Smokers are being urged to quit before their health goes up in smoke.

Tomorrow marks World No Tobacco Day and the Department for National Drug Control is backing the World Health Organisation (WHO) in raising awareness about 'Tobacco Health Warnings'.

WHO wants to encourage governments worldwide to adopt warnings on the front and back of cigarette packs.

The nicotine in tobacco kills up to half of all smokers, causing cancer, lung disease or cardiovascular problems.

Bermuda currently has legislation regulating who can buy and use tobacco products, and where people can smoke, but nothing to restrict advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

The Island imports more than 340,000 cartons of cigarettes (71,000,000 individual cigarettes) each year.

A survey by Government in 2007 found nine percent of schoolchildren aged 13-15 had tried smoking. However, initiation to smoking among those under the age of ten was 20 percent.

The prevalence of cigarette smoking (smoking on one or more days in the past 30 days) was high among the youth of Bermuda at 29 percent. Eight in ten children said no one ever refused to sell them cigarettes because of their age.

A Government spokesman said yesterday: "As we acknowledge World No Tobacco Day let us remember to Stand Up… Your Life, Your Community, No Place for Drugs."