"Stoptober" anti-smoking campaign launched by Government (UK)

Britain's eight million smokers will be encouraged to kick the habit for 28 days from October 1 as part of Stoptober, the Department of Health announced. England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said it was the first time that the Government had launched a "mass quit attempt". The initiative, backed by Cancer Research UK and British Heart Foundation, will involve television and radio adverts, a daily messaging service and roadshows around the country. Professor Dame Sally Davies said: "Smoking is still the biggest cause of premature death in England, taking more than 100,000 lives in the UK every year. "This is the first time that we have launched a mass quit attempt like Stoptober and would encourage people who want to quit to get involved."