Caerphilly County Borough politicians Chris Evans and Lindsay Whittle have spoken of their support for next week’s No Smoking Day.
Plaid Cymru’s South Wales East AM Whittle and Labour’s Islwyn MP Chirs Evans are urging smokers to quit on Wednesday, March 13 as part of a campaign by the British Heart Foundation.
The campaign aims to show smokers how much they could save by giving up cigarettes.
New research shows that an average smoker would be £2,555 better off each year if they kicked their habit.
In Wales there are almost 600,000 smokers but as many as two thirds of these admit that they want to quit.
Mr Evans said: “Stopping smoking not only helps your health, it can also help your bank balance with quitters saving more than £200 a week.
“If you are a smoker and have always wanted to quit – why not give it a go on No Smoking Day when thousands of people across Wales will be trying to kick their habit?”
Mr Whittle said: “Stopping smoking is not easy for many people but not only can doing so improve your health but leaves more money in your pocket as well.
“Local support is available and working out what you could afford to buy if you quit smoking can act as a good motivator. I’d encourage people to give it a go and join thousands of others trying to quit on the day.”
Vishnee Sauntoo, No Smoking Day campaign manager at BHF Cymru, said: “Smoking is the largest single cause of avoidable ill health and early death and kills over 5,000 people every year in ‘Wales. Tobacco use is without a doubt the major Welsh public-health concern.
“Your cigarette money really adds up, so whether you want to swap your day’s packet of 20 for a new lipstick, save for a week and take your kids to the cinema, or save for a whole year and reward yourself with a holiday of a lifetime there are lots of fun – and healthier – ways to spend your money.
“We’re here to help you every step of the way, so great ready to join in and swap fags for swag.”
All those who want to learn more about the campaign can visit www.nosmokingday.org.uk for more information.
I do wish politicians would do the job they are paid (extremely well) to do and leave people to decide whether they want to give up smoking, drinking, driving cars, burning fossil fuels, eating cream cakes or whatever else is in vogue as the current killer of X amount of people per year. Under their leadership we suffer lack of investment in industry and infrastructure with the commensurate reduction in employment. It is scarce wonder that the people who work to keep Wales afloat take some relief in a pint and a fag.
The smokers of the UK contribute £12.1 Billion per year to the exchequer (HM Customs & Revenue figure for 2011-2012) which I calculate as would require an extra tax of £1,000 per annum from every tax payer in the land to cover. In addition they die younger and receive less pension and health care which saves all of us more tax money.
Smoking is not good for you but it remains a personal choice. The real killer is the motor car which pollutes when it is manufactured, pours out pollutants during its working life and presents a massive disposal problem when it is no longer required. I note that nearly all politicians who lecture the low paid on how to live their lives drive, or are driven around, in sleek, expensive cars. Come on boys and girls of Parliament and Assembly and focus your minds on improving the quality of life for your constituents; that is what you are elected and paid to do.
would just like to say that cllr richard williams have hit the nail right on the head i am not a smoker but my wife is if she would give it up for health reasons i for one would be pleased but as for saving money richard is right the government would then find another tax to top up their kitty to make up for lost duty. as richard said it is our choice what we do there are enough members of parliament that like a smoke a drink and are obese and they want to tell us what to do, what a bunch of hypochrits they are.