'Au revoir' to smoking at Twickenham

10.15.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 14th Feb 2005

The first smoking-free match at Twickenham Rugby Stadium was the venue for the NHS London Stop Smoking Services/Smoke-Free London's launch of 'Stop kidding yourself' to encourage use of NHS Stop Smoking Services. Vincent Cable, MP for Twickenham, joined the NHS team outside the rugby ground before Sunday's international to support the campaign.

As England prepared to take on their Gallic counterparts at the first match since Twickenham implemented a smoke free policy, a double-decker bus was unveiled emblazoned with slogans from a new London NHS Stop Smoking Services/Smoke-Free London campaign. 'Stop kidding yourself' is a pan-London initiative leading up to No Smoking Day on 9th March that will include bus and radio adverts. It will help smokers identify free support available through the NHS.

Seven in 10 smokers want to stop smoking, but many are failing to translate this desire into effective action. 'Stop kidding yourself' will encourage people to take that final step with the help of NHS stop smoking services. It will employ adverts based on six commonly given excuses provided by smokers, including: "I don't usually smoke during the day" and "One ciggie won't hurt anyone".

Vincent Cable, MP, said "I applaud the RFU's decision to take a lead. We are moving towards a national ban but it is much better if the process can happen on a voluntary basis."

"Smoking is an especially serious problem in London, as it is significantly more common in some areas than the national average and is responsible for more than one death every hour" warned Professor Sue Atkinson CBE, Director of Public Health for London. "Smoking is responsible for almost a quarter of deaths in people over the age of 35 in many parts of London".

Despite London's smoking hotspots, rates of quitting are amongst the lowest in the country. There are 29 local NHS Stop Smoking Services throughout London, which last year helped 22,000 people successfully quit. Stop Smoking Specialists from these services mingled with the crowd at Twickenham, providing advice on quitting and support services available.

For further information and photos please contact Jo Locker, Smoke-Free London on tel 020 7217 3728 email Joanne.Locker@smokefreelondon.org