Top doctor urges smokers to quit this ‘Stoptober’

The fixed penalty notice fine for the offences is £50.

The change coincides with the annual “Stoptober” challenge – where thousands of current smokers start their goal to stop smoking by not lighting up throughout the month of October.

A recent survey by YouGov and ASH revealed that ending smoking in cars with children is supported by 85 percent of adults from households with under 18s.

“Quitting smoking can be a hard process, but evidence shows that if a smoker can go 28 days without a cigarette, they are five times more likely to stay permanently smoke-free”, said Councillor Patricia Stallard, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Health and Public Health.

“Smoking within the enclosed confines of a vehicle is extremely risky, especially for children whose young lungs are still developing, even when the window is open or the air conditioning is on”.

Julie Trezise, Quit Squad Service Manager at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “As a service our mission is to help as many people as possible stop smoking for good. We also welcome smokers to our stop smoking sessions who want to use their own e-cigs to help them quit”.

For further information, call 0800 022 4524, visit acelifestyle.org, or text quit plus your postcode to 07860 025327. “Nicotine is a very addictive substance, so whilst it’s disappointing how many people fail to quit the habit for just one month, it’s completely understandable at the same time”.

“Smoky cars, packed full of toxic tobacco chemicals, are especially deadly to children because they have smaller lungs, faster breathing and less developed immune systems.

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Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do to improve your health, so I’d really encourage people to take up the help on offer to quit as part of the Stoptober challenge”.

SMOKERS looking to quit the habit can get a helping hand. Please let us have your views in the comments box below.