Help for smokers to quit (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Help for smokers to quit

12:10pm Monday 8th February 2010 in News By Kirsty Maclagan

SMOKERS in South Somerset are being urged to stub it out for the last time following the launch of a new government initiative.

A raft of anti-smoking measures are set to be introduced across the country as part of a government pledge to halve the number of smokers by 2020.

The strategy, revealed last Monday, aims to prevent young people taking up the habit by cracking down on cheap illicit cigarettes and stopping the sale of tobacco from vending machines.

Tobacco companies could also be forced to sell cigarettes in plain packaging rather than their own branding.

Other suggestions include banning smoking at the entrances to buildings, as well as inside, with bans in homes and cars also put forward to reduce children's exposure to second-hand smoke.

According to NHS Somerset, more than 800 people in the county are killed by smoking every year.

Dr Caroline Gamlin, Somerset’s Director of Public Health, said: “We have made great progress in reducing smoking in Somerset during the last 10 years, but smoking is still a major public health problem.

“Less than one in five adults now smoke in Somerset, but with half of all lifelong smokers being killed prematurely by smoking, and half of them dying before the age of 65, smoking is still a major issue for the county.

She added: “I particularly welcome the new emphasis on protecting children and young people.

“We need to do more to enable our young people to resist smoking, and to protect young children from the effects of second hand smoke.”

For advice on how to quit smoking call the NHS Stop Smoking Service on 0303-033-9840 or text MYQUIT followed by your name to 80010.