Press Release 12-03-2007

Annual no smoking day - Smokers can drag back thousands of pounds

The 24th annual no-smoking day takes place on Wednesday 14th March.

The annual no-smoking day on 14th March will give smokers a great opportunity to kick the habit, before the public ban comes into force later this year, and save themselves thousands of pounds on their insurance in the meantime.

A no smoking ban in all enclosed public places - such as offices, factories, pubs and restaurants - will come into force across the whole of the UK between April and July 2007.

Research is expected to show that New York (2003), Ireland (2004) and Scotland (2006) experienced a fall in the number of smokers after a ban on smoking in public places was introduced.

Further good news is that insurance companies consider ex-smokers to be ‘non-smokers’ a year after they have given up.  Being classed as a non-smoker means that, for many types of policy such as Life Cover and Critical Illness Cover (CIC), premiums become around 50% less expensive, and so many people could still save money even if their policy has been in force for many years.

Typical rate table*

Source: www.lifesearch.co.uk

Kevin Carr, Head of Protection Strategy at Lifesearch, said: “Just about everyone realises the potential health benefits of giving up smoking and most appreciate the direct financial saving, but not many people realise how much they could save on their life insurance as well.”

The smoking ban is due to come into force across the UK on 2nd April (Wales), 30th April (Northern Ireland), 1st July (England). A Smoking ban in Scotland came into force on 26th March, 2006 and figures to show what effect the ban has had on the quit rate will be released later this month.

Notes to editors

* Quotes assume £100,000 of level term assurance over 30 years, good health, guaranteed premiums. Premiums correct as at March 2007.

A survey carried out by www.nosmokingday.org.uk on last year’s event showed that women were most likely to have tried to stop smoking on No Smoking Day with 17% of those aware of the day making a quit attempt compared to 16% of men. While quit attempts were highest among the 16-24 age group and 25% of those aware of the day in this age group tried to stop.

Bar staff in Scotland are now exposed to 86% less smoke following the introduction of the smoking ban, research has revealed. The study by Aberdeen University and the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh found that the air quality in pubs has massively improved and was now comparable with the outdoors.