SMOKERS continued to light up in Albury’s main street yesterday despite World No Tobacco Day.
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In a brief stroll down Dean Street, The Border Mail found smokers were blissfully unaware of the campaign urging them to quit.
Even after it was brought to their attention, those who have formed the habit over a number of years were reluctant to give it up just for the day.
“I’ve been smoking for too long now,” Albury’s Jarvis Godwin said.
“I’ve tried to quit before, but I didn’t go too well.
“I think it’s about having something in your hand and smoking all the time.
“You get out of bed and you have a cup of coffee, or you get out of bed and you have a cigarette.
“I don’t even remember the reason why I started smoking, but that’s kind of it.”
James Burge, of Albury, said World No Tobacco Day would have little impact on his decision to smoke.
“It’s a habit that I’ve grown to accept and a lifestyle,” he said.
But Lauren Leseberg, who smokes five to eight cigarettes a day, said she was encouraged by the campaign which this year drew attention to advertising targeting women and girls.
“I’ve got my Nicorette inhaler, I would have used that,” she said.
“If I know it’s one of those days, I don’t think I’ll light up again.”
Ms Leseberg, also of Albury, yesterday supported claims by the Cancer Institute NSW that smoking is no longer the social norm.
“People’s expressions make you feel uncomfortable and you don’t want to do it,” she said.
“Even the laws like not smoking in cars with children, and raising of cigarette prices, it’s just making everyone more aware that smoking is not such an acceptable thing and it is a drug that kills eventually.”
Greater Southern Area Health Service also encouraged smokers to quit for good, promote health and save money as part of World No Tobacco Day.
Health development tobacco co-ordinator Brendan Pearson said for many years, the tobacco industry had developed advertising campaigns and created products targeting women.
“Low tar and light products carry the same level of harm to health,” he said.
“I encourage all smokers to consider quitting this World No Tobacco Day and call the Quitline on 13 78 48.”