e-Newsletter - Issue 2

e-Newsletter - Issue 2

Hand Rolled Tobacco

Smokefree South West is the first organisation to develop a campaign specifically targeting smokers of hand rolled tobacco. It is a significant problem in the South West, with 33% of smokers using it and many others on an occasional basis

The number of roll-ups smoked in Britain has risen 35% in two years with half of all hand rolled tobacco illegal. Our research shows hand rolled tobacco users are immune to traditional stop smoking campaigns which don't challenge the perceived benefits of hand rolled tobacco so we are effectively targeting a new audience.

Research using roll-up cigarettes made by smokers, shows that the levels of nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals inhaled are often higher than those from bought cigarettes. Hand rolled tobacco is more likely to cause mouth, throat and lung cancer as well as lung diseases such as emphysema and heart disease.

EU regulations for tar and nicotine levels in cigarettes do not apply to hand rolled tobacco even though most of them are more dangerous than manufactured cigarettes. Hand rolled tobacco is taxed and priced at a lower level – about half that of packaged cigarettes.

Our exciting and innovative campaign will utilise tv, radio, outdoor spaces such as billboards and online. This will help dispel myths that have built up around hand rolled tobacco, help smokers be more aware of the risks of hand rolled tobacco and help them to become smoke free.

We will be developing a microsite to act as an information resource for the public, a roll up pack with information that will be sent to smokers who request it and –placing information in GP surgeries.

Handrolled Tabacco

Illegal Tobacco

Controlling the price of tobacco is the single most effective lever in reducing smoking prevalence. With illicit tobacco being sold at up to half the price of legitimate products, the trade is seriously undermining all other efforts to tackle nicotine addiction in the UK.

Illegal tobacco can take the form of cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco or niche products (such as beedis/bidis and sheesha/shisha) that have been smuggled, bootlegged or are counterfeit.

Smuggled

These are foreign brands brought into the UK illegally to be sold on the black market. Things to look out for include one or more of the following:

  • Foreign brand names such as Raquel and Jin Ling
  • Cheaper prices - less than £3.50 for a pack of 20
  • Foreign health warnings
  • No picture health warnings
  • Unusual taste
Illegal Tobacco

Bootlegged

These are cigarettes and tobacco usually brought into the UK in large quantities from countries with lower tax and illegally resold - as any cigarettes brought in from outside the UK should be for personal use only. Things to look out for include one or more of the following:

  • Popular brands such as Lambert and Butler and Superkings
  • Foreign health warnings
  • Cheaper prices - less than £3.50 for a pack of 20

Counterfeit (fake cigarettes)

These are cheap and often low quality cigarettes that are made to look like popular UK brands. Things to look out for include one or more of the following:

  • Popular brands such as Lambert and Butler and Superkings
  • Unusual packaging - spelling mistakes, wrong logos, foreign health warnings
  • No picture health warnings
  • Cheaper prices - less than £3.50 for a pack of 2

Smokefree Homes

Secondhand smoke is dangerous to non smoking adults: evidence suggests exposure causes a 25% increased risk of heart disease and 24% increased risk of lung disease.

Recent data also shows that:

  • 20% of South West adults claim to allow smoking in the home (You Gov 2010)
  • 42% of British children are exposed to cigarette smoke in the home (BMA 2009)

Qualitative research showed that the target audience need to be given hard facts on WHY TO CHANGE and a clear and easy suggestion on HOW TO CHANGE.

Working with key partners such as the Fire Service, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospha) and Sure Start Centres we are aiming to:

Help reduce the impact smoking has on non smokers, and in particular, reduce the impact of secondhand smoke on children. Half the number of adults in the South West region who allow smoking in their home by 2015, from the current 20% to 10%. This means we are attempting to change the behaviour of 420,000 adults over a 5 year period. (Measured by You Gov survey)

Focusing on partners with access to relevant groups already active in child safety in the community, Smokefree South West plan to:

Develop toolkits for the Fire Service, Rospa and Sure Start Centres which can be used during home visits undertaken by Fire Officers, Health Visitors and Home Checkers (who install safety kits into homes). In partnership with the above groups, organise activity across all PCTs to support Child Safety Week (June 2011) Develop a microsite to act as an information resource for our partners with a facility to print toolkits and other promotional materials needed on an on-going basis.