RECENT news reports indicate that illegal cigarette sales are still going on.

Does the increased cost of cigarettes help smokers to quit?

Some do quit due to the cost, but there are still quite a number who can't. They may have been smoking for years and find it hard to quit.

I've observed that most smokers smoke for a reason, to de-stress or control their weight.

To some, smoking gives pleasure or satisfaction. And others may think it makes them "cool". There are many other reasons for smoking.

Although there are pictures on cigarette packets warning us about the harmful effects of smoking, most smokers ignore them.

I've spoken to a smoker who said that he had been smoking for 20 years. "What's the point of quitting now? I'm still okay," he said.

Smokers are harming not only themselves but others too.

I've also seen students smoke. And I've read that teenaged smokers adopt a "this will not happen to me" view about lung cancer.

The one useful way to help them avoid smoking may be to provide real-life evidence of the dangers of smoking. Seeing is believing.

I hope more talks can be conducted and more real-life advertisements can be shown to help smokers realise the danger they will cause to themselves and to others.

Family and friends can also play a supportive role in guiding the smokers to quit.