Sharp Decline Seen in Smoking by City Teenagers

Teenage smoking is plummeting in New York City, according to a survey by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The new figures, which came from polls of public school students across the city, show that the proportion of teenagers who smoke has declined by more than half in recent years — from 17.6% in 2001 to 8.5% in 2007. Nationally, the teenage smoking rate of 23% is declining at a slower rate, according to the report. Smokers are defined as those who smoked once or more in the past 30 days.

Mayor Bloomberg touted the figures today as evidence that his anti-smoking efforts are succeeding and called on Albany to raise the city's cigarette tax to keep with inflation.

"At the very least, this reduction in teen smoking will prevent about 8,000 premature deaths in the years to come," Mr. Bloomberg said. "Clearly teens are getting the message: there's nothing cool about smelling like an ashtray, being hooked on nicotine, or dying young."

Mayor Bloomberg attributed the decline to higher taxes on cigarettes, which were raised during his first term, a ban on smoking in restaurants and bars, and awareness campaigns featuring subway and TV ads. Higher cigarette prices are especially effective in discouraging teenage smoking, he said.

"The single most effective way to get people to smoke less that's available to us is raising taxes," Mr. Bloomberg said. "I hope they would let us do the same thing again."