Abstract

More than two thirds of smoking adolescents report that they choose their brand of cigarettes on the basis of taste. Additional factors influencing their choice are brand loyalty, availability of the brand and price. Most adolescent smokers say that they want to quit smoking, mainly because of the costs and the negative effects on their health.
These are the conclusions drawn from the results of an online survey carried out by the RIVM on smoking behaviour and product choice of adolescents up to 18 years of age. The questionnaire was announced on schools and on the websites of STIVORO and Scholieren.com. Almost 5000 questionnaires were completed.
The answers to the survey indicate that curiosity, smokers in their social circle and positive expectations of the taste are the most important reasons for adolescents to start smoking. Smokers usually light up a cigarette because they feel like having one and because smoking relaxes them. The respondents also reported that smoking makes them feel good and gives them a feeling of satisfaction.
Smoking causes severe health damage to both the smoker and his environment. It is therefore of major importance that there are adequate policy measures to prevent adolescents from starting to smoke. Based on the survey results and on a literature search, RIVM has made a number of recommendations. As taste is also determined by tobacco additives, one recommendation is that the use of additives that migitate the taste of smoke be restricted. It is also of the greatest importance to satisfy the adolescent's need for information on the composition and the effects of tobacco products. Finally, in addition to measures aimed at the primary prevention of smoking, stop smoking programmes directed towards adolescents, especially the starting smoker, are of major importance. In the latter case, the most effective approach appears to be that of focusing on a target group, such as a stop smoking programme aimed at youth with a low level of education.