Facts & Figures to break free
To a healthier body
You don't have to wait long for the benefits to start once you stop smoking
After
- 20 minutes: your blood pressure and pulse return to normal
- 24 hours: carbon monoxide will be eliminated from your body and your lungs will have started to clear out the tar that's been clogging them up
To a healthier bank balance
The financial benefits of stopping soon add up too
After
- 1 day: £5.80* = a movie rental or a few magazines
- 1 month: £176* = a shopping spree or the monthly food bill
- 1 year: £2,111* = a second-hand car or the start of a deposit for a house
*Please note: these figures are based on a 20-a-day smoker paying £5.80 per packet of 20 cigarettes.
Other benefits
There are other benefits you can look forward to:
- Look younger for longer
Quitting smoking can help you avoid premature ageing - A better sense of taste and smell
Rediscover the taste of your favourite foods as your taste buds kick in - More time
It takes about ten minutes to smoke a cigarette, so a ten-a-day smoker can save nearly two hours a day when they quit. Over the course of a year, you can claim back a month of lost time!
Smoking statistics
Did you know…
- There are about 9.4 million* smokers in UK - that is about a sixth of total UK population
- Smoking is highest among 20-24 year olds - 32% of men and 30% of women smoke
- Two-thirds of smokers start before age 18.
- Smoking rates are markedly higher among poorer people. In 2006, 16% of men in higher managerial occupations smoked, compared with 29% in routine occupations
*Figures from General Household Survey 2007 and Northern Ireland data 2007-8
Click here to download the full guide 
Facts and figures.doc (199K)
If you have any specific queries don't hesitate to contact the No Smoking
Day press office.