Second-hand smoke awareness campaign launched

The NHS has launched a campaign to reinforce the dangers of second-hand smoke.

The announcement of the campaign comes as a government study of around 1,500 people reveals that 60% of smokers do not ask for permission from non-smokers before lighting up, while just over a fifth of non-smokers do not feel comfortable asking people not to smoke near them, even in their own home.

This was despite the fact that continued exposure to second-hand smoke puts non-smokers at a 24% increased risk of lung cancer and a 25% risk of heart disease.

The new advertising campaign launches on Monday, the day the consultation on the government’s proposed smoking ban ends, and will run until October 22.

The campaign, which includes radio and press advertisements, features a television advert, which shows a group of family and friends relaxing at home, where one person is smoking. As the advert progresses, the smoke moves around the group, snaking around necks, revealing the long term damage it can cause. It then forms a menacing face, which looms over the group, alongside the messages, ‘Second-hand smoke can restrict the oxygen around your heart, causing it to fail’ and ‘It increases your family’s chance of getting heart disease by 25%’

Commenting on the campaign, Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said: "It is clear that both smokers and non-smokers don't appreciate the full dangers of second-hand smoke. This campaign is designed to show that it's often the places we feel safest that put us at the greatest risk, such as relaxing at home in front of the television.

"We are hoping that this campaign will give smokers an excellent reason to quit smoking - to protect their families, friends and colleagues. By arming everyone with the facts about the very real dangers of second-hand smoke we are providing people with another motivation to give up for good."

The British Medical Association has criticised the campaign, saying that if the government is aware of the effect of second-hand smoke, it should change its proposed smoking legislation, which would still allow smoking in pubs that do not serve food and private members’ clubs.

Last month, research conducted by anti-smoking lobby ASH and Cancer Research UK found that 73% of respondents were in favour of a total smoking ban.

The government has proposed to introduce a smoking ban in England and Wales by 2008. However, the current proposals include exemptions for pubs that do not serve prepared food and private membership clubs.

(KMcA/SP)