No Smoking Day is one of the awareness days brands use to get on radio and TV. Relations Group has run 3 broadcast PR campaigns for it, for British Heart Foundation, Vapestick and British Heart Foundation. The coverage ran to 107 broadcast items, heard by a combined audience of 12.4 million. Coverage included BBC Radio Ulster, 97.4 Cool FM, Downtown Radio, BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Cornwall and more. Every campaign met or beat its coverage budget.
107Items of coverage
12.4 millionCombined reach
6h 17mTime on air
84Distinct outlets
Coverage highlights
BBC Radio UlsterBBC radio
97.4 Cool FMCommercial radio
Downtown RadioCommercial radio
BBC Radio LeedsBBC radio
BBC Radio CornwallBBC radio
BBC Radio DerbyBBC radio
BBC Radio ShropshireBBC radio
BBC Radio HumbersideBBC radio
BBC Radio ScotlandBBC radio
BBC Radio LancashireBBC radio
BBC Radio Three CountiesBBC radio
BBC Radio GloucestershireBBC radio
The campaigns
British Heart Foundation, No Smoking Day
The aim
British Heart Foundation wanted to encourage smokers to quit in the run up to No Smoking Day.
The message
Smokers have a 70% higher risk of anxiety and depression than non-smokers, even though many think smoking relieves stress. It is the first study of its kind at population level.
The angle
New UCL research found smokers are 70% more likely to have depression or anxiety than non-smokers, countering the idea that smoking relieves stress. The charity urged smokers to quit on No Smoking Day.
On air
The charity's associate medical director
The result
14 items of coverage reaching 3.1 million, including BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Lancashire, BBC Radio Three Counties, BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
British Heart Foundation wanted to launch the 30th No Smoking Day and encourage smokers to plan to quit for their family and their pockets.
The message
About 10 million UK adults smoke but around two thirds say they want to give up. Quitting brings rewards for you, your family and your finances.
The angle
New research found 29% of smokers admit their family hates them smoking, and 25% say money is a bigger motivator to quit than long-term health. It launched the 30th National No Smoking Day, with about 10 million UK smokers.
On air
A senior cardiac nurse or an associate medical director from the charity
The result
32 items of coverage reaching 6.3 million, including BBC Radio Ulster, 97.4 Cool FM, Downtown Radio, BBC Radio Leeds.
Vapestick wanted to raise awareness of Vapestick and the health, financial and freedom benefits of e-cigarettes as an alternative to smoking.
The message
National No Smoking Day is a red herring, with most smokers choosing to ignore it and very few giving up on the day itself.
The angle
On the eve of National No Smoking Day, research found 1 in 8 people know a smoker still flouting the smoking ban, and less than half (48%) know about the day. Only 14% believe the smokers they know will use it to quit.
On air
A Vapestick spokesperson who used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day
The result
61 items of coverage reaching 2.9 million, including BBC Radio Humberside.
No Smoking Day is a UK health campaign held on the second Wednesday in March to encourage smokers to quit. It began in 1984 and has been run by the British Heart Foundation since 2011, with support from health organisations. It gives producers a reason to cover the subject, and brands with a credible spokesperson a way onto radio and TV.
Planning No Smoking Day for 2027?
No Smoking Day next falls on Wednesday 10 March 2027. Talk to the team about a broadcast PR campaign that gets your spokesperson on radio and TV.
