Smoking

It is a fact that smoking whilst drinking when out socially will soon be a pursuit of the past. Scotland has now decided to go for a total ban on smoking in public buildings doing so proves it is hot on the heels of Ireland's pioneering anti-tobacco stance. Licensees that offend will have their licenses taken away and publicans or employers will face a fine of up to £2,500 if they fail to enforce the law.

The same can be expected for England and Wales within the next four years with only private clubs being able to offer its members a vote as to whether to go for a ban or not. Smoking will be banned completely in restaurants and offices with a partial ban in pubs.

When considering life insurance cover it is worth remembering that the one habit guaranteed to increase your monthly premiums is smoking. The shocking truth is that approximately half of all life-long smokers will die of smoking-related diseases. The risk of developing coronary heart disease doubles and for those under 50 the risk is around ten times greater than for non-smokers of the same age. The good news is that for those who do manage to quit, it has an almost immediate benefit.

Around 30,000 people in the UK die each year from lung cancer. It is estimated that 8 out of 10 cases are related to smoking. Although it isn't just lung cancer that is caused by smoking, many more smokers suffer from cancers of the mouth, nose and throat than non smokers. Heart disease is the biggest killing illness in the UK. It is estimated that 120,000 people in the UK die each year from heart disease. About 1 in 7 of these deaths is due to smoking. If all isn't bad enough it's worth taking note that smoking ages the skin and can cause impotence. So it should not came as a surprise that when they apply for a Health Insurance Plan their premiums will often be double those of non-smoking status.