New statistics from the NSW Cancer Institute show only 6.7 per cent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 now smoke.

Two decades ago, nearly 25 per cent in the same age group were smokers.

“I’ve noticed a huge reduction in teenage smoking across most groups,” Marc Sutherland, youth co-ordinator at the Youthie said.

Mr Sutherland said 10 years ago smokers were in the majority at youth centres, but now he would be lucky to find one or two.

“They are allowed to smoke in designated areas at the youth centre, but it has declined massively. There are barely any around at all,” he said.

While education and the cost of cigarettes are big factors, Mr Sutherland said a lot of it was down to the children’s own initiative.

“They’re often overlooked in these reports,” he said.

“The same peer pressure still exists, but young people are choosing to be healthier.

 “The community is working effectively to keep the messages consistent. Schools work hard to get the message across and we make sure we keep it consistent in our environment, too.”

Heart Foundation representative and anti-smoking advocate Penny Milson said smoking was losing its “cool status” in younger circles.

Ms Milson said government legislation, tax increases and media campaigns had all helped the message sink in.

While Ms Milson called the recent statistics a great achievement, she said the New England North West was still well above state averages for adult smoking rates.

“Twenty-one per cent of adults in the region still smoke, compared with the state average of 15 per cent,” she said.

Ms Milson said there could be a number of factors for the high rates, including lower incomes bringing on more stress, leading to more smoking. She said research had backed up smoke-free public areas leading to declining smoking rates.

She said taking smoking out of public view was an important factor in reducing uptake.