20-a-day smokers cough up €3k a year

IT COSTS almost e3,000 a year to maintain a 20-a-day cigarette habit, more than enough to pay for the holiday of a lifetime.

The Irish Cancer Society says quitting on Ash Wednesday — National No Smoking Day, is not only good for people’s health, it’s good for their wealth too.

And, in these recessionary times, people want to dramatically increase their savings instead of seeing their hard-earned cash go up in smoke.

A packet of cigarettes currently costs around e8.10 and quitting will mean a 20-a-day smoker has an extra e56.70 a week.

And, quitting means some of life’s little luxuries are more affordable.

After one week of going cold turkey, the ex-smoker will have enough to pay for a decent dinner for two or flights for a cheap weekend.

And money saved after one month, could fund the monthly food bill or purchase a quality digital camera.

As well as saving money, the health benefits of stopping soon start adding up from day one, with blood pressure and pulse rate returning to normal and the risk of heart attack decreasing.

After one year, the risk of sudden death from heart attack is almost reduced by half and the risk of cancer is also reduced.

The Irish Cancer Society’s health promotion manager, Norma Cronin, says the society will be there for the one in seven smokers wanting to quit today.

“While quitting smoking is the single biggest thing you can do to improve your health, quitting makes even more sense in the midst of the current economic downturn,” she says.

The Health Service Executive’s (HSE) director of public health, Dr Fenton Howell, wants all smokers to at least consider quitting today.

“Taking one day at a time, the 40 days of Lent are a good start for anyone trying to quit,” he says.

And, he points out, with the range of low-cost support now available, there has never been a better time to try to quit smoking.

Meanwhile, anti-smoking lobby, Ash Ireland, has urged politicians to ban smoking in all vehicles carrying children.

A similar ban has been introduced in Cyprus, as well as parts of Australia, Canada and the United States.

Similar legislation is also being considered in South Africa and the Netherlands.

*The National Smokers’ Quitline (1850 201 203), run by the HSE in partnership with the Irish Cancer Society, provides information and support for people wanting to stop smoking.