Young People More Likely to Buy Smuggled Tobacco

Tobacco smuggling represents a serious problem for public health as well as a financial loss of tax revenue for the Government.

New evidence released today gives a better picture of smoker’s attitudes to buying illegal and counterfeit tobacco and a disturbing picture of the illicit tobacco market is emerging. Interviews with smokers across the South Wales Valleys found that 68% were more interested in cost than where their cigarettes come from.

The results also revealed that younger smokers are much more likely to purchase smuggled tobacco than older smokers with over half (52%) of 16 to 34 year olds admitting to buying cheap tobacco compared to 41% of 35 to 54 year olds, and 36% of the over 55’s.

The research, released by ASH Wales in conjunction with Swansea University, will be presented at the international Smokefree Futures Tobacco Control Conference taking place in Cardiff later today.

Tanya Buchanan, Chief Executive of ASH Wales, commented: “We have been aware for some time that smuggled tobacco is a bigger issue in more socially disadvantaged areas and this evidence further supports that. Smoking prevalence rates are already much higher in these areas and are already creating significant ill health for residents. Unfortunately, this evidence also means that measures to protect children from accessing age restricted tobacco products are being undermined by tobacco smuggling.

“It is vital that the Welsh Assembly Government’s Tobacco Control Action Plan currently being drafted addresses tobacco smuggling and that they work closely with the UK government on this issue. There is no evidence that banning the display of tobacco products behind the counter increases tobacco smuggling. Tobacco smuggling is a very complex issue and there are many factors which impact on the presence of smuggled tobacco including the presence of organised crime, effective enforcement, effective intelligence networks etc. We need a co-ordinated multi agency approach to tackle large scale organised smuggling.

“It is also important that Trading Standards across Wales are funded to conduct ongoing tobacco control operations including test purchasing and authenticity work. A register of tobacco retailers would provide an additional level of transparency about genuine tobacco retailers. It is good to know that the Welsh public are concerned about this issue with 75% of adults supporting a crackdown on tobacco smuggling.”

Other statistics released include:
  • 24% of people had bought cheap UK brand tobacco products
  • 13% of people had bought a foreign brand of cigarettes or tobacco not normally found in the UK
  • 9% of people had bought tobacco products that they knew were smuggled into the UK
  • 8% of people had bought tobacco products that they knew were fake or counterfeit

ASH Wales carried out a survey of young smokers across South Wales in 2008 which revealed that 1 in 8 young people were purchasing cigarettes at a price below the Recommended Retail Price at the time, strongly suggesting that smuggled tobacco products are widely available to young people. Furthermore, 7% of young smokers said they were able to purchase single cigarettes as cheaply as 30p per cigarette.

Since the 1990s action by UK departments, particularly HM Revenue and Customs, the Border Agency and other enforcement agencies, have reduced the proportion of smuggled cigarettes in the UK from 21-30% of the total market to approximately 13% of the total market in 2008.

Data Sources

  • The Black Market in Tobacco Products. DTZ Pieda Consulting, May 2000.
  • HM Customs & Excise Annual Report 2000-2001.
  • HM Revenue & Customs: Departmental Report, July 2008.

Smoking Linked to Binge Drinking and Unhealthy Eating

Smokers are more likely than those who have never smoked to report engaging in poor lifestyle choices, including drinking above the guidelines and binge drinking as well as not eating the recommended amounts of fruit and vegetables, according to a new study out today.

The research, undertaken by ASH Wales in conjunction with the Cardiff Institute of Society and Health at Cardiff University, looked at the health profile of 13,000 adults in Wales, and compared current and former smokers to those who had never smoked(1) . The aim of the study was to gain an understanding of the health status and behaviours of smokers in Wales today.

The study found that whilst smokers were more likely to report having been treated for heart, respiratory and arthritic conditions than their non-smoking counterparts, they were also more likely to admit drinking above the guidelines than non-smokers, with more men than women reporting both drinking above the national guidelines (currently more than 4 units for men and 3 for women) and binge drinking (more than 8 units for men, 6 units for women). Smokers were also less likely to report getting their five daily portions of fruit and vegetables, than both ex-smokers and those who had never smoked.

Also of interest was the relationship between smoking and mental illness. Female smokers in particular were twice as likely as those who had never smoked to report suffering from a mental illness, and higher proportions of women (18%) than men (10%) reported being treated for some form of mental health condition (depression, anxiety etc).

Dr Sarah Whitehead from the Cardiff Institute of Society and Health will be presenting her findings to an international audience at the Smokefree Futures Tobacco Control Conference being held in Cardiff on 11th and 12th October.

Dr Whitehead commented: “The findings reinforce what we already know – that smoking is linked to a number of associated illnesses and poor health behaviours. This will continue to be a problem for Wales unless more is done to reduce the smoking prevalence rates, which have remained at 24% since 2007.”

Tanya Buchanan, Chief Executive of ASH Wales added: “We have known for many years now that smoking is a major cause of ill health and associated with a number of chronic health conditions but this research also reveals the link between smoking and multiple health risk behaviours. I will be asking the First Minister Carwyn Jones, who is addressing our conference today, to look closely at this new evidence. Tobacco, alcohol, nutrition and fitness are all interlinked and are key areas requiring investment and positive action through a Health in all Policies approach which will return significant health benefits for the people of Wales.”

Andrew Misell, Policy Manager, Alcohol Concern Cymru, said: “This shows there is a relationship between excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. We need to do more to educate people about the significant health risks associated with exceeding safe drinking limits. Tackling the culture of alcohol and tobacco misuse must be key priorities for the Welsh Assembly Government.”

Notes

(1) Data derived from the Welsh Health Survey 2008. It should be noted that the prevalence rates for smoking in Wales were 24% for 2007, 2008 and 2009

ASH Wales Calls for Smokefree Playgrounds

A leading Welsh public health charity is calling on local authorities across Wales to stand up for children’s rights by ensuring they can experience a smokefree environment in their parks and playgrounds.

Launching the campaign in Cardiff, ASH Wales’s Chief Executive, Tanya Buchanan, said: “We want all local authorities in Wales to support our campaign to ensure parks and playgrounds under their control are smokefree. Children have the right to experience a smokefree environment whether at home, in cars, taking part in after school sporting activities or out and about enjoying their leisure time with friends and family.

“Attitudes to smoking have changed over time. People are more aware today of the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and there is strong public support for our campaign with 3 out of 4 adults agreeing that smoking should be banned in outdoor children’s play areas(1).

“When children see adults smoking in a family friendly public place it “normalises” smoking, making children more likely to try it themselves. The perception that tobacco use is normal is one factor that encourages adolescent tobacco use. Making parks smokefree will protect our children from developing health problems from breathing in second hand smoke because when you smoke, so does everyone else.”

Children are at particular risk from second-hand smoke with over 20,000 cases of lower respiratory tract infection, 120,000 cases of middle ear disease, 22,000 new cases of wheeze and asthma, 200 cases of bacterial meningitis, and 9,500 children admitted to hospital every year in the UK(2). Second-hand smoke can also cause health problems for pregnant women and others who suffer from allergies or medical conditions like asthma and heart disease.

Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, Lesley Jones, said: “Smoking related litter causes significant harm to the environment with 90% of Welsh streets affected. Cigarette butts can take up to twelve years to biodegrade and they can cause health problems to children and animals if ingested. This is a blight on our environment and a constant influence on children. Over 4.5 trillion cigarettes are littered worldwide each year. They are the most littered item in the world(3).

“Smoking litter makes our parks and public spaces look dirty and uninviting and cause longterm damage to the environment. Our children deserve a clean, safe place to play.”

Local Councillor Richard Jerrett said: “Smoking near children is detrimental to their health and should not be tolerated. I want children to be able to enjoy Cardiff’s wonderful parks and outdoor spaces without being adversely affected by second-hand smoke.”

Councillor Freda Salway added: “Anything that makes a less-polluted environment is better for our children, and surely it must be safer to have no smoking in children’s playgrounds.”

Concerned local resident Richard Walters said: “Local councils have an important role to play in leading the way on improving public health for local residents by reducing exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke and making venues more family friendly. Children can’t always move away from other people’s smoke, and seeing adults smoke only encourages them to do the same. It is also unfair to the majority of park users who are non-smokers. I will be writing to Cardiff Council to ask them to implement tobacco free policies around playground equipment, playing fields and sporting grounds and that events run or sponsored by Cardiff Council are smokefree. This isn’t difficult to enforce, erecting signage around these playing grounds will act as a deterrent and is mainly self-policing.”

Notes

(1) You Gov Survey March 2010
(2) Royal College of Physicians (March 2010), Passive Smoking and Children, RCP London
(3) Keep Wales Tidy (Sept 2009), Review of Smoking-Related Litter.

Jamie Roberts is the Strongest Link

For Immediate Release

Cardiff Blues and Welsh international rugby player Jamie Roberts won £16,900 for the tobacco control campaigning charity ASH Wales last night.

Jamie took part in a special edition of the BBC’s Weakest Link programme which saw rugby players from the Welsh, English, French, Irish and All Blacks teams take on their biggest challenge yet – facing the BBC presenter Anne Robinson, noted for her sharp wit and acidic tongue.

Jamie was pitted against Lee Mears in the final aired on BBC1 on Saturday 29th May.

Anne Robinson who is famous for issuing the phrase “you are the weakest link – goodbye!” and reducing contestants on her show to shivering jellies described Jamie as “tall and pretty”.

Winning the Weakest Link programme adds to a great success on the field for Jamie following his try which helped the Cardiff Blues secure an historic win against Toulon to win the Amlin Cup last week.

Jamie, who is studying medicine at Cardiff University, said: “Facing Anne Robinson was one of the most frightening moments of my career, far more frightening than facing some of the world’s toughest rugby players. I was surprised to get through to the final but delighted to win the money to help the youth programme at the ASH Wales charity.”

Tanya Buchanan, Chief Executive of ASH Wales, commented: “Jamie has been a great ambassador for ASH Wales and continues to be so. We are delighted that he has chosen to donate the money to ASH Wales. The money will be put to good use, helping ASH Wales to develop its peer health promoters’ youth programme. Peer health promoters are trained to work with young people in their local communities, providing the facts about smoking and assisting them to quit.”

Notes to Editors

Please refer all press enquiries to enquiries@ashwales.org.uk

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Wales is the only voluntary organisation in Wales with the sole task of tackling the ill health caused by tobacco use. Our main aim is to achieve a reduction in, and eventual elimination of, the health problems associated with tobacco use. ASH Wales was established in 1976 as a branch of ASH UK. In 2007 ASH Wales became an independent company limited by guarantee and a charity registered in Wales.