Smoking is out of fashion in Ireland with almost 9 out of 10 young people now smoke free

Irish Cancer Society’s X-HALE Film Festival Tells Big Tobacco to Butt Out!

 Only one in ten young people in Ireland are now smoking, according to recent data from the HBSC. The percentage of young people who reported they currently smoke has decreased significantly between 1998 and 2010. Almost one quarter of young people (21.2%) were considered as ‘current smokers’ in 1998 compared to 11.9% in 2010*, meaning almost nine out of ten young people are now smoke free in Ireland.
 These figures were being celebrated at the Irish Cancer Society’s X-HALE Film Festival in the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield today which was attended by hundreds of young people from across the country. In total, 43 youth groups from all over Ireland showcased their films at the Festival and all explored the issue of smoking. The overarching message from the 47 films was that the next generation is seeing through the smoke screen of the tobacco industry. 
 Aside from a fall in current smoking rates, there has also been a notable decrease in the figures of young people who have ‘tried smoking’. In 2002, 62.1% of young people aged 15-17 had tried smoking compared to 45.7% of the same age group in 2010. Overall, a significant decline has also been seen between 2002 and 2010 in the percentage of young people who reported having their first cigarette at aged 13 or younger. This decreased from 60.2% trying their first cigarette at aged 13 or younger in 2002 to 48.9 per cent in 2010. The figures show that Ireland is on track to become tobacco free, in line with the Government’s Tobacco Free Ireland policy to have less than 5% of the population smoking by 2025.
 The 43 youth groups at the X-HALE Film Festival are already leading the fight to get big tobacco out of young people’s lives altogether. The films showcased at the Festival highlighted the harmful effects of smoking. Respiratory problems, reduced physical fitness, displeasing aesthetical effects and financial implications were all explored on the big screen as the entrants looked to encourage other young people who may be smoking to quit and to discourage others not to start. The films have been available to view online (www.cancer.ie/xhale) over the past two weeks and to date have received an excess of 21,000 views.  
 The X-HALE Film Festival is part of the Irish Cancer Society’s X-HALE Youth Awards, an initiative which aims to empower young people to create awareness around the issue of smoking in their own communities. Today’s national event follows months of hard work by the youth groups in devising and producing their own films.   John McCormack, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society said: “The trend in Ireland around smoking is changing. We are seeing a huge cultural shift into how smoking is treated and how it is perceived. We are delighted that these youth groups from across the country have spoken for themselves and that they are so passionate about creating awareness around the negative effects of tobacco. They have put cigarettes on the big screen, stripped them back away from the clever branding and marketing tools of the tobacco industry and showed them for what they really are – consumer products which can and will kill you. I would like to congratulate all those who took part in the Festival and commend them on the fantastic work they have done.”
 Kevin O’Hagan, Health Promotion Manager at the Irish Cancer Society said: “We know that the tobacco industry needs to target teenagers to replace the smokers who have already died from their addiction or who have quit. The X-HALE Film Festival gives the next generation the opportunity to fight back and they have certainly done that via the 47 films which have been showcased today. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and diseases in Ireland. Currently, 5,500 smokers a year die from tobacco related illnesses. Today these youth groups have sent a rallying call to their peers and to Government to ensure that their generation won’t follow this same path of pre-mature death. They want to smoke out Big Tobacco from this country for good.”
 This is the fourth year of the X-HALE Youth Awards which began in December 2010 when the Society invited applications from youth groups from all over Ireland for funding under the scheme. Since its inception, the Society has invested €115,000 in support for youth groups across the country.
 The films projects from the X-HALE Film Festival can be viewed online, visit http://www.cancer.ie/xhale or www.facebook.com/XhaleYouthAwards. The X-HALE Film Festival is an Irish Cancer Society project in partnership with the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI). Anyone who is looking to quit smoking should contact the National Smokers Quitline on 1800 201 203 or visit www.quit.ie for information and support.