Illegal tobacco is bought by more than half of teenage smokers on Tyneside
Last updated 31st Oct 2017
Illegal tobacco has helped over half of underage smokers in the North East get hooked on smoking, a new survey released today suggests.
55% of children aged 14 and 15 who smoke say they buy illegal tobacco from sources like "tab houses" and shops - while 73% say they have been offered illegal tobacco.
The figures, from the 2017 North East Illegal Tobacco Survey, are released as Fresh launches the new "Keep It Out" campaign aimed at helping the public to spot illegal tobacco, report it and to encourage smokers not to buy it.
As well as helping children to start smoking, people supplying illegal tobacco are often involved in drugs or loan sharking. Buying it means supporting crime and can bring children into contact with criminals.
Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh, said: "One in two smokers will die from their addiction, and no-one wants their child to start.
"While fewer people than ever are now smoking, illegal cigarettes are often responsible for getting children initiated on smoking as they can buy it at pocket money prices from people who don't care who they sell to."
Peter Wright, from the North East Public Protection Partnership, said: "People might think they are getting a bargain, but illegal cigarettes comes at a very high cost to local communities and buying it means supporting it.
"A lot of people kid themselves they're buying duty free. But the trade is linked to organised crime and at the top are organised criminals with UK smokers in their sights. Local criminals also regularly come into neighbourhoods to supply their dealers.
"Even if you don’t think local sellers are selling to kids, many are, and there is strong intelligence of kids in school uniforms buying from tab houses.
"Whether people smoke or not, we're urging people to do something about it and report it anonymously."
Councillor Nick Kemp, cabinet member for Neighbourhoods and Regulatory services, said:
“Our Trading Standards and Enforcement team always act on information we have about the sales of illicit tobacco and we know that this is having an impact on the market, we remain one step ahead of the suppliers and have caught shops selling illicit tobacco in increasingly sneaky ways.
“Illicit Tobacco has no duty paid on it and can damage legitimate businesses, however we do not hesitate to prosecute and have revoked licences where repeat seizures have been made.
“It’s a crime that does not pay in the end.”
Councillor Jane Streather, cabinet member for Public Health and Housing, said:
“I am pleased that Newcastle City Council are supporting Fresh Keep It Out Campaign.
“Smoking is extremely damaging for the health of both the smoker and also the people around them, it is vital that we provide the information and services to support people to quit.
“Smoking kills one in two long term users and easily accessible, illicit tobacco can provide a gateway for young people to start smoking and become hooked.
“Through partnerships with FRESH and the work of our local stop smoking services we have seen smoking fall 6% in the last 5 years, however this is not enough and we must continue to keep people in the know when it comes to the damage smoking will cause to their health.”
Councillor Linda Green, Cabinet Member for Communities and Volunteering, Gateshead Council, said: “This campaign is about raising awareness of the harm illicit tobacco does to our local communities. Not only are children and young people targeted by people who sell illegal cigarettes but it also brings crime into our neighbourhoods. We will continue to work with Northumbria Police and our communities to try to limit the impact of illegal tobacco.”
Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health, Gateshead Council, said: “Tackling tobacco use is a top priority for us as smoking kills one person in Gateshead every 21 hours. Even though it is such a dangerous product at the moment anyone can sell it. The availability of illegal tobacco is undermining the work we’re trying to do as cheaper tobacco means people are less likely to quit and it also makes it easily accessible to children. We strongly believe selling tobacco should be licensed in the same way as selling alcohol so we can more effectively protect people from tobacco harms.”
Anyone with information about houses, shops, pubs or individuals selling illegal tobacco can give information online at www.keep-it-out.co.uk or by calling the illegal tobacco hotline at 0300 999 00 00. All information will be treated anonymously.
The survey of over 3000 people from across the North East, which has tracked the size of the illegal tobacco market since 2009 and attitudes towards it, has found in 2017:
• Illicit makes up 12% of all tobacco smoked - a smaller proportion than in 2009 (16%) but slightly higher than in 2015 (9%)
• Less than one in five (18%) of smokers buy illicit – a reduction from 24% in 2009
• The proportion of smokers who have tried illicit tobacco has decreased from 46% in 2011 to 37% in 2017
• Those smokers who do buy illegal tobacco are buying more of it - it makes up 58% of their overall tobacco compared to 40% in 2013.
• Private addresses are the leading source (42%) followed by shops (24%).
• Less is now being bought in pubs - but pubs are still the place where smokers are most likely to be offered it by hawkers touting it around.
Shopkeeper John McClurey, a former North of England President of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, said: "Most retailers would not dream of stocking illegal tobacco or selling to children, and are very angry about the illegal tobacco trade. The figures are concerning.
"There is a strong case for tougher penalties against those who sell it as a deterrent and to weed out the few bad apples in the retail trade without conscience."
Fresh is calling on the Government to introduce a licensing system for tobacco manufacturers and retailers to provide funding for improved enforcement and other measures to reduce smoking prevalence. The measure would be popular in the North East with 76% of adults strongly in favour of businesses needing a valid licence to sell tobacco.
Supporting quotes from Local Authority partners:
Councillor Nick Kemp, Newcastle’s cabinet member for Neighbourhoods and Regulatory services, said: “Our Trading Standards and Enforcement team always act on information we have about the sales of illicit tobacco and we know that this is having an impact on the market, we remain one step ahead of the suppliers and have caught shops selling illicit tobacco in increasingly sneaky ways.
“Illicit Tobacco has no duty paid on it and can damage legitimate businesses, however we do not hesitate to prosecute and have revoked licences where repeat seizures have been made.
“It’s a crime that does not pay in the end.”
Councillor Jane Streather, Newcastle City Council cabinet member for Public Health and Housing, said: “I am pleased that Newcastle City Council are supporting Fresh Keep It Out Campaign.
“Smoking is extremely damaging for the health of both the smoker and also the people around them, it is vital that we provide the information and services to support people to quit.
“Smoking kills one in two long term users and easily accessible, illicit tobacco can provide a gateway for young people to start smoking and become hooked.
“Through partnerships with FRESH and the work of our local stop smoking services we have seen smoking fall 6% in the last 5 years, however this is not enough and we must continue to keep people in the know when it comes to the damage smoking will cause to their health.”
Councillor Linda Green, Cabinet Member for Communities and Volunteering, Gateshead Council, said: “This campaign is about raising awareness of the harm illicit tobacco does to our local communities. Not only are children and young people targeted by people who sell illegal cigarettes but it also brings crime into our neighbourhoods. We will continue to work with Northumbria Police and our communities to try to limit the impact of illegal tobacco.”
Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health, Gateshead Council, said: “Tackling tobacco use is a top priority for us as smoking kills one person in Gateshead every 21 hours. Even though it is such a dangerous product at the moment anyone can sell it. The availability of illegal tobacco is undermining the work we’re trying to do as cheaper tobacco means people are less likely to quit and it also makes it easily accessible to children. We strongly believe selling tobacco should be licensed in the same way as selling alcohol so we can more effectively protect people from tobacco harms.”
Wendy Burke, Director of Public Health, North Tyneside, said: “North Tyneside Council is committed to supporting the Keep It Out campaign. We are working continuously to encourage and support smokers in the borough to quit; and also to prevent people starting in the first place. Illicit tobacco keeps smokers hooked, is proven to be an easy source of tobacco for children and we will do all we can to eradicate it. Illicit tobacco also increases inequalities because it disproportionately impacts upon vulnerable, low paid and young people.”
Councillor Margaret Hall, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing at North Tyneside Council, said: “Keep It Out is raising awareness of the ‘bigger picture’ surrounding illicit tobacco and the harm it causes – not just to smokers’ health but also their families and communities. A lot of progress has been made in recent years against this trade and we are determined to keep up the downward pressure on this very damaging product.”
Alan Burnett, Trading Standards and Licensing Group Leader at North Tyneside Council, said: “We will always investigate reports of illicit tobacco being sold – whether counterfeit or smuggled – and seek to prosecute those responsible. We do, however, rely on the public being our eyes and ears to help us prevent activity like this from continuing. I would encourage anyone who has information or any suspicion that illegal tobacco is being sold around North Tyneside to call the illegal Tobacco Hotline on 0300 999 0000.”
Councillor Tracey Dixon, Lead Member for Independence and Wellbeing, South Tyneside Council, said: “The health implications caused by smoking are well documented. It is a highly addictive and deadly product and stark figures show that one in two long term smokers will die from their addiction. Unfortunately illicit tobacco keeps smokers smoking for longer.
“Shockingly it also encourages children to start smoking with dealers often targeting young people with the lure of cheap products. This puts them at risk of developing a harmful addiction with many remaining hooked for the rest of their lives and is why we must do everything we can to prevent it falling into their hands.
“We fully support this campaign and will continue to raise awareness of the devastating impact of the illicit tobacco trade on people’s health and local communities.”
Councillor Moira Smith, Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety, South Tyneside Council, said: “We are determined to clamp down on those who illegally sell cigarettes and tobacco.
“The illicit tobacco trade is strongly linked to organised crime with these criminals making huge profits from sales. They don’t care who buys from them. Therefore it is extremely important we stop these people in their tracks, particularly those selling to children.
“Our Trading Standards team does a great deal of work to prevent illicit sales of tobacco and takes enforcement action wherever necessary. But there is more to do. We would encourage people to report anyone who is profiting from the trade in illegal cigarettes and tobacco. This will help us to protect our young people and keep money out of the hands of criminals.