Synopsis:

The Quit series of five programmes has been designed to raise awareness of a range of issues surrounding cigarette smoking and legal controls on the use of tobacco. Using personal testimonies, the audience is introduced to the impact smoking has on people’s health and lifestyle. Smokers and non-smokers alike discuss how addiction to cigarettes has influenced their lives or those of their families. The series also focuses on how tobacco companies use marketing and advertising techniques to influence people’s smoking behaviour.

Programme 2: Family Habit
Meret and her mother talk about their respective smoking habits and the impact it has on other family members. The programme follows their attempts to stop smoking using a variety of techniques, including professional help.

00.00 – 04.40
Meret lives with her mother and brother. She started smoking at the age of 14. Her mother started at 15. Her brother hates the smell of smoke around the house. Both women want to stop smoking. They don’t like the smell of tobacco smoke on their hair, clothes and breath. They are also worried about stained teeth and damaging the skin on their faces.

The film tracks their progress as they both struggle to cope with some of the withdrawal symptoms people can experience when giving up smoking. Finding life intolerable without cigarettes, they are back puffing in days. They’d underestimated how much smoking was part of their lives and how addictive it really is. Mother feels a failure. Meret, determined to give up, seeks professional help.