1 in 4 will try to give up smoking today - survey

More than one in four smokers will try to quit smoking today - National No Smoking Day - according to a survey conducted for the Irish Cancer Society.

The survey found that 26 per cent of smokers tried to stop smoking on the same day last year.

Those most likely to try to quit were in the 25-34 year age group, while those least likely were in the under-25 age group.

"General health reasons" was the most common reason given, followed closely by cost issues.

The price of cigarettes was more of an issue for women than men. Only 13 per cent of respondents quoted the workplace smoking ban as a reason for their decision.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) was the most popular aid for people giving up cigarettes, followed by "stop smoking" counsellors, GPs and pharmacists.

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by Drury Research found that 49 per cent of people either "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the social atmosphere in pubs had been improved since the introduction of the smoking ban.

Some 30 per cent either "disagreed" or disagreed strongly with the statement, while the remainder either didn't know or saw no difference in the pub atmosphere.

Some 1,000 people were surveyed in an independent study by the market research group. More older people from traditionally white-collar backgrounds believed the ban had improved the pub atmosphere.

Unhappiness with the ban was more pronounced among those aged 25-44 who were from traditional blue-collar backgrounds.

The reluctance of young smokers to quit smoking reinforced how vital it was to highlight the dangers of smoking, said Ms Norma Cronin, health promotion manager/tobacco control at the Irish Cancer Society.

The society is offering a free, six-week stop smoking course to the public, starting with an information meeting at their Dublin office next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, ASH Ireland has expressed its disappointment at the delays caused by legal challenges to the introduction of legislation to deal with tobacco advertising.

Dr Fenton Howell of ASH Ireland said the legislation was long overdue. "Our retail outlets, most of which are used by children, are emblazoned with tobacco adverts and promotion. These adverts and promotions can be seen on shelving, on counter mats and even in the positioning of tobacco products," he said.

He said ASH Ireland recently had to raise the issue of tobacco advertising on some of the equipment in use in Funderland at the RDS. "Even at the recent Young Scientists Exhibition, one commercial display stand managed to have six blatant adverts for tobacco," he said.

Dr Howell also urged the Government to sign up to the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, adopted by the World Health Organisation in 2003, which includes strict bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.