There is no doubt smoking looks cool. A teenager sucking on a ciggie has an air of rebellion around him. He knows the risks and doesn’t care. His identity is tied into this rebel attitude.

The problem with smoking as a teenager is you are more likely to smoke as an adult. And smoking as an adult will result in an early death.

Big tobacco companies pay millions of dollars each year to advertise their product. Movies, TV and computer games are filled with people smoking. This is called ‘product placement’ and they do it very covertly so you almost don’t notice.

Don’t let them win. If you smoke they take your money and your health. If you want to give the middle finger to something, send it the way of big tobacco and take control of your own health.

Reasons to smoke:

1. It looks cool.
2. Once you are addicted to nicotine the ritual of having a smoke can be relaxing and relieve stress.
3. It gives you an excuse to escape from your job. ‘Just taking a smoke break’.
4. It gives you an opportunity to speak to girls. ‘Hey, can I borrow a lighter?’ Is a great way to break the ice with a girl you don’t know.

Reasons not to smoke:

1. It will literally kill you.
   Cigarettes harm nearly every organ in your body. Smoking causes nearly 480, 000 deaths in the USA each year. The little packet comes with a raft of diseases hidden at the bottom – lung cancer, tongue cancer, heart disease and stroke to name a few. Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body – take your pick. The little sticks of poison are pure dynamite to your body.
2. It gives you bad breath (no good for kissing). You can smell a smoker a mile away.
3. They are expensive and will keep you poor.
4. It will hurt your sporting ability. Your lung capacity (energy) will be diminished by smoking.
5. This is a big one. Smoking can affect your sperm and reduce your fertility.
6. See point 1.

Luckily the body can regenerate damaged cells so if you quit your body will heal itself over time. Ditch the death sticks and you will live an extra ten years – you can do a lot on ten years…