Smoke Free Birmingham

Benefits of going Smoke free

Going smoke free isn't easy, but when you see the drastic improvements to your life and health, you'll want to set your action plan going as quickly as you can.

How will my health benefit?

• You will reduce your risk of developing illness, disability or death caused by cancer, heart or lung disease.
• You will reduce your risk of gangrene or amputation caused by circulatory problems.
• You will protect the health of those around you by not exposing them to secondhand smoke.
• You will reduce the chances of your children suffering from asthma or glue ear.
• You will improve your fertility levels and your chance of a healthy pregnancy and baby.
• You will improve your breathing and general fitness.
• You will enjoy the taste of food more.

How will my lifestyle improve?

• You will save money - as much as several hundred pounds a month, if you're a heavy smoker.   The average smoker spends about £3 a day on cigarettes.  Over the course of a year, giving up would save a cigarette smoker over £1,000.
• You will no longer smell of stale tobacco.
• The appearance of your skin and teeth will improve
• You will feel more confident in social situations - you won't be worrying about the secondhand smoke you create anymore.
• As a non-smoker, you may even find you get approached more often by potential new friends and partners when out socialising.
• Your home will smell fresh and you will no longer be staining your walls with nicotine.
• You will reduce the risk of fire in your home.

What help is there?

Around 70% of smokers say they want to stop smoking. If you'd like to quit, there is excellent FREE support available from the NHS. This includes Local NHS Stop Smoking Services.  To find your local service,

• call the NHS Smoking Helpline free on 0800 169 0 169
• visit gosmokefree.co.uk
• text 'GIVEUP' and your full postcode to 88088 or
• ask at your local GP practice, pharmacy or hospital

NHS Smoking Helpline
Individuals can speak to a specialist adviser by calling 0800 169 0 169 (lines are open daily from 7am to 11pm).

Call2Quit
This is Birmingham’s Local Stop Smoking Helpline.  If you live in Birmingham you can call free on 0800 052 5855 or text QUIT to 80800

Coming soon: new picture images for cigarette packs

Cigarette and tobacco packets currently carry black and white written health warnings but evidence suggests that using colour pictures increases the impact of health warnings.

The Department of Health undertook a consultation in 2006 to help develop a set of images which will have a real impact in reducing the number of people who smoke by showing the dangers associated with the habit. 

Jean King, Cancer Research UK's director of tobacco control, said:  "The evidence from Canada, Brazil and elsewhere is clear- graphic picture warnings inform people of the risks of smoking and help encourage people to reduce their smoking or quit altogether.  They also help minimise uptake by young people. This measure will inform people of the truth, it will help de-glamourise cigarette packs and let people know what they really get from smoking.

Paul Hooper, Regional Tobacco Policy Manager for the West Midlands, said: "Although cigarette smoking is in decline there are still over 1 million smokers in the region. When the new picture warnings are introduced I hope that smokers will be encouraged to get help to quit from local NHS Stop Smoking Services."

The new picture warnings will appear on cigarette packets from Autumn 2008 and other tobacco products the following year.