Quarter of a million quit cigs thanks to smoking ban
5:03pm Saturday 28th June 2008
ALMOST a quarter of a million people across England have stopped smoking since the ban on lighting up in public places was introduced, according to an official report to be published next week.
A total of 234,060 people have stopped smoking with the help of the NHS Quit Smoking Service since the ban was brought in on July 1, 2007.
''But we can not sit on our laurels. There are still nine million adult smokers in England alone and smoking is still the biggest cause of preventable sickness and death in this country.''
Amanda Sandford, research manager at the campaigning charity Action on Smoking and Health
That is 22 per cent more people than in the previous 12 months.
Health bosses in the North-East - where some half a million people smoke, one of the highest levels in the UK - have already pointed to a huge surge in those wanting to quit since the ban was imposed.
In April, NHS smoking cessation workers in County Durham and Darlington reported that an extra 886 smokers had applied to join quitting courses between July and August last year, compared to the same quarter the previous year.
Smoking cessation services across the North-East hope to improve on this figure by recruiting more specialist smoking cessation advisors.
An action plan is also being drawn up to encourage more pregnant women to quit in the North-East.
In the region, about 25 per cent of women continue to smoke through pregnancy, endangering the health of their babies.
The Department of Health report on the smoke-free legislation will be published on the first anniversary of the smoking ban in England and Wales.
It also states the ban has cut pollution levels in bars and restaurants by 91 per cent.
Fears that the ban would not be enforced have proved groundless with 98 per cent of premises inspected complying with the legislation and 76 per cent of the population saying they back the law.
In the foreword to the report, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson writes: ''The significance of the smoke-free laws cannot be underestimated.
''A significant reduction in second-hand smoke with its damaging health effects has been achieved. We expect many lives have been saved. Everyone has the right to enjoy the benefits of a cleaner, healthier environment.'' Amanda Sandford, research manager at the campaigning charity Action on Smoking and Health, said the ban had been a resounding success.
She said: ''There are so many benefits from the legislation.
''For example, we have seen a decline in the number of people being admitted to hospital with heart disease and there has been a 76 per cent reduction in the nicotine levels of bar workers.
''But we can not sit on our laurels. There are still nine million adult smokers in England alone and smoking is still the biggest cause of preventable sickness and death in this country.'' The report from the Department of Health is due to be published on July 1.
Your Say YourNorth-East
Carlos, says...
6:25pm Sat 28 Jun 08
BeeGee, says...
6:28pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Chris W, says...
6:52pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Bill C, Bath says...
6:52pm Sat 28 Jun 08
A regulated indoor air quality standard is required and this would allow smokers back inside (where they belong) and the air quality would improve for all concerned.
Liam Donaldson is a fraud, who is also in obvious need of councelling for his over-eating. No doubt a iseless New Labour minister is already dreaming up some healthist agenda to get fatties to toe the line.
New Labour...5th in the Henley by-elections. I am amazed they even attracted over 1,000 votes...they are finished.
tug wilson, says...
6:55pm Sat 28 Jun 08
robbiethesmoggie, yarm says...
7:32pm Sat 28 Jun 08
If you are from ASH you haven't been much help with that post. The cult I was referring to are the freedom clan from everywhere but the North East.
Any time anything is written about smoking they are ordered in to rubbish it, and to tell us in the North East how to think.
I see most of them have left off their location this time except poor old BillC from Bath who obviously hasn't read his orders. (nor does he seem to realise that Labour still managed to beat UKIP in the Henley election - UKIP are the freedom cult's only political friends.)
robbiethesmoggie, says...
7:34pm Sat 28 Jun 08
I hope she is well
Bill C, Bath says...
7:36pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Perhaps we can surmise that even former anti-smokers don't believe this hogwash from New Labour any more. Seems your in the minority now robbiethesmoggie, dear boy.
Bill C, Bath says...
7:41pm Sat 28 Jun 08
JohnnyB, Channel Isles says...
7:56pm Sat 28 Jun 08
And Britains oldest man tips "whisky, cigarettes and wild women" for longevity.
Funny how the oldest people in the world don't conform to the NHS and ASH fraud about health isn't it?
It would be hard for the NHS and ASH to present anything other than a one-sided argument and less than half the truth. In fact most of the time you can depend on them to talk total rubbish backed up with their junk science with more spin than a windmill.
The rate of smoking has INCREASED in Ireland since the ban. These British stats' tell half the story. How many non and ex-smokers have taken up the habit again to join their smoking buddies outside the Pub or Club?
It's only a matter of time for the whole truth to come out about this national scandal that is the smoking ban and the fraud that a smokey room damages health (the research is already there which these Labour losers ignore).
It's disgraceful the NHS and ASH are still trying to paint this national scandal as "a success". Nothing is further from the truth and that doesn't include the 2,000 Pubs and Clubs and over 10,000 people made jobless by this health fraud. It's a tragedy. Plain and simple.
Pete, says...
8:53pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Lambert Butler, Darlo says...
9:04pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Tracerace, naziland says...
9:08pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Becausse there'll continue to be bans and people will continue to quit due to health concerns and cost."
Quite agree Pete!!!!
When they've got rid of the smokers, the pubs, the bingo halls, the working mens clubs...
Hopefully they'll move on to BAN NARROW MINDED PEOPLE LIKE YOU!
Bill C, Bath says...
9:15pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Furthermore, our gripes go way beyond the smoking ban and you should be questioning the nanny state that has turned into the bully state. As reflected in many elections recently, people have at last realised they have been taken for a ride by a bunch of second rate politicians, hell-bent on forcing their preferences on everyone else. No, they were elected to represent us not oppress us.
mandy, darlo says...
9:15pm Sat 28 Jun 08
im here now, i love your fiestyness.
wana meet for a drink and throw insults at each other?
****
Ian james, Darlington says...
9:38pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Alan Thrower, Darlo says...
9:41pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Lambert Butler wrote:It's great that you gave up Lambert, really pleased to hear it.
At the risk of ridicule, the smoking ban gave me the impetus to kick the habit and I've never looked back. I'd wanted to give up for years but it was just too easy to continue with the habit. I feel healthier, I have more cash to spend on petrol, I can taste my food, I don't have stinky breath or fag burns in my shirts. So there!
... but do you only do things when Government tells you to? What if you did NOT want to give up? Don't you think it is your choice and not the Government's?
The ASH person quoted in the above story says that it's good news but "we must not give up as there are still 9 million smokers" {paraphrase}. I thought this ban was about protecting the health of non-smokers, NOT forcing everyone to give up smoking whether they want to or not. It seems the emphasis has shifted.
Th Government look to be starting the moves to limiting alcohol intake and have already proposed banning salt from your food. Will you be as happy to give up those sorts of lifestyle choices too because Government tells you to?
Baaaah ... and watch out for that fox. ;-)
Alan Thrower, Darlo says...
9:43pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Ian james wrote:Did smoking kill you then Ian? And nothing else? ;-)
What a marvellous thing to hear a year after the smoking ban came into affect.I can believe the figures that nearly a quarter of a million smokers have quit since last year. Coz i am one of them and i also have never looked back, coz life is to short and you\'re a long time dead and i am just soo pleased and relieved that i am one of the winners and i have managed to pack in this waste of time habit that does nothing other than skints you and kills you and does NOTHING else. I am very pleased and proud of myself and i don\'t have to worry in twenty years time from now about being in the doctors surgery and wondering what is wrong with me and i have no lungs left and where does your life go when the doctor says we have found a tumour. GIVE IT UP NOW YOU SUCKERS WHILE YOU CAN, BEFORE IT IS TO LATE AND YOU STILL HAVE A CHOICE, COZ MARK MY WORDS IT WILL HAPPEN, AND THEN WHO WILL BE ACTING CLEVER WHEN YOU HAVE A TUBE STUCK UP YOUR NOSE, FACT NOT FICTION.
robbiethesmoggie, yarm says...
10:12pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Steady on girl!
The Mandy I seek is Mandyv from Cambridgeshire, one of the smoking cult's finest ambassadors.
Last time she was here she was telling us how Keytones made her ill - scared the pants off me - I've been scared to use my mobile phone ever since.
Ian james, Darlington says...
10:23pm Sat 28 Jun 08
robbiethesmoggie, yarm says...
10:25pm Sat 28 Jun 08
You heard it here from BillC in Bath - you all need to vote BNP to get the ban overturned.
But please don't do it in the North East, were a friendly bunch up here and don't need those scumbags running our bit of England.
JohnnieB, Channel Isles says...
10:42pm Sat 28 Jun 08
All I'm asking is they butt out and leave it to Landlords wether they want a harmless habit (smoking) on their premises, on part of their premises or not on their premises at all.
Not unreasonable to ask in a democracy is it mate?
BeeGee, Scotland says...
11:19pm Sat 28 Jun 08
http://www.theherald
.co.uk/features/feat
ures/display.var.206
9153.0.Pollution_fea
rs_are_misplaced_whi
le_toxins_thrive_ind
oors.php
Bob, Chicago. says...
11:40pm Sat 28 Jun 08
robbiethesmoggie, yarm says...
12:15am Sun 29 Jun 08
I seriously don't expect our next government to be labour, but I don't want BNP either just so you don't have to nip out of the pub for a fag.
As for junk science, I'm no expert but I don't think the stuff you mentioned earlier about our very oldest people enjoying a fag is scientific proof of anything much.
Why don't you tell us what proportion of people who die of lung cancer or heart disease between 40 and 60 are smokers? I hear it is alarmingly high but, being from the North East, your cult don't think I'm capable of making decisions.
And you say 70% of the population oppose the ban, whereas the article says 76% support it.
Where do you get your 70% figure from?
Tim Clarke, says...
1:58am Sun 29 Jun 08
/webfiles/publicatio
ns/Stop%20Smoking%20
Quarterly%20Bulletin
s/SSS%20Q3%2007_08/2
007-08%20Stop%20Smok
ing%20Services%20Q3%
20v5%20new%20logo.pd
f:
1. A client is counted as having successfully quit smoking at the 4 week follow up if he/she has not smoked at all since two weeks after the quit date.
Hmmmm ... and I wonder how many of the 234k lasted for at least 2 weeks, some time after which they re-commenced smoking?
robbiethesmoggie, yarm says...
2:10am Sun 29 Jun 08
Hmmmm What is the point of your post?
If you are going to come into this North East England forum from .... where are you?.... at least try to brainwash us better than this feeble effort.
We aren't thick ou know.
robbiethesmoggie, yarm says...
2:16am Sun 29 Jun 08
Why do we have to hear from you? You are 6,184km away from our region.
Are you smokers so desperate you have to round up cut members from that far away?
Where's Mandyv? At least she's entertaining even though she's from the south.
J.H. Flywheel, Ferryhill says...
7:15am Sun 29 Jun 08
Mark, Leyland says...
10:51am Sun 29 Jun 08
marma495, darlington says...
11:02am Sun 29 Jun 08
robbiethesmoggie, yarm says...
11:30am Sun 29 Jun 08
Great to hear your pub was busy, as was the one I was in with my mates and my blackberry. (blackberry handy to keep up with the news when mates outside having a fag)
Great to hear the landlord has increased his trade by accomodating the smokers properly.
I think you may have me wrong, I have nothing against smokers, many of my friends smoke and I never lecture them about the dangers.
My beef is with this cult who keep coming in to tell us that fags are safe and we're all too thick in the north east to think for ourselves.
I have no prblem at all being put straight by a lad or lass from Darlo, but I do object to someone from Channel isles, Chicago, Nottingham, Bath or Scotland telling me how to interpret an article in the Northern Echo.
stu8, darlo says...
12:57pm Sun 29 Jun 08
And who's life has been saved by stopping smoking? Saved from what, dying? we have all got to die of something or if i stop smoking will I live forever and never need the NHS, or will I live till 100 and visit the NHS countless times in the last years of my life?
Mark, Leyland says...
1:39pm Sun 29 Jun 08
robbiethesmoggie wrote:Smoggie, this is the internet, it does not start at Berwick and end at Miidlebrough. It is global. If you have nothing against smokers then why not support them?
Marma495 Great to hear your pub was busy, as was the one I was in with my mates and my blackberry. (blackberry handy to keep up with the news when mates outside having a fag) Great to hear the landlord has increased his trade by accomodating the smokers properly. I think you may have me wrong, I have nothing against smokers, many of my friends smoke and I never lecture them about the dangers. My beef is with this cult who keep coming in to tell us that fags are safe and we\'re all too thick in the north east to think for ourselves. I have no prblem at all being put straight by a lad or lass from Darlo, but I do object to someone from Channel isles, Chicago, Nottingham, Bath or Scotland telling me how to interpret an article in the Northern Echo.
stu8, darlo says...
2:12pm Sun 29 Jun 08
No-one has the right to lecture me on what I want to do, unless i cause harm to someone else through my actions. I dont mind going outdoors for a quick fag, so therefore its got ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYONE ELSE IF I SMOKE OR NOT!!!!!
Jay, Stockton on Tees says...
2:13pm Sun 29 Jun 08
It seems to have escaped Robbie's notice that smoking might not be the only factor in the North East to contribute to its appalling health record. I believe that it is the most deprived area in the UK - poverty, lack of education and aspiration, poor diet, obesity, lack of exercise, high levels of drinking must surely combine to poee a greater threat to health.
I can confirm that I belong to no cult (I'm a great believer in thinking for myself, Robbie) but I know that the smoking ban was based on a cynically presented, hugely overstated case on the basis of which it was inexcusable to demonise the 25% of the population which smokes. The real agenda was, of course, to "denormalise" smoking. This is equally inexcusable and if a government set about spearheading such a campaign against any other minority they would, quite rightly, be denounced.
Tim Clarke, says...
2:57pm Sun 29 Jun 08
robbiethesmoggie wrote:Is this a local site for local people?
Tim Clarke
Hmmmm What is the point of your post?
If you are going to come into this North East England forum from .... where are you?.... at least try to brainwash us better than this feeble effort.
We aren't thick ou know.
I've merely demonstrated how the NHS calculate the figures for people stopping smoking and how these methods are questionable. What's feeble about that? Can you counter it?
Thought not.
bruce, tasmania says...
4:50pm Sun 29 Jun 08
I can see you are having to fend off lots of smokers. I'd like to help , but I'm not exactly in your catchment area. Is it ok for me to comment?
Jay, Stockton on Tees says...
5:51pm Sun 29 Jun 08
Also, why do you have such a problem with people from outside the Northern Echo's catchment area? Why are they not as capable of interpreting the story as a lass from Darlo? When I read it, it was written in English and so, presumably, intelligible to someone in Bath. In fact, I believe that people abroad speak English too.
You do the North East no favours by your remarks.
C.O.P.D, Newton Aycliffe says...
6:34pm Sun 29 Jun 08
P.S. I HAVE NEVER SMOKED
Elizabeth Barber, says...
6:56pm Sun 29 Jun 08
I'm glad to hear you defend the good people of the NE, but have to tell you that we are percieved as thick and stupid. That's why Nulab think they can do what they like to the vast numbers of their 'natural supporters' who also happen to smoke. Despite the fact that our area is among the worst for smoking, obesity and inge drinking however, a recent table of longevity in the Telegraph indicates that I have a good chance of lasting almost as long as someone from the SE where more people live a 'healthy' lifestyle. At the risk of sounding ungrateful for their concern, I would like ASH et al to know that i have no interest in the additional 6 months - 2 years of life on offer between the age of 80 and 82 by which time all that is likely to present is the opportunity to spend more of my estate on nursing home fees.
Jay, Stockton on Tees says...
8:45pm Sun 29 Jun 08
1. your case illustrates the truth that there are no illnesses peculiar to smokers. All so-called smoking-related illnesses are multi-factorial and anti-smokers have simply - without any rigour - demanded that people believe that one factor, smoking, is responsible. You don't smoke so smoking can't have been the factor in your development of COPD; there is no reason to suppose that, when a smoker develops COPD, his or her trigger is different from your trigger.
2. there is no way that ETS could have caused your COPD. If anyone cares to do some research they will find that even epidemiologists are speaking out against the studies on 'passive smoking' because they feel that they are so disreputable that they undermine the discipline as a whole
3. people who are speaking out against the comprehensive bans in the UK are not selfish addicts who want to cause discomfort to those who are intolerant of ETS. They (including myself) are furious that the bans have been brought in on the basis of a case that is little short of fraud and which entails the demonisation of an innocent group which would simply not be countenanced were it to be applied to any other group in our society. Pressure has been brought to bear on government by the pernicious tobacco control lobby and government, in its panic over treasury shortfalls, has failed to challenge the lies. The government is also inept insofar as the economic argument doesn't stack up and morally bankrupt insofar as it is just wrong to vilify a section of the population whilst enjoying huge amounts of revenue from that population. Those who speak out against the ban want the lies of the tobacco control lobby to be exposed and accommodation made for smokers in a way that satisfies all.
(And, please, that is not an invitation for some moron to suggest that the present situation satisfies all).
bonnylad, northeast says...
9:54pm Sun 29 Jun 08
kes/low sperm count etc. and not me at smokers greed.
mandyv, cambs says...
10:08pm Sun 29 Jun 08
Had me eyes lasered friday, so gave them a bit of rest.
I dod not recall saying the chemicals made me ill, only when I packed them up and left the printing job. I am rarely ill, I do however have allergy problems since I left, which I find strange myself, almost like it gave me some protection.
Anyway,I have to ask myself, if these are words of a sane man- or a smoke-hating fanatic? Since restrictions of smoking are one of the most effective -- and virtually the least expensive -- way to help smokers quit, it is no surprise that there is growing support for smoking restrictions, even if no nonsmokers' health is being put at risk by the smoking, suggests Banzhaf.PROFESSOR JOHN F. BANZHAF
Yes Jay, I have asked the same question many times, one illness non-smokers do not get that ONLY smokers do.
freedom2choose.info for tolerant non-smokers and smokers alike
Carlos, says...
2:34pm Mon 30 Jun 08
robbiethesmoggie wrote:I am not from ASH- I was being sarcastic. In reality I strongly oppose the ban.
Carlos
If you are from ASH you haven't been much help with that post. The cult I was referring to are the freedom clan from everywhere but the North East.
Any time anything is written about smoking they are ordered in to rubbish it, and to tell us in the North East how to think.
I see most of them have left off their location this time except poor old BillC from Bath who obviously hasn't read his orders. (nor does he seem to realise that Labour still managed to beat UKIP in the Henley election - UKIP are the freedom cult's only political friends.)
carlos, says...
2:46pm Mon 30 Jun 08
bonnylad wrote:no death has actually been proven. Yes smoking may have ben a factor but thats it!
Smoking has been proven to be incredibly bad for smokers health for decades. There maybe no concrete evidence about passive smoking but if it's that bad for smokers, i'm glad smoking has been banned in enclosed public spaces, let the smokers risk heart disease/cancers/stro
kes/low sperm count etc. and not me at smokers greed.
bonnylad, northeast says...
3:58pm Mon 30 Jun 08
carlos wrote:Carlos, yes you don't die from smoking, you die from diseases caused by smoking, that why if you read my previous post properly, you'll see I said it's incredibly bad for smokers health, and you can't deny that smokers are damaging their health and if it's damaging their health I would rather not put myself at risks of these diseases. When I worked in a pub and smoking was permitted i'd have to use my inhailer for asthma once or twice a shift, and when the ban came into force guess what, I've never needed it once. I really don't think that's a coincidence, do you? I really don't have a problem with a problem with people smoking, they can do what they like to their own bodies in their own privacy and outdoors but they need to understand I have a right not to have my health jeopodised by their smoke.
bonnylad wrote:no death has actually been proven. Yes smoking may have ben a factor but thats it!
Smoking has been proven to be incredibly bad for smokers health for decades. There maybe no concrete evidence about passive smoking but if it\\\'s that bad for smokers, i\\\'m glad smoking has been banned in enclosed public spaces, let the smokers risk heart disease/cancers/stro
kes/low sperm count etc. and not me at smokers greed.
JohnnyB, says...
7:32pm Tue 8 Jul 08
Could you manage to understand that?
I'd also be interested to hear from you on any person, in 100yrs of passive smoking, that's been attributed with health problems or death from this 'phantom science'?
You could also try finding a smokers death attributed to smoking?
My last request is can you find a non-smoker who's outlived Madame Jeanne Claument, the oldest person that's ever lived (121)?
I'd love to know what you can tell us about health and longevity but I've a feeling you're going to come up empty!
NHS hospitals have a 1 in 300 chance of damaging your health in days of admission. It takes decades of smoking 40 a day to effect health (if ever). Shouldn't we slap "NHS PATIENTS DIE YOURNGER" over NHS hospitals rather than ciggy packs just for accuracy? I'd like real health science rather than politicised garbage from our health services.. wouldn't you?
Your sayYourNorth-East
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Healthy Living Team from Middlesbrough Council encourage people to give up smoking. Healthy Living Team's Imran Naeem (left) and Laura Agiadis (right) with Sid the Cig.
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robbiethesmoggie, yarm says...
6:16pm Sat 28 Jun 08
I wonder how long it will take Mandy and co to arrive, en mass.
I wonder if they will stick around longer than last time.