If you smoke, giving up is probably the greatest single step you can take to improve your health. In the UK, approximately 10 million adults (about a quarter of the population) smoke cigarettes. Twenty-five per cent of men in the UK are smokers compared with 23% of women.
Smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK. Every year, around 114,000 smokers die from smoking-related diseases, such as heart disease and lung cancer. About 70% of smokers say they want to stop smoking, but most believe they are unable to. However, around half of all smokers eventually manage to give up.
Smoke free laws
Since July 1 2007, virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England have been smoke-free. It is against the law to smoke inside pubs, bars, nightclubs, cafes and restaurants, lunch rooms, membership clubs and shopping centres. The smoke-free law was introduced to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of passive smoking (secondhand smoke).
Under the smoke free law, you are unable to smoke inside, at work, including in smoking rooms. Public transport and work vehicles that are used by more than one person are also smoke-free. No-smoking signs have to be displayed in all smoke-free premises and vehicles.
Anyone who smokes in a smoke-free place may face an on-the-spot fine of £50 (or up to £200 if the matter goes to court). Anyone in charge of smoke-free premises, or vehicles, can face fines for two separate offences: failing to prevent smoking in a smoke free place and failing to display no-smoking signs.
How old do you have to be to buy tobacco?
Since October 2007, in England, Scotland and Wales, it is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18. The age limit was previously 16. This includes the sale of cigars, rolling tobacco, rolling papers, and cigarettes from vending machines. This change in the law brings the age restriction in line with the purchase of alcohol.
The reason for the age change is to try and deter young people from starting smoking. The earlier you start smoking, the more likely you are to be addicted later on in life. For example, if you start smoking at 15, you are three times more likely to die of cancer than if you started smoking in your mid-20s.
