New 'ex-smokers are unstoppable' campaign
Breda Flood, President of EFA, has been invited to become a member of the steering group for a new European Commission campaign entitled 'Ex-smokers are unstoppable'. The campaign was launched by the EC DG for Health and Consumers (SANCO) on the 16th of June this year, in order to encourage young adults in the EU – especially young males in the 25 to 34 age group – to stop smoking. The campaign is the successor to a previous EU initiative "HELP - For a life without tobacco" which ran for five years from 2005.
It will be the first initiative of its kind to shift the focus from the dangers of smoking to the advantages of quitting, using ex-smokers and their achievements as inspiring role models. In this way it will attempt to move away from traditional anti-smoking messages – which tend to be negative and focus on dangers – and emphasize the benefits of a smoke-free life.
The Steering Group which Breda will join will play an advisory role in the campaign, and help direct the programme as it moves forward and continues into its next phase. The group's first meeting will take place on Monday 17th of October Brussels.