Today more and more companies are getting into Corporate Social Responsibility.

However, I always wonder just how many of them are truly serious about making their operations socially responsible.

One such group of companies are the tobacco companies. How can a corporate company even claim to be socially responsible if all its activities are around creating a product that is known to cause serious illnesses and ultimately kill?!

What would happen if all the tobacco companies today decided that henceforth they would phase out cigarette production and reinvest their resources into producing something that would really benefit the world and its people?

One of the worrying trends is the number of young people who now take up smoking. Apparently, there are more smokers amongst the 20 to 24 year old than any other age group.

Another striking statistic is this – one in six of all deaths in Britain is believed to be due to smoking related causes. 9 out of 10 cases of lung cancer are due to smoking and it also contributes to heard and respiratory diseases.

So we have to ask ourselves – just what sort of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies do tobacco companies adopt?

One way forward is to reduce the sale of their products by supporting more and more people to stop smoking.

One of the main reasons why smokers can’t give up is socialising with other smokers. As always be careful of the company you keep. Other main reasons are lack of will power, drinking too much and not being able to break the habit.

Stress at work and stress at home are also reasons for not being able to give up.

So if you are are smoker and you want to give up, what is stopping you?

This summer, smoking in public places in England will be banned from 1st July. There has never been a better time than now to finally kick the habit. Check out the resources provided by QUIT which is the independent charity whose aim is to save lives by helping smokers to stop.You can also call them on 0800 00 22 00.

This is as good a time as any to give up smoking once and for all. Anyone can do it – once in a blue moon!

In Scotland, where the ban came into effect from March 2006, smoking has already declined significantly. Now for the same thing to happen in England.

Tobacco companies had better watch out – the game is almost up