More young smokers in Norway

After years of solid declines in the number of youngsters smoking in Norway, health authorities registered a slight increase last year. State statistics bureau SSB reported that 17 percent of young Norwegians surveyed said they smoked every day, up from 15 percent in 2008. Another 14 percent said they smoked “now and then.” The increase worries state health officials, who told news bureau NTB that it could be a sign that the earlier decline has stagnated. The new figures were released just after a new anti-smoking campaign was launched in Norway.