It bothers me to see young girls smoking.

Any young person smoking is sad, not just girls.

It bothers me to see anyone smoking.

I agree, it is certainly does not look good apart from the obvious health risks. I suspect many young girls smoke to keep the edge off their appetite. I wonder if they realise that they smell like an ash tray.

My 33 year old daughter has been smoking since she was 17 years old - even though the rest of us don't smoke. She said it was peer pressure mainly and now she enjoys it!. She did give up for about a month last year and seemed to be doing very well so you can imagine how fed up I was when she started again. She did say she will give up - eventually.
It does appear that more young girls take up smoking then boys. I think like all young people they don't think it'll 'happen' to them. They will never get old and ill - it's just something they don't think about.
A young woman I work with is in the midst of having a very large tattoo across her back. Even though several of us have said that it will look horrible with a wedding dress on and even worse when she is over 50, where it will look like a large inkblot. Same attitude - it won't happen to her.

I must admit I am amazed at how old I will be next birthday. Even Roger Daltry and Pete Townsend got old.

As to smoking I hate it and was very upset when both my sons started. They would agree now in their 30 as both have found giving up a constant struggle. but Fingers crossed both are nearly free of it so far.

The ban in public spaces has helped quite a bit. The trick is to prevent teens starting when smoking is an ultimate rebellion. Not so easy .

I've now been abstinent for three years![halo] emoticon

Apart from the fact it is so bad for health, I can't understand how youngsters can afford to smoke!

I don't know how they afford it either. I always told my 3 girls ( when they were still at home) if they had enough money to smoke then there would be none forthcoming from me. Same applied to over indulgence in alcohol.