Sneaking out for a quick smoke behind the bike sheds is as popular with Russian teenagers as it is with their high-school counterparts in the West, anti-smoking campaigners and independent observers say.

Medical experts claim smoking has a massive effect on youngsters' health in Russia and that more than 70 percent of schoolboys and 50 percent of schoolgirls have lit up at least once by the time they graduate from high school, according to a national survey carried out last year by the Institute of Comparative Social Research.

According to those statistics, 42 percent of Russia's teenagers smoke every day.

Experts cite lack of federal legislation prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to children, a lack of leisure projects for youth and psychological factors as reasons for teenagers getting hooked on smoking.

SITUATION ‘DANGEROUS'

"The situation with youth smoking is dangerous," said Oleg Chupov, director of the Public Council for the Problem of Youth Smoking, which was created less than a year ago and commissioned the Institute of Comparative Social Research's survey.

"In Western countries this problem is less prominent as there are state anti-smoking programs. Russia doesn't have one. We attempt to attract attention to youngsters smoking, and hopefully our actions will result in state concern about it."

The council's work has been backed by several tobacco companies that teamed up last year with an advertising campaign encouraging vendors not to sell tobacco products to youngsters under 18 years of age.

In Moscow, where local government legislation already prohibits selling cigarettes to those under 18, 70 percent of all trade outlets took part in the program and displayed signs saying they would not serve children tobacco products. Throughout Russia, around 30,000 outlets joined the program.

Dmitry Urbanovich, supervisor of corporate programs at Philip Morris, explained why his company is participating in the anti-smoking campaign.

‘SERIOUSLY CONCERNED'

"Philip Morris doesn't produce cigarettes for children," he said. "We are seriously concerned with the current position. We gathered our merchandisers, worked with them, and through their channels sent our booklets and warning signs to all available shops."

The efficiency of the campaign has been questioned by some experts, however, and several youngsters who were questioned by The Russia Journal said they usually buy cigarettes unhindered, even in shops displaying warning signs.

"Only once was I not allowed to buy cigarettes," said 17-year-old Tolya Litvinenko, a pupil at a Moscow high school.

"Certainly, salesmen do not always abide by the rules and crack down on the attempts of obviously young guys to buy cigarettes," said Chupov of the public council. "But if even one in 20 children is blocked from buying, he might think twice before going to buy again, and I would consider my mission to be accomplished."

The campaign also included outdoor billboards in 15 of Russia's largest cities, and regional TV stations broadcast campaigning advertisements appealing to tradesmen and the public to block children's access to cigarettes.

"We are fighting the indifference of salesmen to the problem of children smoking," added Chupov. "We are trying to convince sellers that it's immoral and abnormal to gain money from this."

Experts say a federal law is needed to prohibit sales to minors, with fines for those who break the rules. They also note that a federal law would be more effective than local ones, such as the kind already in place in Moscow.

"What should be taken into account when we are talking about an anti-smoking campaign is the special psychology of children," said Galina Shagalova, deputy director of Moscow school No. 1258. "Sometimes, children don't follow advice and do the opposite instead."

Chupov added that the activists need to back up their TV advertising campaign of last year, which tried to depict teenagers acting cool even without that symbol of youth rebellion, the cigarette.

‘A NEW IMAGE'

"Still, smoking is regarded by youngsters as an attribute of adulthood. We wanted to create a new image of a non-smoking successful teenager," said Chupov. "The youth stereotype says that smoking makes you appear older and experienced. We should break up that prejudice."

However, some observers say the campaigners have their work cut out for them, and the issue may be more complex than it seems. While last year's survey showed many youngsters are smokers, it also showed that they see the habit as negative.

Seventy percent of questioned teenagers said smoking is an expensive waste of time; 84 percent said it was dangerous; 82 percent said that smokers stink; and 84 percent said the habit does not make people more attractive.