by Bill Heaney
MSP Jackie Baillie has backed a health charity’s campaign to help smokers kick the habit.
The Dumbarton politician is throwing her support behind ASH Scotland’s Quit and Win campaign, in the wake of national No Smoking Day.
The national organisation marked the event on Wednesday, by urging people across Scotland to quit tobacco and boost their health, wellbeing and personal finances.
MSP Jackie, also Scottish Labour’s Deputy Leader, joined forces with other Labour MSPs and representatives of ASH Scotland at Holyrood to promote the event.
She said: “I am pleased to be supporting ASH Scotland’s ‘Quit and Win’ campaign for this year’s No Smoking Day and encourage my constituents to try quitting smoking to gain health benefits and save money that could be better spent on holidays or treats for friends and family.
“NHS Scotland’s Quit Your Way service is free and provides specialist support to help you find ways that work best for you to leave tobacco behind for good.
“If you’re trying to give up smoking for the first time or have tried before, I urge you to reach out to Quit Your Way today and to get the help you may need to reach your tobacco-free goal.”
Data shows that the average smoker could save up to £3,332 in a year, as well as reducing feelings of anxiety and decreasing the risk of coronary heart disease.
The risk of developing lung cancer also drops by half to ten years after smokers quit.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Tobacco is still the biggest cause of preventable death in Scotland but, by quitting smoking, people across West Dunbartonshire and Argyll can boost their health, wellbeing and personal finances.
“We are delighted Jackie Baillie MSP is backing our campaign to raise vital awareness of the free expert support offered by NHS Scotland’s Quit Your Way services which can improve the chances of quit smoking success by three to four times.”
Anyone who has the goal of giving up smoking is advised to contact QuitYourWay.scot or call the free helpline on 0800 848484.
Top of page: Jackie Baillie MSP with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Monica Lennon MSP and representatives of ASH Scotland at Holyrood.
Ah the trumpeted health benefits of stopping smoking. And there are health benefits, huge ones.
Smoking has gone down and like drunk driving the health message has gotten through. Now the vast majority of folk have got message, drunk driving kills, smoking kills, as does not wearing your seat belt.
But drink. There’s a thing. How many people drink way over the odds. Not just the wild alcoholic, but what about those that chronically drink too much, way to much
What’s the SG doing about that? Minimum prices now largely ineffective due tiered excise duties. Something like £21.00 duty pro rata to the proportion of alcohol in let us say a 4.1% beer, with thereafter VAT on top of the duty. Do the math and a half litre can of 4.5% beer has around £0.52 in the price of a £1.45 ca…
So how come a 0.3 ABV has a price equal or in fact more on the alcohol free beer?
Who’s ripping off who here? Quite honestly if our 4.5% beer has let us £0.52 alcohol duty – how is the AF not £0.52 less.
So much for the government regulating for health, encouraging low to no alcohol beers when it can cost more than its alcoholic counterparts.
But do the sums the next time you are in the supermarket. It’s just bull from Government