1.25 MILLION LIVES COULD BE SAVED IF SMOKERS QUIT

LONDON, March 14 /PRNewswire/ --

Figures released today, No Smoking Day, reveal that one in five smokers
(20 per cent) say that they will try to, or definitely stop smoking when the
UK goes completely smokefree from July 1st. If every smoker who stopped was
successful the number of lives saved would be 1.25 million. That's equivalent
to nobody dying in England and Wales for 2 years!(1)


No Smoking Day, the charity behind today's campaign commissioned a YouGov
survey on public awareness of the incoming ban on smoking in enclosed public
places and workplaces. The survey showed that 20 per cent of smokers plan to
make a quit attempt as England goes smokefree.


Ben Youdan, Chief Executive of No Smoking Day, which runs the annual
health awareness campaign said: '"No Smoking Day is the ideal opportunity to
stop smoking before Smokefree comes into place this summer. More than
two-thirds of smokers say they want to quit smoking and should seek advice
and support from stop smoking services to do that.


"This could be one of the biggest changes in public health in decades and
we need to be ready to give all these smokers the help and support they need
to quit. This year GBP56 million has been spent on NHS stop smoking services
who are expecting their busiest ever year."


It's not just the NHS preparing to help smokers; employers up and down
the UK are gearing up for smokefree legislation by helping their staff and
customers to stop smoking. No Smoking Day has had unprecedented demand from
big companies wanting to help their employees to stop smoking.


Smokers who want to quit smoking should seek help from local NHS stop
smoking services - those who use stop smoking services are four times more
likely to succeed in their quit attempt.


Today, local organisers all around the UK will be promoting No Smoking
Day and will be available in local supermarkets, shopping malls and other
local spots to provide help and support to those considering quitting
smoking.


To find a local stop smoking service log onto www.nosmokingday.org.uk or
call 0800-169-0-169.


(1) All deaths in England and Wales 2004 was 512,541, 2005 was 512,692.
Source: ONS


For further information, contact Vishnee Sauntoo or Ben Youdan on
0870-770-7909 or email: vishnee@nosmokingday.org.uk


Notes to Editors:



Region Number of smokers Percentage Number
who will try to of smokers of
quit who will lives
try to that
quit (%) could
be
saved
UK 1 in 5 20 1.25million
England - North East 1 in 4 25 80,000
England - North West 1 in 4 26 200,000
England - Yorkshire
and the Humber 1 in 4 29 170,000
England - East Midlands 1 in 5 20 93,000
England - West Midlands 1 in 6 15 83,000
England - East of England 1 in 5 22 125,000
England - London 1 in 5 22 200,000
England - South East 1 in 5 18 152,000
England - South West 1 in 5 21 111,000
Northern Ireland 1 in 10 11 25,000
Scotland 1 in 10 12 84,000
Wales 1 in 5 19 62,000

LONDON, March 14 /PRNewswire/ --

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample
size was 2,260 adults. Field work was undertaken from 16th - 19th February
2007. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and
are representative of all UK adults (ages 18+).


To find out where your local stop smoking service is log onto
www.nosmokingday.org.uk or call 0800-169-0-169


Quit - a charity-run helpline for those wishing to quit smoking -
0800-00-22-00


No Smoking Day (NSD) is organised by a charity of the same name run by
four full time staff. Based in London, the charity is funded by a coalition
of governmental and voluntary sector organisations with an interest in
health.


NSD aims to help people who want to stop smoking by creating a supportive
environment for them, and by highlighting the many sources of help available
to people who want to quit.


Now in its 24th year it is a firm fixture in the UK calendar because of
its popularity amongst smokers and continued success. Three quarters of
smokers would like to stop and on NSD over a million try. NSD isn't just
about the Day. Stopping smoking requires much planning, encouragement,
support and motivation. Helping others to prepare to quit can be done year
round, but the Day provides an excellent focus and motivation for many
smokers to stop.