Smokers across England are being urged to quit for a month in a government campaign.
Research has shown that people who manage to stop smoking for that length of time are more likely not to start again.
“Stoptober” takes place for 28 days from 1 October.
England’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said it was the first time that the government had launched a “mass quit attempt”.
Look, it’s really, really simple; peoples’ decision to smoke or not to smoke is up to them and no one else. What we do not need is government pissing our money away on their puritan campaigns. I can assure Dame Davies that Mrs L will continue to roll her fags and smoke them during October, irrespective of government campaigns. Indeed, in the Longrider household, anything a politician says (and since the odious Liam Donaldson tried to micromanage our lives; the chief medical officer as well) is ignored as a matter of principle.
It would be good if everybody stopped buying taxed fags in October.
That would shut the cunts up. 😀
I had the self-same thought, Barman, on hearing the story. What would 28 days (Hey! I remember that movie!) of tobacco taxes for the UK add up to? Fortunately I haven’t paid any UK duty for nigh on 3 years. My tobacco tax mostly goes to the German goverment (12 Euros for 50g), the rest in duty frees.
Goverment is always trying to dictate what the masses do, communism anyone? That said as a challenge type approach the 28 day rule is a good one, it just won’t work for many as smoking has always been a pleasure or a release and that is a far more difficult a habit to break than anything else.
How much will this cost and how many sick people will be denied hospital treatment because OUR MONEY is being diverted into this puritan propaganda?
This cannot be anything other than a publicity stunt, can it? I read somewhere that this ‘campaign’ was aimed particularly at the North East. I wonder if they will have researchers out offering bribes to sign a pledge? Thus, it would be declared to be a huge success. If I was offered £20 of vouchers for, say, Asda, I would sign the pledge and nip round to Asda and buy some fags (even if indirectly through ‘savings’ on buying vegetables with the vouchers).
Junican, I have held my nose and dug around and found the NHS smokefree briefing on the campaign. It says,
‘The campaign is targeted at all smokers, with a particular focus on those working in routine and manual jobs.’
What ever that means.
Slightly O/T if LR will permit; this is my first year of home growing tobacco and have referenced your guide which has been pretty useful. I have been lucky however to get some guidance on the curing process from a home grower of 35 years standing (a vicar no less!). I’ll let you know how it turns out in due course.
XX ‘The campaign is targeted at all smokers, with a particular focus on those working in routine and manual jobs.’XX
OHOO!! An attack on the pleasures of the working classes. Now what would certain political partys, presure groups have to say about that if it was “the banks”, or “Stinking rich capatalists” that had suggested such?
Think I’ll just buy some fags to ensure that tobacco sales remain static in October
Hearing about this on the radio pissed me right off and I don’t smoke. I do however enjoy a little drinky now and then and there has been government sponsored harranguing about that as well this week. Apparently, older people are “drinking more than they should”, so something has to be done to help them.
It is legal to smoke tobacco.
It is illegal to smoke heroin, crack, cannabis etc.
Yet you never hear of anyone in authority running month-long publicity stunts urging addicts to quit illegal drugs.
Y’know, “for the sake of their health…” 😐
“Stroptober” Sounds good to me to act stroppy towards tax funded prodnoses & righteous numpties.
I have been thinking of giving up smoking for a while. Not because of any waffle from them that rules us but because my local Tesco closed down while they build a new one and I have to traipse miles to get my “fix”. When I read of Stoptober I rang my daughter who was holidaying in Majorca and asked her to bring me some tobacco back. I am now able to defy the dictators without giving them a penny in duty. I shall walk around smoking my pipe with a smug grin on my face for the whole of Stoptober.
I too smoke a pipe. But something I have noticed in the last five to six years, is the slow “withdrawal” of pipe tobacco.
Six years ago, any news agent had it. Now, you need to go to a specialized “tobacco” shop. And even then, most of what they have are the VERY expensive “collectors” mixes. You know the kind of thing, “our own blend of finest virginia tobacco, Jamaica rum and parrot shit.” Or some such thing.
Perhaps the smokers can organise “Smokevember” in response and have a bit of fun with the Government and witchfinders alike.
I’m supporting #Octabber – http://patnurseblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/octabber-vive-le-resistence.html a month dedicated to those who like smoking tabs and those who don’t smoke but don’t want to make up the short fall in lost tax from smokers which will be put on other goods that others enjoy if we smokers quit en masse and don’t cough up the lion’s share of tax revenue.
If you’re a blogger and you agree with #Octabber then please carry a blog badge and spread awareness of it so that those who are being bullied to quit by Govt know there is some sanctuary and support.
Dear Mr Longrider
I am a dedicated three a year man – non-smoking day (whenever the nazis decide that is), National Smoking Day (1 July) and my birthday.
This government programme threatens to increase my habit nine fold – i.e. by 27 cigarettes a year since my birthday happens to be in October.
If not smoking for 28 days makes you more likely to quit, does smoking for 28 days make you more likely to take it up I wonder?
I shall find out.
Unfortunately my ciggies will be UK duty paid, but since I drink more than I smoke and I’m thinking more fondly of making my own beer, wine and cider, overall I’ll deprive those awfully nice chaps at the treasury of more revenue than I shall fork out for 27 extra sticks of tobacco.
I have 8 left from my packet of 10 B&H for NSD, so another packet of 20 makes 28. How convenient.
And I shall be able to blame the government for my increased consumption.
DP