Almost two fifths of former smokers think the ban on smoking in public places helped them to quit, research shows.
The figures, released on the fifth anniversary of the smoking ban in public places in England, found that 37% of former smokers believe the ban helped them to kick the habit.
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However, it is still estimated that 10 million people in the UK smoke, according to the research conducted by Pfizer.
A quarter of current smokers said they were happy to go outside to smoke whatever the weather, the research suggests.
One in five smokers who want to quit have sought medical help, the poll of 6,300 people found.
Take a look at these experts tips on how to quit smoking by hypnotherapist, Elle Dormer...
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Five Ways To Quit Smoking
Battle the addiction with these top tips by hypnotherapist, <a href="www.elledormerhypnotherapy.co.uk" target="_hplink"><strong>Elle Dormer</strong></a>.
Close Your Eyes
"Close your eyes and take 3 deep breaths in and out. Now build a mental picture of yourself in the future as a non smoker.
"Make it real by filling in the detail - where you are, what you're doing, who you're with and how much better you look and feel. This is known as future pacing. If you can imagine yourself having achieved your goal you a mentally a step closer to it."
Plan Your Escape
"Smokers often use cigarettes as a form of escapism. To have a break away from their desk after a stressful call. Or to provide thinking time when they are procrastinating.
"Go for a brisk walk instead. Or to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. Any simple, familiar task that we can do without much thought allows us to simultaneously access our unconscious or 'zone out' which can be both relaxing and enable greater creative thought."
Imagine Other People's Disappointment
"Make a list of all the people (alive or dead) in your life who care for you - or have cared for you, like your friends, partner, parents or children. Then close your eyes and imagine them all together gathered in a room.
"You are standing before them with a large beautifully gift wrapped box. This present represents you quitting smoking. Explain this to them in your mind. See or imagine their reactions.
"Make them real. The relief, love, pride, appreciation. Then imagine asking for the gift back and how sad and disappointed they would be. And resolve that you cannot do this to the people you love."
Breathe!
"Cigarettes do not relax you. Nicotine is a stimulant so it is actually making you edgier and more stressed by elevating your heart rate and releasing stress hormones like adrenalin and cortisol into your blood stream.
"Try an experiment: replace one of your regular cigarettes of the day with the following pattern of breathing. Breathe in for a count of 4 and out for a count of 8. Do this 10 x, consciously relaxing your body on every out breath.
"This will physiologically de-stress you by slowing your heart rate and releasing endorphins. And prove to you you can truly relax yourself without a cigarette.
Use Your Imagination
"Take a moment somewhere quiet and close your eyes. Remember a time when you felt really confident, relaxed and in control. Take yourself back to that time, fill in the details and make it real. When you're feeling those emotions at their strongest, squeeze our thumb and forefinger together.
"Clear your mind and repeat. Then practice recalling those helpful, positive emotions at points during the day by squeezing your thumb and forefinger together. The physical trigger should help to access those beneficial feelings that will help at moments of weakness."
The ban on smoking in public places in England came into effect on July 1 2007, spelling an end to drinkers having a cigarette with their pint in pubs, bars and clubs.
If you haven't managed to stub out the habit yet, take a look at these tips on quitting by Patrick Holford, a nutritional expert and author of How To Quit Without Feeling S**t:
Balance your blood sugar levels by eating low GI foods. For an example of which foods are best, take a look here. (link to GI diet)
In the first two weeks giving up, mix 8g of vitamin C with water and apple juice, as your immune system will start to kick in and this will strengthen your resistance to illness.
Take 50mg of niacin (vitamin B3) twice a day with food as this will reduce those pesky nicotine cravings.
If you have trouble sleeping due to the cigarette urges, take 100mg 5-HTP (a form of amino acid tryptophan) an hour before bed. This will help to naturally ease you to sleep.
Almost two fifths of former smokers think the ban on smoking in public places helped them to quit, research shows.
The figures, released on the fifth anniversary of the smoking ban in public places...
Almost two fifths of former smokers think the ban on smoking in public places helped them to quit, research shows.
The figures, released on the fifth anniversary of the smoking ban in public places...
''There was no significant difference in
cigarette smoking prevalence in men and
women before and after the implementation
of the smokefree legislation on 1st July
2007.'' Excerpted from the NHS Statistics on Smoking 2011
It's not the least surprising Pfizer would want to come up with different results. Smoking bans never had anything to do with non-smokers' health and everything to do with profits. Profits for the pharmaceutical industry, grants both from taxes and Big Pharma to the anti-smoker lobbyists that have no qualm making a career harassing and bullying people and contributing to the loss of livelihoods. The more smoking is demonized the more the government can increase the taxes with not too much resistance from anyone. After all who would want to fight against ''virtue''?
If bans had anything to do with non-smokers (and employees) health or comfort, there were plenty of other options than a comprehensive ban in ''public'' places. They could have allowed separately ventilated smoking rooms, licenses for smoking venues, all adult venues, private smoking clubs, after hour smoking venues... But this would not have forced people to try all kinds of pharma cessation aids over and over and over since their long term failure is at best 8% at worst less than 2%?
IroCyr: ''There was no significant difference in cigarette smoking prevalence in
If the smoking ban has FORCED people to have to try to use medication to help them to quit, then I'm rather suprised nobody seems to blame the tobacco industry for selling a deadly ADDICTIVE product.
The bans weren't about comfort, they were about health. As such, the only way to genuinely protect all employees health was to go for the total ban.
Asellus: If the smoking ban has FORCED people to have to
Contrary to the anti-smoker industry, nobody bullies or harasses people into smoking. They chose to consume a product available to them because the government insisted and still insists in keeping it available. I don't remember that the tobacco industry ever twisted anyone's arm to smoke or shoved a cigarette in their mouth and lit it. The tobacco industry advertized like any other company. One has to be mighty ignorant or mighty old to pretend they didn't know about the health hazards of smoking before they started smoking.
You are right, the bans were not about comfort but they were not about health either. The bans are a corporate/political/NGO partnership (euphemism for corporate fascism) FOR profit and greed and perhaps some puritan ideology among a minority of the culprits. Period.
Why are private clubs with NO employees forbidden? Why can't a group of people rent a hall and throw a party in it, again with NO employees? The health of the employees is just a convenient excuse to make it all look like it was for health reasons. I wonder how healthy and cheerful the ones who lost their jobs now are!
IroCyr: Contrary to the anti-smoker industry, nobody bullies or harasses people
''But this would not have forced people to try all kinds of pharma cessation aids over and over and over since their long term failure is at best 8% at worst less than 2%? ''
Should have read :
''But this would not have forced people to try all kinds of pharma cessation aids over and over and over since their long term success rate is at best 8% at worst less than 2%? ''
IroCyr: ''But this would not have forced people to try all
i used to smoke i smoked for 10 years from the age of 11 to21 i'm now 22 and i think it would be a good idea to completely get rid of them,if you can't buy them you can't smoke them
yeah people will have the hump for a few week and some will fall out will friend, family and even there boss but it would be well worth it in the end.
but it will never happen because the goverment get a nice big bit of tax money from it
gsmithjack: i used to smoke i smoked for 10 years from
Actually, it's all the more reason NOT to quit. Govt. and other control freaks have to be shown they can't bully people into behaving the way they think they should.
Chris_Sorochin: Actually, it's all the more reason NOT to quit. Govt.
I worked in a Pharmacy for many years.
Big Pharma is making a fortune on nicotine replacement treatments.Remember that.
Also we used to have 3 clubs and 5 pubs all in "rude health"...(excuse the pun).
Now we have one pub and one club-4 pubs became Asian restaurants competing for the same measly trade.2 clubs closed.All the music venues are dead.
I still smoke out of sheer bloodymindedness as I won't be dictated to.
dthemajor: I worked in a Pharmacy for many years. Big Pharma
Not quite sure where you're going with your conspiracy theory, Big Pharma had nothing to do with the ban, and why would they? If Big Pharma is making a fortune on NRT, then it's in their interests for people to keep smoking. There may be an argument about their influence on the way government encourages people to quit (by using their products), but they would gain no benefit from other tobacco control measures.
There are more non smokers than smokers, and it isn't just smokers who go out for a drink or to listen to live music, so it simply doesn't add up to blame all those closures on the ban. There's more to it than that.
And don't forget you are already being dictated to by the nicotine in the cigarette. Be bloodyminded about that!
Asellus: Not quite sure where you're going with your conspiracy theory,
“The WHO Launches Partnership with the pharmaceutical industry to help smokers quit.”
"The WHO European Partnership Project on Tobacco Dependence is being set up with the objective of reducing tobacco related death and disease among smokers. The Partnership Project, which is open to both private, non-commercial and public sector partners, will support implementation of the key strategic goals of the World Health Organization's Tobacco Free Initiative.
The strength of the Partnership Project lies in the fact that it has brought together three major pharmaceutical companies, Glaxo Wellcome, Novartis Consumer Health and Pharmacia & Upjohn, all manufacturers of treatment products for tobacco dependence, to support a common goal that will have a significant impact on public health. The Project provides a model which can provide a basis for future partnerships with the private sector in other important health areas. "
I swore wen the ban was about to come in that I would give up smoking. I relished the approach of the ban because I thought it would make giving up smoking a piece of cake. Now I'm still smoking. In summer when I go to pubs I don't' mind nipping out for a smoke - but in winter or when the weather is bad - I don't go out - I stay home and smoke at home don't spend any money in the bars. That can't be good for the pub trade because I know so many smokers who do just the same.
Stylecouncil: I swore wen the ban was about to come in
Yes, in theory I quit smoking cigarettes but I still smoke nicotine (electronic cigarettes) I quit the tar and all the other additives but is that classed as "Stopped smoking"?
Electronic cigarettes contain nicotine but have no smell and the "smoke" is actually a water based vapour so it should offend no-one, but I'm still ostracised by the bleating PC brigade
hissedoff: Yes, in theory I quit smoking cigarettes but I still
i gave up smoking,and while it is still legal,sorry,while the gov are happy to take the tax then let smokers smoke wherever they wish,what about taxing the aviation industry that would be very healthy!,finally most ex smokers i know could'nt give a toss
zownlow: i gave up smoking,and while it is still legal,sorry,while the
I must admit that I did give up smoking before the ban - only just, because I didn't fancy standing outside having a smoke. But I did appreciate walking past my local Wetherspoons to get a quick fix. One good inhale once a week did the trick, but now I find it very irritating that a lot of people smoke outside and for some reason the smoke seems to be blown in my face - but that is just me being an ex smoker.
Carolinelegg: I must admit that I did give up smoking before
Yeah, I look forward to the day when the non-smokers have to 'cough up' the £12.1 billion pounds that the Government takes from tobacco duties and VAT ... will they whinge about it then ...??
pduck321: Yeah, I look forward to the day when the non-smokers
£5billion of which is spent by the NHS treating illnesses directly caused by smoking.
It's probably impossible to quantify the cost to our economy of all the time off work caused by smoking-related illnesses, the loss of productive lives, even the time wasted on fag breaks!
Almost 1 in 5 of all deaths (and significant disability) are caused by smoking according to Oxford University research.
Paul_Wagland: £5billion of which is spent by the NHS treating illnesses
In 2008 the Dutch government looked into the cost of treating people from the age of 20 to death. They had three categories, the healthy, obese and smokers. The results were not what the health gurus were looking for, the paper says:
“Until age 56 annual health expenditure was highest for obese people. At older ages, smokers incurred higher costs. Because of differences in life expectancy, however, lifetime health expenditure was highest among healthy-living people and lowest for smokers. Obese individuals held an intermediate position. Alternative values of epidemiologic parameters and cost definitions did not alter these conclusions.”
The lifetime costs were in Euros:
Healthy: 281,000
Obese: 250,000
Smokers: 220,000
It really is quite dishonest of the anti smokers to say that smoking is a burden on society. To the contrary are cheaper to treat and pay £10.3 billion in tax, plus all the employment the tobacco industry generates. The Czech Health Ministry costed it at a positive ratio of 10 to 1.
It's very easy to quantify the cost to the economy. £0
Humans are not cash cows with a moral obligation to live long and healthy lives, so we can produce as much as possible and pay as much tax as possible.
Is this how you see people? As slaves to the state whose only purpose is to produce?
And smokers don't get extra breaks! The smoke on their designated breaks. That myth really gets on by baps.
BuckoTheMoose: It's very easy to quantify the cost to the economy.
10 million smokers, thats very high when you compare it against 22 million working age people in the country. About 63 million in total but that includes kids and people over 65 what it suggests is that because 25% of the country smoke, half of all smokers are either under 16 or over 65 - why,o why am I prattling on about this, I was/am hopeless at sums?????????? By the way I stopped smoking a long time ago and it had nowt to do with rabid anti smokers or the daft laws., it was me purely deciding to give it a go .
hayesfish: 10 million smokers, thats very high when you compare it
I don't care all that much if the ban helps people give up smoking. It has made pubs, clubs and restaurants SOOOO much nicer for the rest of us, and healthier for the staff to boot.
Can't believe people are blaming the state of the country on the smoking ban. Makes a change from immigration I suppose.
Paul_Wagland: I don't care all that much if the ban helps
This is where selfishness comes to the forefront - it should have been left to market forces to decide. If a pub owner decided to allow smoking, then dont go to that pub. Go to a one where smoking is banned. If only approx 25% of adults smoke then you (non smoker) would probably have won and smoking would have been banned anyway. By the way, I dont smoke but get really fed up with the bile that some non smokers spout.
hayesfish: This is where selfishness comes to the forefront - it
All pub owners already had that choice, and all of them allowed smoking because they knew it would maximise footfall. Non-smokers (75% majority is it?) had to put up with the smoke as a result. Bar staff etc had to smoke passively too, unless they wanted to quit their jobs.
Paul_Wagland: All pub owners already had that choice, and all of
i really dont mean to be rude,but i find the best pubs and clubs are where people let their hair down inother words getting ripped and having a good time,health is the last thing on most folks minds while ripping it up in pub or club,they dont go there to drink perrier water and eat cucumber sandwiches,stilkl like a toke
zownlow: i really dont mean to be rude,but i find the
I was a club musician for fifty-five years and resident organist in nineteen working men's clubs throughout the north-east of England. I performed on the stage of these clubs and smoked cigarettes myself in the mean time, forty Players untipped a day eventually stopping smoking thirty years ago. I inhaled other people's smoke for those years and have never suffered by it. I am now seventy-nine years of age and am fit as a fiddle chest-wise. My only discomfort is not being able to run upstairs two at a time as I did twenty years ago!
Now as the result of the smoking ban we have clubs without social activities, pubs without much going for them and a population morally down in the dumps. Thankyou government of great britain. I always maintain that many people in charge of our society make decisions totally without regards to the eventual outcome.of their decisions.
whitesyrena: I was a club musician for fifty-five years and resident
If someone puts on a blind fold and then walks across across the road they may not be run over but it doesn't mean that they are not taking a bigger risk than other people. Anecdotal evidence such as yours doesn't change the FACT that smoking vastly increases the health risks of not only smokers but also those who happen to be in a close proximity to them when they are 'enjoying' their habit.
qwertyzxcvb: If someone puts on a blind fold and then walks
I am a practicing chest surgeon, a teacher and a former cancer researcher. I am also past president of the NY Cancer Society. I will not tell you that smoking is harmless and without risk, in fact one in eight hundred smokers will develop lung cancer. Asthmatics should avoid tobacco smoke. What I will say is: 1) it’s a personal choice and 2) so called second smoke (ETS) is virtually harmless. One may not like the smell but it has not been shown to cause cancer, even in bartenders. If people do not like the odor then they may go elsewhere. Those who support the ban have no right to deny 24% of the adult population their enjoyment of a popular product based on dislike, possibly hatred of smoking. This attitude is that of a bigot, akin to anti-Semitism or racism.
To me the most offensive element of the smoking bans is the resort to science as “proving that environmental smoke, second hand smoke, causes lung cancer”. Not only is this unproven but there is abundant and substantial evidence to the contrary. It is frustrating, even insulting, for a scientist like myself to hear the bloated statistics put out by the American Cancer Society (of which I am a member) and the American Lung Association used to justify what is best described as a political agenda. To impose a city wide or a state wide ban is to deny people of their rights.
DaveAtherton20: "I’m Robert E. Madden MD, FACS. I am a practicing
well I'm not a smoker but i say this yes it has worked its been made illegal to smoke in public its the law thats why its worked . but this law has had a BIG affect of social enjoyment . like more and more pubs are closing and social clubs as well there is no plaice for the public to meet and enjoy a evening with friends. what with the price of beer and spirits that are so high in the pubs and clubs that people just don't go out any more . that is why this country is moving more and more towards a islamic state . amen
the_angry_man: well I'm not a smoker but i say this yes
I gave up over a year ago, forget all the so called aids, just dump them in the bin and make your mind up to give up, I had smoked for 40 years and decided myself to quit that's what works and no ammount of nagging will make the slightest difference if the person does not want to. I must admit that the cash I have saved paid a large chunk off the cost of my new car and when I look at it it reminds me of just how much I was spending on the habit.
nicholspongo: I gave up over a year ago, forget all the
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PA/The Huffington Post UK | By Kyrsty Hazell Posted: 02/07/2012 11:12 Updated: 02/07/2012 11:32