But smoking is sooooo yesterday, with just 5% of children aged 8 to 15 years now smoking, down 75% from 2003. It was considered to be rebellious to smoke in school, behind the bike sheds, but now it is recognised as being a stupid thing to do which is expensive now that so many adults do not have cigarettes in the house that can be 'aquisitioned'

I think you are believing the hype from the NHS and various official departments.
I suspect they make figures up to achieve targets, as I can only see more secondary school kids smoking at lunchtime than ever before.
No TB, Cancer Research as well, that actually has regular under 16 smokers down to just 3%.
But, to quote a phrase often used on the OOF, don't let facts get in the way of a good story. Passing school gates and seeing some young smokers, who could anyway be 16 or over, is a far more reliable measure than officially produced statistics from an organisation like CR who you would think should inflate the figures!

In order to get further funding, these organisations and charities have to find some statistic to show they are making a difference. Sadly that's the way things work now.
But as you say, don't let (made up) facts get in the way of a good story
