“Carn just give it a go!”

“What are you, chicken?”

Are you getting pressured to try smoking? Sometimes it’s hard to think of a comeback, below are some ways you can stand up for yourself. For others it not so much about peer pressure but another type of pressure – stress. If that’s you, check out our stress-busters further down the page. 

What's your comeback? PLAY IT NOW 

Standing up for yourself

Here are some tactics to help you deal with someone offering you a cigarette:

• be polite and confident and reply `I don't smoke because...';
• switch topics and talk about something else;
• use humour in your response;
• delay - tell them ‘maybe later' (but you know you really won't have one at all);
• come up with an idea for something else to do;
• walk away;
• think of an excuse;
• don't pay any attention;
• use "I" statements and be firm in what you say;
• practice using the word "No" and feeling confident saying it.