"Every single day," he said, "3,000 young people become regular smokers, and nearly 1,000 of them will die prematurely as a result."

A 2004 study conducted among 3,500 Chinese physicians found that 23% were regular smokers.

Each day, 3,000 young people become regular smokers; 1,000 of them will have their lives cut short as a result.

They found that more than six out of 10 children with emotional and behavioural problems were regular smokers.

About a quarter of adult Americans were regular smokers in 2001.

"These children have a very high probability of becoming regular smokers as adults."

While no one he knew used drugs, many club members were regular smokers.

Among children with mothers who did not smoke but having another regular smoker sometimes present in the household, the mean level was 0.18.

At least half the panel either smoked now or had been regular smokers in the past.

As of 1993, the most recent year for which national data are available, 22 million women - more than one in five - were regular smokers.