New
Year ads encourage smokers to kick the habit
The Health Promotion Agency (HPA) will be encouraging smokers
to start thinking about making the decision to kick the habit
as one of their New Year Resolutions by running the graphic
Every cigarette is doing you damage television advertising
campaign this weekend and into January.
Dr Brian
Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, commented: “The
advertising is being shown at an opportune time for those
people who are thinking about stopping smoking to encourage
them to commit to being smoke-free in 2004. However, it is
not just smokers we hope to encourage to stop for New Year
but we would also like to highlight the need for pub and
restaurant owners to seriously consider making their premises
smoke-free.
“A
recent survey which questioned people on their attitudes
to smoking showed that most were in
favour of a
ban on smoking in specific areas. For instance, when asked
if smoking should be banned in all restaurants around three
out of every five people surveyed agreed with this statement.
This clearly shows that people do not want an enjoyable evening
ruined by smoke and that most people here expect a smoke
free environment.”
This
year almost 17,000 (one per cent of Northern Ireland’s
1.69m population) people have stopped smoking and it is hoped
that next year this number will improve even further. The
HPA has been working with a range of organisations and groups
to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and the need
to provide support to smokers who wish to stop.
Dr Gaffney
concluded: “Although the
figures are going in the right direction, we want to do
more to encourage people
to stop smoking. The advertising campaign over New Year and
into January will give the facts about smoking to people
when they are making resolutions about their health and lifestyle.”
Although the advertisements are hard hitting they are accompanied
by a helpline number for people to contact for further information.
The advertising will commence on Saturday 27 December and
run until the end of January 2004.
END
Notes to the editor
There will be a media facility at the HPA, 18 Ormeau Avenue,
Belfast on Monday 22 December 2003 at 10:30am when Dr Brian
Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, will be available
for interview.
- There
are a number of smoking cessation services available
for people in Northern Ireland.
These can be accessed through
Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts and the
Ulster Cancer Foundation. The Smokers’ Helpline on
0800 858585 will be able to direct people to support services.
Support
and advice for smokers can also be obtained through GPs
and pharmacists.
- Survey
figures taken from the Northern Ireland Social Omnibus
Survey – HPA Heart Health
Questionnaire 2003 (unpublished).
- Smoking/population figures from the Continuous
Household Survey, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research
Agency.
26% of all adults smoked in 2002/3 compared with 27%
in 2000/1. Since 1984 the figure has fallen by seven per
cent
from 33%
to 26%.
Further information contact:
Jenny Dougan on 028 9031 1611.
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