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Northern Ireland
smokers want to 'Kiss it Goodbye'
The Health Promotion
Agency is using television advertising to encourage smokers
to 'kiss it goodbye' and give up the cigarettes for 'No
Smoking Day' on Wednesday 14 March.
Research carried
out by the Agency revealed that three out of four respondents
who smoked expressed a real interest in stopping or had at
least tried stopping already. The respondents also said that
they wanted more warning about when 'No Smoking Day' would
occur in the year so they could use this as a focus to prepare
themselves to stop smoking.
Taking these
comments on board the Health Promotion Agency has developed
a television advertising campaign that will commence broadcasting
on Sunday 4 March and counts down the days to 'No Smoking
Day' on 14 March 2001.
Rob Phipps, Regional
Health Promotion Manager for Tobacco with the Health Promotion
Agency said: "The advertising campaign aims to make smokers
aware of the date of 'No Smoking Day' in advance so they can
prepare themselves mentally to give up. Research shows that
many smokers give up every year on this day and that many
of the ones who decide to stop smoking on 'No Smoking Day'
stop for good."
A wide range
of health professionals and voluntary organisations will be
providing support for those who want to quit on the big day.
The television advertising will highlight the day for everyone,
young or older, and will make them aware that this is a real
opportunity to consider giving up for good.
END
Notes
to the editor: Over the last three years, levels
of awareness of 'No Smoking Day' have stayed constant at around
80%, with smokers being more aware of the campaign than non-smokers.
Awareness of the campaign tends to be slightly higher in Northern
Ireland than in Great Britain. Awareness of advertising for
'No Smoking Day' has increased over the last five years rising
from 56% in 1996 to 72% in 2000. Television advertising is
the main source of awareness.
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