New Year, New Quit Campaign
Smokers are being encouraged to quit smoking this new year as part of the annual NHS push to reduce the numbers (5.3 million in England) to make a quit attempt this January
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by Dave Cross
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- Research shows teens more than 3 times as likely to smoke if their parents, caregivers or friends do
- Comes as NHS Smokefree campaign encourages 5.3 million smokers in England to make a quit attempt this January to improve health and reduce likelihood of young people starting
- Major new survey shows three-quarters of people in England back government’s historic plans to create the first smokefree generation - regardless of age or region
- First 259,000 vapes to be provided to local authorities nationwide to support smokers to quit under world-first Swap to Stop scheme
In a hard-hitting campaign film, former England goalkeeper and ex-smoker David James joins a number of other ex-smokers to discuss the influence their parents’ smoking had on them taking up the habit themselves and how being around children was their motivation to quit.
It comes as the NHS launches a brand new smokefree campaign to encourage all 5.3 million smokers in England to make a quit attempt this January - not only for their health, but also to help ensure young people are not being influenced to start smoking.
Research lays bare the stark reality - teens are more than 3 times as likely to smoke if their parents, caregivers or friends do. In a new, poignant film released today, the former England goalkeeper discusses how his family members and friends smoked around him when he was a youngster, which led to him taking up the habit. In the film, he describes how smoking impacted his performance on the football world stage.
The UK is now in the lead to be the first country in the world to create a smokefree generation by phasing out the sale of tobacco, and is set to introduce a new law to stop children who turned 14 in 2023 - or are younger - from ever legally being sold tobacco in England.
Three-quarters (76%) of people in England support the principle of creating a smokefree generation a YouGov survey - commissioned by campaign group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) - has found, with only 9% opposing. Support for creating a smokefree generation is similar regardless of age or region.
Former England goalkeeper, David James, said: “I smoked for about 15 years and at the time, it was normal. My mum smoked, my friends smoked, it was around me. It didn’t take long for me to be hooked. Looking back, it had a huge impact on my health and performance at the time, I wish I never started. My health, my children and my fans were huge motivators for me to quit - I didn’t want younger people to see me smoking and think it was okay.”
David James is joined by a number of other ex-smokers in the film to discuss the influence their parents’ smoking had on them taking up the habit themselves.
They are accompanied by Nick Hopkinson, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Imperial College London, who was involved with the UK Millennium Cohort Study research, and TV doctor, Dr Sarah Jarvis, who talks through the wider impact of generational smoking.
Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, said: “Smoking causes a range of diseases that affect people throughout their lives. Stopping people becoming addicted to smoking and helping those who have been addicted to quit are 2 of the most important measures we can take to improve health. Quitting will improve your health whatever your age and no matter how long you have smoked, it’s never too late to stop.”
The government says that it continues to go further and faster to support people to quit smoking. Under the world-first Swap to Stop scheme, the government has so far received requests from local authorities nationwide for an unprecedented 259,000 vapes. The claim comes as figures show the smoking rate and admission to hospitals for smoking related diseases have risen.
Despite agreeing that caping is used by adults as a tool to quit smoking, this year the Government is pushing harder on messages relating to teens and children, indicating a clear shift in priorities.
In fact, Public Health Minister Andrea Leadsom managed to avoid making any reference to vaping or switching during her extensive statement.
In fact, launch documents contained only one reference to vapes. TV doc Sarah Jarvis said: “The NHS has a range of free support, including local stop smoking services.
Better Health offers a range of free quitting support, including a local stop smoking services look-up tool, as well as advice on stop smoking aids including information on how vaping can help you quit smoking.”
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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