England Approaches Total Smoking Ban

As we approach the total ban on smoking in enclosed public places in England on July 1st I am more glad than ever that I gave up when I did. One of the things I always enjoyed as a smoker was having a few beers accompanied by a few cigarettes. The two went together like a comfortable pair of gloves for many years and it would have been very difficult to have them separated against my will.

Obviously, there will be many (if not most) smokers who disagree with the ban, but I believe it is a very worthwhile cause. Besides reducing the damage done by passive smoking, it is also a great help to those ex-smokers, like myself, who occasionally suffer a reduction in will power and are tempted to light up - 'out of sight, out of mind' can be a very appropriate phrase at such times.

My advice to smokers in England, and especially those who would like to quit the habit, is to use July 1st as a target date for stopping. It's not impossible (as I can testify), and the added advantage of not being surrounded by smokers in public places will really help in my opinion.

I personally, along with many many others, will celebrate the total ban on smoking and enjoy the cleaner air in pubs and other enclosed public places - and remember; it was less than 18 months ago that I was myself a helpless nicotine addict!

Quit smoking on July 1st - you will never live to regret it.