Government launches second-hand smoke ad campaign

A national advertising campaign called the "invisible killer" warning about the effects of second-hand smoke is being launched by the government.

The TV commercial which will start broadcasting on Monday (March 5) will be supported by press, online and outdoor advertising.

In the TV advert, dark smoke curls around guests at a wedding reception revealing the actual amount of smoke emitted by a single cigarette.

Launching the new campaign Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said: "Smoking is harmful not just to smokers but to the people around them.

"What this new campaign brings home very clearly is the full impact of second-hand smoke.

"Eighty-five per cent of smoke may be invisible and odourless but it is still damaging people's health.

"Wafting and blowing away smoke may seem like the right thing to do but in reality, it makes little difference to the amount of secondhand smoke inhaled by people around you.

"With England going smoke-free on July 1, there has never been a better time to stop smoking. We have already exceeded our three-year target to help 800,000 people quit by 2005/06, and still more and more people are successfully kicking the habit."

Professor Jarvis, University College London said: "Children are particularly affected by breathing the poisons in secondhand tobacco smoke, because their bodies are still developing.

"Their bronchial tubes and lungs are smaller and immune systems less developed, making them more vulnerable to the toxins in smoke.

"Despite smokers' efforts to blow their smoke away, or to not sit near children, they are still causing harm. People need to see second-hand smoke for the invisible killer that it is."

The ads will run until April 8 coinciding with National No Smoking Day on Wednesday March 14. For more information visit: www. nosmokingday.org.uk