New campaign says smoking isn’t sexy
The Government has launched a new anti-smoking campaign, which attempts to hammer home the message that smoking is not sexy.
The campaign highlights how smoking can make individuals less attractive and turn men impotent.
Using slogans such as “does smoking make you hard? Not if it means you can’t get it up” and “If you smoke, you stink”, the focus of the campaign is the result of an NHS Smoking Helpline survey which found that two-thirds of young men and women, and one in two smokers, would kick the habit if it improved their sex appeal.
Commenting on the campaign, Public Health Minister Caroline Flint, said: “A key part of our drive to reduce overall smoking prevalence is getting the message to harder-to-reach young adult audiences.
“We know 70 per cent of smokers want to stop smoking; however, with younger people, fears about attractiveness and fertility can be a stronger motivation to quit than fears about health.”
Ms Flint added she hopes the strong messages contained in the campaign encouraged young smokers to quit and for good.
The Government estimates that male smokers in the 30s and 40s stand a 50 per cent increased risk of erectile dysfunction.
