People in the West Midlands hoping for Leap Year marriage proposals today may be disappointed to learn that their chance of hearing the special question falls dramatically if they smoke.
Survey findings released as part of the No Smoking Day campaign show over three quarters (76%) of people in the West Midlands would like a smoke-free partner. 49 per cent explicitly said they’d think twice about getting married if their partner smoked, and over half (51%) would think twice about having children with a smoker.
Fortunately all smokers in the West Midlands are guaranteed a Leap Year proposal today, as they’re being asked to ‘take the leap’ and get ready to quit on No Smoking Day on March 14.
Vishnee Sauntoo, a smoking cessation adviser who now works on the No Smoking Day campaign, said: “Smoking is a real turn off when it comes to love and romance, so we’re hoping our more unusual Leap Year proposal will increase the West Midlands’ chance of saying ‘I do’ as well as improving people’s health.
“By taking the leap today if you smoke and promising to quit on No Smoking Day, you’ll have two weeks to see your GP or a local stop smoking adviser, tell your family and friends you’re quitting and stock up on patches, gum and anything else you might need. What’s more, you’ll be joining hundreds of thousands of other people quitting at the same time. The benefits of quitting are enormous, so whatever the state of your love life, this proposal is bound to help you live happily ever after.”
One in five UK adults smokes, including 22 per cent of people in the West Midlands, however 63 per cent of UK adults say they want to quit. Each year, the No Smoking Day campaign is responsible for helping more than 750,000 people across the UK attempt to quit on the day, and for inspiring another two million to seek out information to help them quit in future.
Stopping smoking is the single best thing you can do for your own health as well as those you love and live with. Quitting also makes you look better by improving your skin and teeth and it helps your finances too with smokers saving on average more than £2,300 a year if they quit.
Smokers who want to find out more can visit www.taketheleap.co.uk or call 0800 434 6677.
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2168 adults of whom 171 were based in the West Midlands. Fieldwork was undertaken between 18th – 20th January 2012. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
