now the figures show a 6 percent drop to 15 percent

New York City which recently launched some of the world's most successful antismoking campaigns have announced that the number of people smoking in the city has now dropped to the lowest level since records began. The New York City Health Department said there are now 350,000 less smokers in New York compared to 2002 when they first started to keep records.

In 2002 the statistics showed that 21 percent were smokers but now the figures show a 6 percent drop to 15 percent. New York antismoking campaigners say the big investments in advertising campaigns which highlighted the dangers of smoking were particularly effective, but probably the biggest impact was the Smoke Free Air Act of 2002 which banned smoking in public places and made it extremely difficult for existing smokers to continue their habit.

Legislation and advertising are probably the two most effective tools to get people to quit smoking. Smoking cessation medications such as Champix is also effective but governments and legislators must be part of the equation to help people to give up.

The fact that smoking is banned in public places makes it so much easier for addicted smokers to forget about their habit when they are in a restaurant or bars which are known to be triggers to start smoking again. Living in a city where smoking is banned in public places could make the difference between you being able to quit or not.

If you live in a place where smoking is allowed in public places you should lobby your government to prevent this happening and point out New York as an example of how effective smoking bans are. As an ex smoker you will find going out much more pleasant and even existing smokers often support smoking bans because they say it makes them smoke less.