UK: LGBT community urged to give up cigarettes as part of No Smoking Day
With figures showing LGBT people are more likely to smoke compared to heterosexuals, LGBT smokers are being encouraged to quit in order to reap the financial benefits.
According to the British Heart Foundation, quitting the habit could save up to £2,555 a year.
36% of British gay men smoke, much higher than the national average of 20%.
Research also shows gay men start smoking earlier and smoke for longer than smokers in the general UK population.
Vishnee Sauntoo, a smoking cessation adviser said: “By tallying up the exact amount of money that could be saved, smokers can work towards an actual goal – be it a new pair of shoes, a house makeover or a dream holiday.
“No Smoking Day provides the perfect opportunity to join 750,000 others attempting to quit on the same day and we are urging smokers in the LGBT community to ditch their cigarettes for good by taking part in the biggest single quit day in the UK.”
Barrie Dwyer, project manager at gay men’s health charity GMFA said: “Sadly, smoking is much more common amongst the LGBT community than the general population in the UK. And this means that the ill health and deaths that are attributable to smoking are higher in our community too.”
Approximately 10 million UK adults smoke but about two thirds say they want to give up.
