I Would Rather sample entryThe “WouldURather” contest offers incentives for young people to quit smoking, cut back, or refuse to take up the habit.

Contest offers prizes for quitting smoking

A team of UWindsor students is helping to promote a contest designed to give young adults an easy way to quit or cut back on their use of tobacco.

“Most young adults have their first cigarette after 18, which is basically when they come to university,” says Aicha Hassani, who leads the UWindsor Leave the Pack Behind campaign.

Its members are currently registering entrants for the province-wide “WouldURather” contest. Open to Ontarians between 18 and 29 years old, it offers a draw for cash prizes in four categories as an incentive to quit smoking:

  • Quit for Good: $5,000 for quitting smoking entirely
  • Keep the Count: $2,500 for cutting cigarette consumption in half
  • Party Without the Smoke: $1,000 for remaining smoke-free while consuming alcohol
  • Don’t Start and Win: $500 for non-smokers who stay tobacco-free

The group has been setting up tables in the CAW Student Centre and other campus buildings to inform passersby about the contest and register them by the January 22 deadline. The six-week competition period then runs until March 5.

Find contest rules, eligibility, registration and resources to succeed on the “WouldURather” website. For more information on Leave the Pack Behind, visit its website or Facebook page.

A second contest offers entrants a chance to win a $100 gift card for sharing on social media their reason for quitting. To enter, post a photo showing what you would rather do than use tobacco, tag @leavethepackbehind and use the hashtag #iwouldrather. And get it done by Sunday, January 15 — the contest winner will be announced January 16.