There's never been a better time to stop

From 1 October 2007 it will be illegal to sell tobacco products (including rolling papers, tobacco, cigarettes etc.) to anyone aged under 18.

Over 18 year olds will still be able to buy cigarettes, but most shops will be asking for ID to make sure they don't sell to underage people in error.

There's no point blaming the shops. If they're caught selling cigarettes to under 18s, they face a £2,500 fine.

Cigarettes are expensive, addictive and very bad for you. And now, if you're under 18, it's illegal even to buy them.

Let's face it, it's time to quit smoking.

Why Quit?

Most addicted adult smokers began smoking as teenagers. This opens them up to a (shortened) lifetime of health risks.

• A lifelong smoker has a one in two chance of their addiction killing them.
• The younger a smoker starts the more likely they are to be killed by their addiction.
• The earlier children become regular smokers and continue to smoke as adults, the greater the risk of developing lung cancer or heart disease.
• Someone who starts smoking at 15 is three times as likely to die from cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their mid-20s.

But will I be able to quit?

Yes. Anyone can quit smoking. It's hard, though, so you'll need all the help you can get. Here's what you can do:

• Work through the Giving up Smoking Guide on Spired.com
• Talk to your Youth Worker, Connexions worker, School Health Nurse or Doctor about getting help to quit smoking

Got a story to share?

Want to tell us how you quit? Email giveupsmoking@spired.com.