68% of Irish smokers claim socialising is the main cause for increase in smoking

Dublin, Sunday 15th January, 2012

New research by Aviva Health Insurance: 68% of Irish smokers claim socialising is the main cause for increase in smoking.

Participant in the Aviva Get Fit Action Plan and former contestant on Masterchef Ireland Pierce Maher aims to kick the habit

New research carried out on behalf of Aviva Health Insurance has revealed that 68%* of Irish smokers claim an increase in socialising as the reason for smoking more during the Christmas period. In addition, over half (56%*) of Irish smokers are planning to quit the habit in the New Year during Lung Cancer Awareness Month, with one fifth (20%*) of all people surveyed admitting to smoking either full-time or part-time.

Statistics from the Aviva research also showed that more than half of smokers (55%*) smoked more than usual over the Christmas period, with 40%* admitting that they would smoke a full pack or more than they would in a normal week over the Christmas break. Meanwhile, 37%* stated “I have more free time” as the reason for the increase in smoking and 33%* as “It’s outside my normal routine”, while other reasons included “No work restrictions”, “Boredom” and “I’m treating myself”. With routine back on the agenda, tighter budgets and less emphasis on socialising, January appears to be the ideal time for many smokers to reevaluate why they smoke and give up the habit in the New Year.

Recent figures from the Office of Tobacco Control show that while there has been a decline in smoking in Ireland since the introduction of the work-place smoking ban, 23.6%** of Irish people still smoke. The research also shows that a higher percentage of men (25%**) are smokers, with 22.2%**  female smokers.  Furthermore, the ongoing trend of young smokers remains, with smoking rates the highest (30%**) between 25-34 year olds.

Aviva recently launched the Get Fit Action Plan with former RTE Masterchef Ireland contestant and Dad, Pierce Maher, from Wexford who is determined to kick his smoking habit and start reaping the benefits of quitting with the help of the Allen Carr ‘Easyway to Stop Smoking’ Programme. “I am 100% committed to the Aviva Get Fit Action Plan so I have decided to give up smoking and so has my wife Marilee”, said Pierce Maher. “I have been a social smoker for seven years but didn’t realise I was an addict until I went to the Allen Carr seminar and they explained that I was addicted in the same way as Marilee who smokes 20 per day. We knew that if we both wanted to be fit and healthy for ourselves and our seven-year-old son we had to make a change, and know that having taken part in the Allen Carr ‘Easyway to Stop Smoking’ Programme we have taken a huge step in achieving this goal.”

Commenting on the research, GP on Aviva’s Medical Council, Dr Stephen Murphy said, “If you are a smoker, it is important to understand the impact that your habit is having on your health. Smoking not only increases your risk of cancer but it also affects your cardio-vascular system, making your blood clot more easily. In the long-term this can lead to a blocked artery in your heart or your brain that can cause a heart attack or stroke. New figures issued by the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) are also showing that lung cancer has overtaken breast cancer as the main cause of cancer death in women by 6%***. The New Year is a great opportunity to make a change so I would encourage anyone thinking of quitting in 2012 to stick with it and your body will reap the benefits now and in years to come.”
He added, “I would urge people to complete Aviva’s new online health check called ‘Aviva Way to Health’ available at www.avivahealth.ie to make a first step for a healthier 2012.”

To be in with a chance to win a free Allen Carr ‘Easyway to Stop Smoking’ session, check -out Aviva’s facebook page www.facebook.com/avivaireland this week4. Aviva is the first and only health insurer to offer members a discount on the Allen Carr ‘Easyway to Stop Smoking’ programme to help Aviva members give up smoking so they can improve their health and quality of life. Aviva members are entitled to a €70 discount on the Allen Carr ‘Easyway to Stop Smoking’ programme, for more information please ring 01 499 9010 *.

Aviva Health Insurance offers the following top tips to help people stop smoking:

• Drink lots of water to help cleanse your body and try to avoid or limit coffee, sugary drinks and alcohol as they can increase your urge to smoke
• Try to go to bed earlier and get more rest
• Distract yourself – if you feel a craving coming talk to someone, start a new task or take some deep breaths to focus your mind on something else
• Change your habit – try going to work on a different route, eating breakfast in a different place or getting up from the table straight after eating
• Exercise regularly and moderately, even just a 20 minute walk every day can give you a much needed energy boost
• Avoid sugar and fatty foods – there is no good giving up smoking if you are going to let other parts of your health deteriorate
• And finally, whenever you feel yourself slipping remember why you are quitting and rely on your friends, family or even a support group for help – it’s what they are there for.

* For details on the next Allen Carr ‘Easyway to Stop Smoking’ seminar in your area please visit: www.allencarr.ie or lo-call 1890 37 99 29 or 01 499 9010. To avail of this discount you must advise that you are an Aviva member when booking and present your Aviva membership card when attending and the discount will be applied. Aviva health members can access this fantastic benefit as soon as they join. Full cost of the session is €320 but Aviva health members only pay €250.

References

* Empathy Research. Aviva Get Fit Action Plan. Research carried out December 2011.

** Office of Tobacco Control. www.OTC.ie/research

*** Cancer in Ireland 2011: Annual report of the National Cancer Registry. Page 3.

**** Facebook competition runs from Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd January 2012.

Notes to the Editor:

• The Aviva Get Fit Action Plan research was carried out between 7th – 9th December 2011 by Empathy Research, and included 1,008 participants.  The survey was carried out using OmnibuzzŠ among members of the Empathy Research IdeasPanel aged 18+.
• Participants in the Aviva Get Fit Action Plan 2012 include:

Celebrities

• Sarah McGovern, new mum and model
• Mairead Farrell, Radio and TV Presenter
• Henry McKean , Newstalk Presenter and Reporter
• Pierce Maher, busy dad and former contestant on Masterchef Ireland

Experts

• Emma Buckley, Nutritionist
• Alan Murphy and Edyta Bartejczuk-Wolak, fitness gurus with Fitsquad
• Enda McNulty, Motivational Coach and Performance Psychologist
• Dr Stephen Murphy, GP on Aviva’s Medical Council
   
• Members of the public can participate in the Get Fit Action Plan by taking Aviva’s new online health check, the Aviva Way to Health, online at avivahealth.ie
• For further information on the Aviva Get Fit Action Plan log onto avivahealth.ie or check us out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/avivaireland)

For further information or media queries please contact:
Iris Cribbin, Fleishman-Hillard, 01 618 8439 / 087 414 2881 or iris.cribbin@fleishmaneurope.com
Pia Ward, Fleishman-Hillard, 01 618 8438 / 087 932 7702 or pia.ward@fleishmaneurope.com

About Allen Carr’s Easyway
Since the opening of the Irish Clinics in 1998, Allen Carr’s Easyway has helped over 20,000 people to stop smoking in Ireland. The genius of Allen Carr’s method is that it undoes the brainwashing associated with smoking. Easyway is instantaneous and easy.

The therapy lasts for five hours and the clinics offer a three month money back guarantee so you have nothing to lose and so much to gain, better health, more money in your pocket but most of all freedom from nicotine addiction. The Easyway clinics are held in Dublin and Cork and also offer a corporate service.

About Aviva Health Insurance Ireland Limited
Aviva Health Insurance Ireland Limited is Ireland’s fastest growing private health insurer. Aviva Health Insurance Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.