Treasury Illuminated With Giant Cigarette Ahead of Budget

LONDON, March 12/PRNewswire/ --

- With Photo.

Cigarettes are set to be hit with another rise in tobacco duty
during today's Budget. The Budget announcement coincides with the 25th annual
No Smoking Day, which takes place today (12 March).

To mark the event, the No Smoking Day charity has released new
research showing almost one in five smokers plan to stop today(i). Studies
show the rising cost of smoking is proving a key factor in triggering quit
attempts.

This year's campaign, The Great No Smoking Day Challenge, sees events
taking place across the UK, with local stop smoking services, employers, GPs
and others providing support and advice to those that are ready to stop.

Notes to editors

- (i) Research conducted by YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,126
adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 21st - 25th February 2008. The
survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are
representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

- To download the 'Beat the Budget' photograph, visit
http://www.nosmokingday.org.uk/budget or contact the No Smoking Day campaign
office (details below).

- Case studies of celebrity and real-life quitters are available from the
No Smoking Day campaign team (details below).

- To access the full No Smoking Day press release, including the latest
research on the impact of smokefree legislation and the number of smokers
planning to quit, visit http://www.nosmokingday.org.uk/budget.

- No Smoking Day is the UK's leading public health campaign, helping
people who want to quit. This year's event, The Great No Smoking Day
Challenge, marks the 25th annual campaign.

- ISDN line available for interviews.

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA
Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or
viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or

http://www.nosmokingday.org.uk

Source: No Smoking Day

Contact For further information, contact Vishnee Sauntoo, Campaign Manager or Joyce Chia, Campaign Officer on +44(0)20-7739-5110 or email: vishnee@nosmokingday.org.uk. Out of office press mobile: +44(0)7770-657-241

2008-03-11 19:03:21 0310175 PRNEWSWIRE