London, UK - 25 June 2007 - With England about to go non-smoking on 1st July, AQA (Any Question Answered), the text question and answer service, is on hand 24/7 to help smokers put out their cigarettes.

"1st July seems to be a milestone for many people around the UK as they attempt to give up. We've already received thousands of questions from smokers on whether and how to give up, and how the new laws will work," commented Paul Cockerton, Marketing Director, AQA.

To help smokers give up, AQA is publishing its most frequently asked questions, as well as offering new customers the chance to ask a free question and support the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. For every free question asked until the end of July, AQA will donate 30p to the Foundation.

"The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is thrilled to be associated with a service like AQA. There has never been a better time to stop smoking and those who are thinking about, or have decided to, quit smoking on July 1st need all the information and support they can get This will range from their family, friends and work colleagues, to professional services and I would include AQA as an important resource." said Paul Gauntlett, Director of Development, the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. "By donating 30p for every free question asked AQA are supporting our fight against lung cancer - the biggest cancer killer of men and women."

To ask a free question and support the Foundation go here: http://www.63336.com/free_no_smoking.htm

AQA is a text service where you send a question from your mobile phone, and get an answer in minutes. AQA is staffed by over 700 researchers, who use their own skills combined with AQA's database and computer systems to provide concise, accurate and supportive answers. AQA costs £1 to text 63336 in the UK, and €2 to text 57275 in Ireland. For more information customers should visit www.63336.com.

1st July smoking FAQ

Q. Can you smoke indoors in a public establishment?
A. No. However smoking will be allowed in outdoor uncovered areas, in private homes and certain places like prisons or royal palaces.

Q. Can you smoke in pubs if they don’t serve food, or private members clubs?
A. The smoking ban will cover all private members clubs as well as all pubs (regardless of whether they serve food).

Q. When the ban comes in, will you be able to smoke at festivals?
A. The smoking ban will not extend to outdoor areas, so smokers will be able to smoke in beer gardens and in any outdoor areas at festivals.

Q. Is it true that you will still be able to smoke in the House of Commons bar after 1st July?
A. The Houses of Parliament are part of the Palace of Westminster and are technically exempt from the smoking ban, but it's likely they will conform anyway.

Q. What is the fine for smoking in a public place after july 1st?And what are the rules on a shelter on a pubs premises provided 4 smokers?
A. The smoking fine is £50 for the smoker, £2,500 for the establishment. This will include outdoor locations considered "substantially enclosed".

Q. How much earlier does the average smoker die?
A. The average smoker dies 10 years earlier than a non-smoker. In the UK that's 66 instead of 76 for men and 71 instead of 81 for women.

Q. What percentage of people that die of cancer, smoke?
A. Around 10% of smokers die from lung cancer and tobacco is the cause of 90% of deaths from the disease. 1 in 4 smokers die between the ages of 35 & 69.

Q. How many people currently smoke in the uk?
A. 11.7 million, or 24% of UK adults are cigarette smokers (25% of men, 23% of women). The government gets approximately £9 billion per year from tobacco tax.

Notes to Editors:

For further details on AQA please contact Shannon Cockerill, Press Officer, on +44 20 7483 9090 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .