Government to unveil smoking curbs

[super jumbe]

The Government is expected to unveil proposals later that will force tobacco companies to sell cigarettes in plain, unbranded packaging.

Under the guidelines, packets will lose their logos, graphics and distinctive colours, leaving health warningsas the most noticeable marking.
The move, which is designed to drive down smoking rates, will make England the first country in Europe to have plain packaging. Ministers hope it will make cigarettes less alluring to the estimated 200,000 teenagers who take up smoking each year.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is expected to publish the tobacco control plan to coincide with national No Smoking Day.
The Government is also said to be considering whether to implement a ban on displaying cigarettes in shops, worrying shop owners, who fear that newsagents and convenience stores will face significant extra costs if restrictions on cigarette sales are imposed.
Both steps have been under discussion for a number of years with legislation to ban the display of tobacco products put in place by the previous Labour government.

[Snowy79]

Something does need to be done about Tobaco. I know it pumps money into the economy indirectly but the companies aren't stupid. Most of the money goes off shore and is paid out in dividends so they don't pay that much tax.

We're all aware of the health affects and I understand if someone wants to damage their own health good luck to them. I think they don't fully understand the implications of what it can do.

I've had the pleasure of sitting by my Mothers and Fathers bed as they died of smoking related illnessess. My Mother was fortunate in that it took just over 5 years to kill her. My Father it took about 20 years. He had a stroke first which left him practicaly paralysed but with a sharp mind. Imagine being tied to a chair for a day never mind 20 years then in your last couple of weeks your lungs slowly filling up with fluids until your heart eventualy packs in due to the strain. I've also been in the bed next to a smoker in hospital who was being kept alive by a machine pumping pure oxygen into her. The Doctor had pulled a curtain around her and was explaining to her that the machine would only work for a week or two at the most as her lungs were too far damaged by smoking and to make plans to die soon. He even offered a little injection to make it easier on her when the time came. F-Kin ell.

The smoking ban in public places is already making a big difference to public health and I can see us going the way of Canada in that smoking in public will be practicaly outlawed.

[Shady]

I think they don't fully understand the implications of what it can do.

I

i do..it makes me look hard and is cool

[GastonJ]

Get ready to make up for the shortfall in revenue that was generated by tobacco tax...

[tshirtman]

I think they don't fully understand the implications of what it can do.

I fully understand what the dangers of smoking are, my mother also died of a smoking related disease, but I still smoke


I've had the pleasure of sitting by my Mothers and Fathers bed as they died of smoking related illnessess.

Don't you mean "had the displeasure"


I don't see what difference this will make, I don't think people choose to smoke because of the colour of a packet

[GastonJ]

After so long smoking there is no pleasure. Smoking is so addictive that it's very difficult not to smoke, so no matter what they do, or how much duty is imposed, people will smoke. It's probably more addictive than most drugs.

[Grizz]

i started smoking a bit of hash i was maybe 17, using tobacco as a filler. they were right, it is a gateway drug. it gated me straight onto tobacco, something that is actually dangerous. wish it had led me on to heroin or something, would be cheaper habit

[maca]

Is it true it takes almost 5 years for the affects of smoking to leave your body completly ?????

[RSwire]

I've been smoking for 20+ years, I wouldn't care if it came in a brown paper bag, I'd still buy it and smoke it.

[GastonJ]

Is it true it takes almost 5 years for the affects of smoking to leave your body completly ?????

From mates who've given up smoking it never really leaves you. I know one guy who stopped 15 years ago, he decided that he could never 'just have one' because he knew once he had that one he'd be back on 20 or 30 a day. Sorry this is going to be long and pasted....

As you can see the benefits are pretty much immediate....

20 minutes
Your blood pressure, pulse rate, and the temperature of your hands and feet will all return to normal.
8 hours
Remaining nicotine in your bloodstream will have fallen to 6.25% of normal peak daily levels, a 93.25% reduction.
12 hours
Your blood oxygen level will have increased to normal and carbon monoxide levels will have dropped to normal.
24 hours
Anxieties peak in intensity and within two weeks should return to near pre-cessation levels.
48 hours
Damaged nerve endings have started to regrow and your sense of smell and taste are beginning to return to normal. Cessation anger and irritability peaks.
72 hours
Your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine metabolites (the chemicals it breaks down into) will now have passed from your body via your urine. Symptoms of chemical withdrawal have peaked in intensity, including restlessness. The number of cue induced crave episodes experienced during any quitting day will peak for the "average" ex-user. Lung bronchial tubes leading to air sacs (alveoli) are beginning to relax in recovering smokers. Breathing is becoming easier and the lungs functional abilities are starting to increase.
5 - 8 days
The "average" ex-smoker will encounter an "average" of three cue induced crave episodes per day. Although we may not be "average" and although serious cessation time distortion can make minutes feel like hours, it is unlikely that any single episode will last longer than 3 minutes. Keep a clock handy and time them.
10 days
10 days - The "average ex-user is down to encountering less than two crave episodes per day, each less than 3 minutes.
10 days to 2 weeks
Recovery has likely progressed to the point where your addiction is no longer doing the talking. Blood circulation in our gums and teeth are now similar to that of a non-user.
2 to 4 weeks
Cessation related anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, impatience, insomnia, restlessness and depression have ended. If still experiencing any of these symptoms get seen and evaluated by your physician.
21 days
Brain acetylcholine receptor counts up-regulated in response to nicotine's presence have now down-regulated and receptor binding has returned to levels seen in the brains of non-smokers.
2 weeks to 3 months
Your heart attack risk has started to drop. Your lung function is beginning to improve.
3 weeks to 3 months
Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared.
1 to 9 months
Any smoking related sinus congestion, fatigue or shortness of breath have decreased. Cilia have regrown in your lungs thereby increasing their ability to handle mucus, keep your lungs clean, and reduce infections. Your body's overall energy has increased.
1 year
Your excess risk of coronary heart disease has dropped to less than half that of a smoker.
5 to 15 years
Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker.
10 years
Your risk of death from lung cancer has declined by almost half if you were an average smoker (one pack per day). Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus has now decreased.
13 years
Your risk of smoking induced tooth loss has declined to that of a never-smoker (2006 study).
15 years
Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked.
20 years
Female excess risk of death from all smoking related causes, including lung disease and cancer, has now reduced to that of a never-smoker (2008 study).

[Snowy79]

And don't forget you will no longer smell of cats piss and twigglets.

[GastonJ]

Can I ask how you know what cats and twigglets smell like? I'm curious like that

[Snowy79]

Years of hanging around smokers

Can I ask how you know what cats and twigglets smell like? I'm curious like that

[maca]

I've been smoking for 20+ years, I wouldn't care if it came in a brown paper bag, I'd still buy it and smoke it.

Ah m8 dont get me wrong there are still times when i could kill for a smoke i just packed in through personal choice and have no grudges what so ever against people who smoke

[reddevil157]

Same as that maca, I'm off them nearly 7 years now, decided to give up before my son was born as they are so addictive and didn't want to be smoking around him. But I too realise how hard it was to kick the habit and so would not moan about others smoking. My old man died at the ripe old age of 79, he smoked about 150 or more per week " Woodbines " worst of them all I think. Personally I think the docs blame smoking for everything, or maybe my dad was a lucky coont to last so long...