Match.com and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) today announced results from a recent
survey showing that single smokers may want to consider breaking up with
their cigarettes as they look for that special someone this year. Nearly
9 out of 10 (89 percent) respondents said they prefer not to date
someone who smokes, and when asked which actions were unacceptable on a
first date, more said taking a smoke break (51 percent) than checking
one’s phone (45 percent) or being late (40 percent).
"Our survey revealed fascinating information. Just as many smokers
trying to quit look forward to not having ‘smokers breath’ in intimate
situations as they do breathing better," said Bela Gandhi, Match.com
relationship expert and founder of the Smart Dating Academy. “The key to
finding love starts with feeling great about yourself. Achieving
anything big in life, like quitting smoking or finding love, requires
making a plan and sticking to it.”
Given recent New Year’s resolutions and Valentine’s Day around the
corner, a new program, “We Heart Quitters,” aims to help
Americans understand the benefits of quitting smoking and empowering
them with the tools to make a quit plan. People can visit www.WeHeartQuitters.com
to download tips and resources to help quit and information about a
non-nicotine prescription treatment option.
The survey of Match.com members also found:
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Fifty seven percent of respondents said they would never date a smoker.
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The top concerns about dating a smoker were the smokers’ long-term
health (78 percent), the smell of cigarettes on their person (75
percent) or in their home/vehicle (80 percent) and their own personal
health (62 percent).
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When it comes to being a good kisser, 78 percent of respondents think
fresh breath is the top attribute; 78 percent also said they mind
kissing a smoker after they have had a cigarette.
“Most smokers want to quit. They just need the confidence to believe
they can,” said Mitchell Nides, PhD, Director, Picture Quitting, the
entertainment industry’s Quit Smoking Program. “Quitting can be tough,
but we have tools to help make a person’s quit attempt easier. If you
want to quit, a great place to start is talking to your health care
provider to learn about these tools, including medications and practical
strategies for dealing with urges to smoke.”
For those people who are ready to quit smoking, visit the Quit
Resources/Talk to a Doctor area of WeHeartQuitters.com to connect with a
health care provider online.
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death
in the nation, and an estimated 45.3 million U.S. adults (or 19.3
percent) aged 18 and older smoke. Each year, more than 400,000 people in
the U.S. die from illnesses related to tobacco use – that’s more than
1,200 people a day.
About The Survey
This survey was conducted online by Match.com among its U.S. membership
between November 30 and December 6, 2013. It included 1,020 people aged
21+, regardless of their smoking status. Data for this survey were
tested for statistical difference at a confidence level of 95 percent
with a margin of error of ±3.1 percent.
About Match.com
Founded in 1995, Match.com was the original dating website and pioneer
of the online dating industry. Today, 18 years later, Match.com operates
leading subscription-based online dating sites in 25 countries, 8
languages and across five continents and is responsible for more dates,
relationships and marriages than any other website. Match.com is an
operating business of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI) and is headquartered in Dallas,
Texas. For more information, visit http://www.match.com.
About Pfizer Inc.
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies
to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive
to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery,
development and manufacture of health care products. Our global
portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's
best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues
work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness,
prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases
of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's
premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with
health care providers, governments and local communities to support and
expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For
more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who
rely on us. To learn more, please visit us at www.pfizer.com.
Disclosure: Bela Gandhi and Dr. Mitchell Nides are paid spokespeople on
behalf of “We Heart Quitters” and Pfizer Inc.
Copyright Business Wire 2014