Nicorette Plants 20 Ft. Tall Cigarette Butt In Chicago In Light Of Cook County Cigarette Tax Increase

CHICAGO, Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A $1 cigarette tax increase takes effect in Cook County on March 1, boosting the average price of cigarettes in the Chicagoland area to more than $12 per pack. Cigarette tax increases are one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking, encourage people to quit and improve public health.

Nicorette will be hosting a Smoke Swap event at Pioneer Court Plaza on Michigan Avenue March 1 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and March 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A 20 ft. statue of a smashed cigarette butt will be at the event to inspire and help Cook County smokers succeed in quitting. All smokers are invited to come by and exchange their cigarettes for free resources, including a starter pack of Nicorette and free online behavioral support through Quit.net, one of the web's largest quit-smoking communities.

"Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. One in four Chicagoans smoke – that's over one million people!" said Sue Kelsey, Marketing Director for GSK's Smoking Cessation Unit. "We want to help smokers get started on the right path with tools and resources that are proven to double chances of success versus placebo."

Cook County board president Toni Preckwinkle will be at the event on March 1 at 2:30 p.m. to discuss the tax increase and its health benefits.

"Smoking cessation efforts are a critical part of promoting healthier living and reducing the harmful effects of smoking on residents throughout the County, including the substantial public health costs associated with treating smoking-related illness," President Preckwinkle said. "We have to do more to get people to quit and prevent young people from smoking in the first place, and events like the Smoke Swap are one way we can make progress."

Nicorette, a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) that helps relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking, has helped millions of U.S. smokers quit.

For helpful information about quitting and to connect with other smokers interested in quitting, visit www.Nicorette.com or Facebook.com/Nicorette.

About GlaxoSmithKline^® Consumer Healthcare
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its well-known brands include Nicorette® and NicoDerm® CQ, the leading smoking cessation products; alli, the only FDA-OTC weight loss aid; as well as medicine cabinet staples, Aquafresh®, Sensodyne,® Tums® and Breathe Right,® all of which are trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.

About GlaxoSmithKline^®
GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information visit: GSK.com.

SOURCE GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare