Countdown to a green ‘Quitmas’ in Cheshire West and Chester

Monday, 24 October 2022 10:48

Stoptober may be drawing to a close, but help to stop smoking and cut the cost is available for residents in Cheshire West and Chester all year round.

For people looking to save money for Christmas, now is a good time to cut back on smoking and save hundreds of pounds for the festive season, while reducing the cost to the environment at the same time.

Cheshire West and Chester Council and its health and wellbeing provider Brio Leisure have been supporting this year’s Stoptober campaign, which sees thousands of smokers giving quitting a try each year.

Ruth Armstrong, Lead for Brio’s stop smoking service Go SmokeFree, said: “If you smoke 20 a day and try to quit, in a month you would save £381.90– by Christmas that would be £687.42! Make it a countdown to Quitmas this year and start your new year smokefree.

“We know that quitting is a lot easier said than done but just giving it a try is a big achievement, and every quit attempt will save you that bit more money.

“If you’ve tried to stop before, do not let that put you off trying again, and there’s a team on your doorstep who are here to help.

“People who come to the Go SmokeFree programme at Brio talk about how much better off it makes them, and not just financially of course – there are loads of physical and emotional benefits too.

“The team will help you every step of every journey that you try to become smoke free – we understand your challenges and have helped people through; we’re here to listen and give you the best tools you need to make your best attempt.”

As well as the more obvious financial and health costs, smoking also costs the environment.

A recent review into tobacco and the environment by public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) looked at the global impact of the smoking industry, including tobacco cultivation, drying, manufacturing, packaging and shipping.

This highlighted the high levels of natural resources used in all parts of the process, as well as the pollution, deforestation and reduction of soil quality caused by tobacco cultivation. It also looked at the impact of cigarette butt littering, with smoking-related litter making up 6 tonnes of discarded street litter in Cheshire West every year.

Cllr Louise Gittins, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Leader and Cabinet Member for Poverty and Wellbeing, said: “The costs of smoking to your health, your money and the environment are clear.

“We know this winter will be tough on many families in the borough but, if trying to stop smoking will make a difference in your household, then free support is available to help you give it your best shot.”

For more information about the Cheshire West and Chester stop smoking service and how to access support visit:

cheshirechangehub.org

...or call 0300 777 0033

Tobacco and the Environment information: Tobacco and the Environment - ASH

Support is available to residents struggling with the rising cost of living:

Cost of living support | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Live Well Cheshire West

Help in Emergencies for Local People (HELP)]

Tel: 0300 123 7065

Ruth Armstrong, Lead for Brio’s stop smoking service GoSmokefree, has been answering questions about quitting. For her videos visit:

Why try quitting?

https://youtu.be/otkz65-uT6E