New campaign in Wiltshire to help people quit smoking
The 'What will I miss?' campaign is starting
Smokers in Wiltshire are being urged to think about what they could miss if they do not quit, as a new South West campaign gets underway.
The “What Will You Miss?” campaign is aimed at people in Wiltshire who smoke, encouraging them to make a quit attempt and access free local support.
It has launched with 100 days to go until the UK’s smokefree generation law comes into effect, on 1 January 2027.
From that date, anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never legally be sold tobacco. The law will not affect adults who currently smoke.
Across the South West, smoking causes around 6,600 deaths annually, the equivalent of about 18 lives every day.
The campaign, launched by Smokefree South West, will run across television, radio and social media, ahead of Stoptober.
At its centre is a film showing a bride on her wedding day, surrounded by family, but missing the person she most wanted there.
The message is that smoking does not just take years from life — it can take people away from the moments that matter most.
A survey of more than 1,600 people who smoke in the South West found many want to quit but struggle to take the next step. More than three-quarters had previously made a serious quit attempt, but only around one in eight felt very confident they could stop successfully.
Health Registrar, Eleanor Lyons, told Greatest Hits Radio: "So we understand that lots of people understand that smoking is harmful but often it's the personal things that motivate change.
"Such as seeing your grandchildren grow up, those family celebrations, major life events that you want to be there for."
Director of Public Health, Alison Bell, said: “The new smokefree generation law is an important step towards protecting future generations. But there are still more than 60,000 people in Somerset who smoke today, and this campaign is for them.
“Many people have tried to quit before or have been thinking about stopping for a long time. Every quit attempt is a positive step, and people are much more likely to succeed with the right support."
For support to quit smoking, visit https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/smokefree
Support includes one-to-one advice from trained practitioners and access to stop smoking treatments and approved vaping products.