It’s no smoking matter!

The smoking ban came into force on the 1st July 2007 in the UK, and since then the popularity of smoking has dropped significantly.

The decrease in smoking

  1. In 1974 – 51% of men, and 41% of women smoked in the UK, nearly half of the population
  2. In 2014 – 10 million adults smoke in the UK, this is about a sixth of the population

Back in the 1950’s and 60’s, smoking was seen to be a cool thing to do. It is no wonder with billboard adverts that included health professionals such as doctors and dentists, saying “As your dentist I would recommend Viceroys cigarettes!” and “More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette brand!”

Obviously attitudes towards smoking have changed vastly since then, with the dangers to health being common knowledge nationwide. We are constantly reminded of this in the media with explicit graphical imagery and health warnings on cigarette packets, billboards, and the television. Contrast this to in the 50’s when nobody would even think twice about lighting a cigarette in the workplace! Try that today and you would be hung out to dry!

That being said, if you need help providing the smokers within your workforce with a place to seek shelter while having a cigarette, then take a look at Western Industrial Products online store, WI Products. You’ll be able to shop for a wide range of ‘smoker’ related products, such as smoking shelters, ash bins and benches!

Article compiled by: Laura Pay-Savage

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