to smoking. Despite our best efforts as parents and caregivers, tobacco companies spend billions in advertising to get their products in front of kids and consumers.
I grew up in a family of non-smokers, and with a lot of guidance about staying away from smoking. I can honestly say I never considered smoking, and my kids find it such a foreign concept, and I hope that they always reject the idea of smoking.
Our family values healthy living and loves the beautiful outdoors, enjoying fresh air and having an active, healthy lifestyle. I know people who have lost family members to a lifetime of smoking, and I can’t imagine going through that.
When I was a kid, things were a lot different. I remember going out to eat at a restaurant, and there would be a half wall that separated the smoking and non-smoking sections. My family literally ate in a cloud of smoke. It was hard to enjoy my meal, especially if I was sitting right next the smoking section.
Even when my kids were little, things were different. People would smoke right by the door of a business, and we would have to walk through a cloud of smoke to go shopping.
It is nice that things have changed – but I would love to see tobacco ads completely out of sight.
So let’s join together to help get tobacco ads out of sight from our kids and families. That’s why I have signed the “Seen Enough Tobacco” pledge! You can help make New York State a healthier place to live, work and play by joining me in this initiative – so that our kids don’t have to be exposed to tobacco advertising!
Click here for “Seen Enough Tobacco” pledge
and help make New York a healthier place to live, work and play!
Check out the Tobacco Free New York State sites for more information:
- Tobacco Free New York State Site: http://www.tobaccofreenys.org/
- Tobacco Free New York State Facebook: http://lwww.facebook.com/tobaccofreenys
- Tobacco Free New York State Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/tobaccofreenys
- Tobacco Free New York State Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tobaccofreenys
thirteen years old? wow I didn’t know that!
I am overjoyed that they banned smoking indoors. You can’t even smoke near a door anymore. I think you have to be like 12 ft. away (not sure of the exact distance). When my kids smell smoke they are often instantly disgusted because the smell is so foreign to them. Thanks for sharing!
This is so awesome! Yay for a healthier society!
I am totally supporting to cause. I am not from New York but since I am asthmatic — I believe we deserve a tobacco/ smoke-free environment.
13 years old is just too young. This is very sad.
I totally believe we should lead by example! It is a sad statistic that 13 yr olds are smoking.
That scares me that kids start so young. My oldest is 13 and while he knows the dangers and how gross it is, that still makes me nervous.
When I was a little girl, smoking was all the rage here in the south – that’s before people knew the horrible dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke. At that time, people could even smoke in hospital rooms – I kid you not! I also remember the smoking/ nonsmoking sections in restaurants and having to smell smoke while we dined. I would love to see all states become tobacco free!
I am so for this. Smoking is pretty gross. I hate the smell. I always tell my kids to never smoke because then they’ll stink and no one will want to be around them.
What a wonderful idea. Never smoked and never will. Hope more states decided to do this.
Way to go NYC! Our state has a law which prohibits smoking in vehicles with children under the age of 18. My parents smoked and I’m glad it’s a habit neither my siblings or I picked up. I never liked the smell nor the cloud of smoke.
I started smoking as a teen and quit a bit more than 10 years ago. I don’t judge, it’s an addiction, everyone has one whatever it is. I have heard many people mention cigarette ads and always find it interesting that I don’t see any.
I grew up in a home of smokers. Glad to see the work that New York is doing.
13 years old? That is baffling to me. I grew up in a family of non smokers myself. Good for NY to try and change things.
Wow 13 is so young! I think I was 15 when I started (and 24 when I stopped) it is an awful thing to become addicted to! A tobacco free place would be amazing!
It’s nice to see how much the world has changed in terms of smoking, it’s less encouraged these days especially in public places. Although it is still quite alarming how a lot of young people are still enticed to smoke. I think raising awareness and talking to them openly about it is important. Thanks for doing that.
I love that so many places are going smoke free!! This makes this Respiratory Therapist so HAPPY!!
Tobacco causes so much heartache. I love seeing people taking serious steps to keeping it out of their lives.
I wish this world had more places that got rid of that stuff. It causes nothing but trouble!s
Wait what? 13 years old?! Ugh, that is so sad. There needs to be a drastic change done to stop this and to help those wanting to stop. I know so many that want to stop and get healthy but feel it is all in their face to smoke…it is all about sales and money.
I grew up in a family of smokers, and watched how hard it was for most of them to quit. I will never understand why anyone would start smoking these days with all that we know.
My dad and uncles were smokers, so simply put, I grew up in a cloud of smoke (wherever my dad was sitting). Smoking is an addiction and if people find it hard to quit, there are always patches they could use to satisfy their craving for nicotine.
It’s quite alarming that these companies target the younger generation. It’s really important that we talk to our kids about smoking and what it can do to their health. It’s also important to be open and honest. Thank you so much for this post, for raising awareness and for reminding parents.
I just wish smoking wasn’t a thing. It’s so gross and so so so so so unhealthy 🙁 I don’t understand the appeal some people have with it. I think it’s disgusting and would never get involved with it!
I have always been anti-smoking. I met my fiance a few years ago and fell in love with…a smoker. It is a hard habit to kick, but if he can I know anyone can. Plus, 13? At 13 I was playing with barbies. I feel so bad for that type of situation.
I am working with kids and it’s killing me to see younger kids smoking or even worse parents exposing them to second-hand smoking.
It is always sad to know how young some people started smoking at, and even though they aren’t old enough to buy it themselves they always find a way to get them anyways.
I love this. I have family history of smokers that have died of lung cancer. I have definitely ended up with a huge phobia against smoking. I never tried it and never had any inclination to do so. Now I am extra protective of my kids even being around smoking. But I definitely plan to teach them the dangers and even pointing out the annoyances, like the smell people have that smoke. How it ruins their homes and cars when they smoke in them, etc.
I started smoking at 14 years old and finally quit when I was 24 years old. It’s a hard habit to break! Now I hate the smell so I’d love to have a smoke free state!
It’s been 7 years since my mother quit smoking, and by the time she was smoking I smelled the horrible cigarette. Thank God it never crossed my mind to have such a bad habit. And I’m sure I’ll do my best to keep my kids from smoking too.
I hate the smell of cigarettes and I owe it to my parents who have always advised me that smoking is not legal.
Yay for a healthier society!