One third smokers ruin other people's quitting attempts

Every third smokers has confessed sabotaging another person's attempt to quit smoking, says a study conducted by a pharmaceutical major.

The reasons to spoil other people's quitting efforts include jealousy, guilt about their own habit and desire to have a smoking "buddy".

Pharma giant Pfizer collected data from 6,300 current and former smokers and found that 31 per cent of smokers have spoilt the quitting efforts of another person?s. The study also concludes that 72 per cent of smokers who have tried to quit thought that someone has soiled their quitting attempts.

In general most of the smokers have tried to kick the habit at least three times. One in five said they had made four or more attempts.

"Beating a smoking addiction is hard enough without the negative influence of others around you casting doubt," London-based GP Sarah Jarvis has been quoted saying in the Daily Telegraph.

"I want those who are motivated to give up smoking to be aware that they don't have to go it alone and that there is support available.

"Even a brief conversation with their healthcare professional ... can increase their chances of success by up to four times, compared with going cold turkey," she said.

--with inputs from ANI