Almost a third (29%) of Welsh girls aged 15 to 16 admit they smoke on a weekly basis, a new study by the National Public Health Service for Wales has revealed. Among boys of the same aged, 20% admitted to smoking regularly. The report examined a range of determinants of health including alcohol, drug use, socio-economic background, exercise and diet.

The South Wales Echo report includes a case study of one 28-year old who started smoking at the age of 14. She comments: “When I was 16 I was going out more and I would smoke about a pack a week. By the time I was 19 I was smoking about five packs a week. Of course I regret it now – my face is a prune! I wish I had never smoked because it’s really hard to stop and I could die of lung cancer.”