Smoke Free Birmingham

Recent studies prove that the more young people are exposed to tobacco advertising, the more likely they are to start smoking. Despite this, only 5% of the world’s population is covered by comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Tobacco companies, meanwhile, continue targeting young people by falsely associating use of tobacco products with qualities such as glamour, energy and sex appeal.

Rationale

The promotional event was developed as a 4-day event to promote World No Tobacco Day 2008.  The aim of the event was to draw attention to;

• World No Tobacco Day campaign “Tobacco Free Youth”
   
• raise awareness on how young people are targeted by the tobacco industry through media and marketing campaigns
   
• the dangers of smoking
   
• to launch the Smoking in Pregnancy campaign
   
• the free help available to people who want to free themselves of addiction
   
• to engage with a maximum number of smokers thinking about quitting
   

Between 27th and 30th May 2008 people in the High Street were approached by team members and were given stickers and a promotional bag containing a selection of information such  as information on secondhand smoke, the truth about nicotine, carbon monoxide poisoning and smoking during pregnancy.

Smokers were offered on-the-spot tests by trained Health Advisors to show the levels of carbon monoxide in their bodies and also to test their lung life.

The Age Progression Software is a high-tech digital imaging device which shows the toll that cigarettes can take on smokers’ looks over the years using specially designed software to take their picture and then progressively ‘ageing’ their features.

Smokers who want to give up discussed their options with professional advisors which help them to make the right choice.  Smokers who chose to go through the services were registered and contacted within the next few days to begin the quitting process with support.