Tracy Barlow's 7 Steps away from smoking

In Coronation Street the other week when Tracy made Deirdre walk 7 Steps away from the house to have a fag in the back yard, I just thought that it was part of the dialogue, funny as it was. But no, there really is a 7 Steps campaign, which I've just read about today in my local paper, The Sunderland Echo.

The 7 Steps campaign is organised by Fresh and Smokefree North West.  The Fresh Director said: "Coronation Street deserve a big 'well done'.  We were surprised and delighted when it was featured but it's close to reality.  We have heard stories of people asking friends to take 7 Steps rather than tell them not to smoke in teh house. Soap operas and films are an important influence."

You can find out more about the campaign at their website at http://www.take7stepsout.co.uk/

Illustration by the wonderful Thea Brine