A campaign to tackle cheap illegal tobacco across the South West is coming to Bath this weekend, in a bid to reduce the number of young people starting to smoke.
Illegal tobacco is known to make it easier for children to start smoking, because it is sold at pocket money prices, meaning that young people could start smoking. Illegal tobacco is also known to make communities more attractive to criminals.
This is why Bath & North East Somerset Council is working with Smokefree South West on a campaign to increase awareness about illegal tobacco among the general public, encouraging fewer people to buy it and more people to report it.
Trained staff will be talking to the public at Sainsbury’s car park in Green Park, Bath, on 12th July to highlight the dangers of illegal tobacco. They will be joined by Cllr David Dixon and trading standards officers.
Cllr David Dixon (Lib Dem, Oldfield), Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Smoking is a serious public health issue and cheap illegal tobacco just makes it even harder to keep our children away from harm.
“That is why Bath & North East Somerset Council’s public health and trading standards teams are working together to help tackle the problem.
“We know that people in Bath and North East Somerset want to help protect their children, so this campaign will help them identify cheap illegal tobacco so that together we can keep it out of our communities.”
Julie Harrington, a stop smoking specialist with Sirona’s Healthy Lifestyle Service, which will be taking part in the event, said: “Sirona is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all Bath and North East Somerset residents and tobacco remains the largest cause of preventable death in the area.
“The easy supply of cheap illegal tobacco makes it easier for our young people to smoke. The local Sirona stop smoking service is determined to tackle tobacco related health inequalities and to help provide a tobacco free future for all young people.
“It is essential to us that residents are aware of the dangers of illegal tobacco and we hope that by raising the awareness of the hazards we can encourage more people to be smoke free. We can be contacted for free advice and help to give up smoking on 01225 831852.”
As part of the awareness campaign advertising vans will be touring Twerton, Whiteway, Southdown and Keynsham with information on how residents can help tackle illegal tobacco.
Selling illegal tobacco is a criminal offence. Anyone wishing to report the selling of illegal tobacco can contact Bath & North East Somerset Council’s trading standards by telephone on 01225 396753 or email [email protected].
You can report it anonymously online at www.stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk or call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. They cannot trace your call and will never ask for your name.
