Portsmouth service offering free expert smoking support for 'Stoptober'
It'll be available to residents via phone or through drop-in sessions
Portsmouth City Council's Wellbeing Service is offering free expert support this October to help people in the city to quit smoking for 'Stoptober'.
The free support will be available to residents via telephone or through drop-ins at venues across the city.
The Wellbeing Service team will be offering advice and can arrange for stop smoking products, medication, or for those over the age of 18, a free vape kit.
Helen Atkinson, Director of Public Health at Portsmouth City Council, said: "Smoking remains one of the biggest causes of preventable illness and early death, which is why this legislation is such an important step forward.
"The Smokefree Generation will help protect children and young people from the harms of tobacco and reduce the likelihood of future generations becoming addicted to smoking in the first place.”
In Portsmouth, 12.7% of people currently smoke, which is worse than the England average.
It's hoped smoking rates will fall through the introduction of the Smokefree Generation policy, which will help prevent young people from ever taking up smoking in the first place.
Over 10,000 quit attempts have been supported by this service so far and it's been running for a decade.
From 1 January 2027, it will be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. The age of sale will then increase by one year every year, eventually phasing out the sale of tobacco across the UK.
66% of people in the South East support the policy, highlighting the strength of public backing for action to prevent children from the harms of tobacco.
74% of people who have ever smoked say that if they could go back in time, they would not start smoking.
The new policy hopes to help around four million young people to keep away from tobacco within the next five years.