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LONDON, Mar 12 (Reuters) - If the fear of lung cancer, heart disease or premature death isn't enough incentive to give up tobacco, smokers should consider the financial advantages, British researchers said Saturday.
Smoking is an expensive habit, particularly in Britain.
A pack of 20 Benson & Hedges costs 4.33 pounds ($6.30) in Britain, compared to about $5 in the United States and less than two pounds ($3) in France, Spain, Italy or Belgium.
If Britons who smoke a pack a day quit for a year they could boost their bank balance by 1,500 pounds ($2,200).
"Even 10 a day is costing a substantial amount of money," Dr. Mike Murphy, of Britain's Imperial Cancer Research fund, told Reuters.
The high price of cigarettes has resulted in a lucrative trade in cigarette smuggling. British customs officials say up to a quarter of cigarettes smoked by Britons are smuggled. But for smokers paying the normal price, stopping for just two weeks would cover the cost of two top price London theater tickets.
Savings from two months would pay for a weekend for two at a health spa and six months without cigarettes could cover the costs of a DVD player. If Britons stopped for a year they could celebrate with two return tickets to Australia.
"But your health will benefit even more," said Murphy, whose research team at the research charity compiled the figures ahead of No Smoking Day on March 14.
"Smoking causes one in three deaths from cancer in the UK and every cigarette smoked shortens your life by around 11 minutes," he added.
Murphy and his team, who are researching the genetic factors that may influence tobacco dependence, believe treatments in the future could be tailored to help smokers quit, which they acknowledge is not easy.
But they said it is never too late to stop, regardless of how long a person has been smoking. Research has shown that smokers who stop before their 35th birthday avoid almost all of the risk of developing cancer and other diseases.
Quitting before the age of 50 reduces the risk by more than half.
"Getting existing smokers to give up will make more of a difference over the next 20-30 years than concentrating our efforts on stopping people who might take up the habit. Smoking is a leading cause of cancer and mortality," said Murphy.
"The fact remains that the sooner you give up, the better the benefits for your health and your wealth," he added.
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