Health officials welcome teen smoking drop

Tasmanian health officials are hoping a drop in teenage smoking rates will ease the burden on the state's health system.

The latest figures on smoking for 12- to 17-year-olds, shows 12 per cent of the age group smoke, compared to 30 per cent in 1984.

Lawson Ride, from the Cancer Council of Tasmania, says smoking costs the state about $450 million a year.

Mr Ride says while the current decline in teenagers smoking will result in a decrease in demand on hospitals, most people who start smoking young continue.

"It's quite horrendous, so that's when the addiction really grabs," he said.

"If we can give them every opportunity not to be tempted by taking it up, that's a heck of a lot of smokers that are not going to be in trouble in the future years."