Story: Smoking

Juvenile smokers

Juvenile smokers

During the 1890s cigarettes became more common in New Zealand, and this encouraged young boys to pick up the habit. In this photograph from the 1890s one boy tries to light his cigarette from his mate's. It was believed that smoking was especially prevalent among the street larrikins of towns and cities, so a move began to restrict sales to those under 15. This was successful in 1903.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, C. H. Morris Album (PA1-o-349)
Reference: PA1-o-349-06-2

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Jock Phillips, 'Smoking - The age of the pipe: the 19th century', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/38969/juvenile-smokers (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 5 Sep 2013