Workplace ban ‘drove smokers to quit’

ALMOST 7,000 smokers kicked the habit in the run-up to the smoking ban and close to 10,000 cut down on cigarettes.

Of those who quit, two in five said outlawing smoking in the workplace had a significant bearing on their decision.

The figures, released yesterday, show the influence of the smoking ban on people’s decision to quit increased in the period up to March 29, when the ban began.

Speaking yesterday at the launch of the research findings, Health Minister Micheál Martin said he was heartened by the numbers quitting.

“Smoking is addictive and a health hazard and giving up is the single most important thing a smoker can do for their health,” the minister said.

He attributed a 33% drop in the prevalence of smoking to the combined effectiveness of the Quitline, launched in October, and the ban.

The Health Promotion Unit (HPU) of the Department of Health expects a further increase in the number of people attempting to quit in the coming months, following a commitment to re-run the Every Cigarette is Doing You Damage advertising campaign.

The campaign, developed by the National Smoking Cessation Steering Group, featured images of the damage caused to the brain and heart by smoking and achieved unprecedented recognition levels of 89%.

Norma Cronin, health promotion manager, tobacco control, at the Irish Cancer Society, said they were delighted with the success of the campaign.

The smokers’ survey, by market research company, Behaviour & Attitudes, showed the main reasons for calling the Quitline were to seek advice on quitting (70%) and for general health reasons (44%).

More than 90% of respondents felt that the Quitline was helpful.

The National Smokers Quitline (1850 201 203) is open seven days a week from 8am to 10pm. The telephone survey of 1,200 Quitline users was carried out in July and August 2004.