Teen smoking might begin innocently enough, but it can rapidly become a lifelong habit that is hard to beat. Help your teen resist taking that first puff with these 10 tips from the Mayoclinic, medical centre in the US:

Understand the attraction
Sometimes teen smoking is a form of rebellion or a way to fit in with a particular group of friends. Some teens light up in an attempt to lose weight or to feel better about themselves. Ask your teen how he or she feels about smoking. Ask which of your teen's friends smoke. Applaud your teen's good choices, and talk about the consequences of bad choices.

Most people start smoking before the age of 18

Say no to teen smoking
You may feel as if your teen doesn't hear a word you say, but say it anyway. Tell your teen that smoking isn't allowed. Your disapproval may have more impact than you think.

Set a good example
Teen smoking is more common among teens whose parents smoke. If you don't smoke, keep it up. If you do smoke, quit - now. Tell them how unhappy you are with your smoking and how difficult it is to quit.

Appeal to your teen's vanity
Remind your teen that smoking is a dirty, smelly habit. It gives you bad breath, makes your clothes and hair smell, and turns your teeth yellow. Smoking can leave you with a chronic cough and less energy for sports and other activities you enjoy.

Do the math. Smoking is expensive
Help your teen calculate the weekly, monthly or yearly cost of a pack-a-day smoking habit.

Expect peer pressure
Friends who smoke can be convincing - but you can give your teen the tools he or she needs to refuse cigarettes. Rehearse how to handle tough social situations.

Take addiction seriously
Most teens believe they can quit smoking anytime they want. But teens become just as addicted to nicotine as do adults, often quickly and at relatively low doses of nicotine.

Predict the future
Teens tend to assume that bad things only happen to other people. But the long-term consequences of smoking - such as cancer, heart attack and stroke - may be all too real when your teen becomes an adult.

Think beyond cigarettes
Smokeless tobacco and candy-flavoured cigarettes (bidis) are sometimes mistaken as less harmful or less addictive than traditional cigarettes. Like traditional cigarettes, these products are addictive and can cause cancer and other health problems.

Get involved
Take an active stance against teen smoking. Participate in local and school-sponsored anti-smoking campaigns. Support bans on smoking in public places.