An Irish Cancer Society survey of the effectiveness of National No Smoking Day showed that 30 per cent of smokers tried to quit on the day last year.
While 9 per cent managed to stay smoke-free for 24 hours, only 1 per cent were still off cigarettes when the survey was conducted two months later.
"What is clear from the survey is that awareness of the day is high, but smokers are finding it very difficult to overcome their addiction," said Ms Norma Cronin, anti-tobacco consultant with the Irish Cancer Society.
The society's National Quitline received over 3,000 calls in 2000. Research into the attitudes of callers shows that people find it particularly useful to talk to a counsellor.
"Smokers would have appreciated more support from a partner, family or friend. The main difficulties in quitting cigarettes were cravings, difficulties in social situations, stress and partners or friends smoking," according to Ms Cronin.
The survey confirms the need to focus on preventing people starting to smoke in the first place.
A worldwide anti-tobacco strategy is needed to fight cigarette companies, according to the World Health Organisation. Advertising in the tobacco industry is at a relatively high level, at around 5 per cent of sales revenue, which is about 50 per cent higher than the average industry.
The Second World Summit Against Cancer, held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris earlier this month, was told that while smoking rates were tending to fall in general, there was concern about three groups: women, adolescents and the socially disadvantaged.
Most smokers start young. In high-income countries, almost eight out of 10 begin in their teens.
A study in the latest issue of Tobacco Control confirms the vulnerability of teen smokers, who were more likely to take up the habit if their favourite movie stars smoked.
Some 632 teenagers from New England in the US were surveyed about their smoking habits. They were also asked to name their favourite movie star.
The more a star portrayed smoking, the more favourably the adolescent viewed the habit. Leonardo Di Caprio, Sharon Stone and John Travolta clocked up the highest number of "smoker" roles.
The authors also suggest that stars who smoke may even encourage teens to try out smoking, based on the finding that non-smokers were 16 times as likely to express favourable opinions about smoking if their favourite stars smoked in films.