finds general practitioners wanting in their efforts to stop their patients smoking.' As a result of the government's banding scheme for health promotion activities in general practice we distributed a questionnaire to 6530 of our patients who attended our practice over six months. Altogether 1523 smokers were specifically asked if they would like our help in stopping smoking. A total of 365 replied affirmatively, and 100 of these were invited to attend a midweek evening meeting outlining information and help available to enable them to stop smoking. Twelve patients replied: eight accepted, three declined, and one had already stopped smoking. On the evening six smokers attended. All were counselled on a nearly one to one basis by the health professionals, who included a doctor, a health visitor, a district nurse, a practice nurse, and the district health authority's health promotion coordinator. The health professionals' view on stopping smoking was aired, and a video was shown and carbon monoxide monitoring demonstrated. The group agreed to meet one week later, when five patients attended. Two of these five have continued in their resolve to stop smoking. We are left wondering whether this operation was worthwhile in terms of its cost and the time required and whether our time might have been better used.