World No Tobacco Day
To mark World No Tobacco Day, the London Tobacco Alliance has partnered with the Partnership for Young London and the University of Bath’s Tobacco Control Research Group to run a webinar exposing tobacco industry tactics and warning young people of the dangers of becoming hooked on tobacco industry products.
The webinar is hosted by Dr Sophie Braznell, Research Associate in the University of Bath’s Tobacco Control Research Group.
Tracy Parr, Programme Director for the London Tobacco Alliance and Stop Smoking London, says:
“We need social media platforms to support us in our bid to protect young people from the underhand tactics of the tobacco industry.
The reality is that the tobacco industry has not really changed; it has only diversified. The only way it can survive is by targeting its products at young people to addict the next generation.”
Kirsten Watters, London Children and Young People’s Lead for the Association of Directors of Public Health says:
“It’s important that we educate young people around the tactics that are used to manipulate them so they can make informed choices. Tobacco is the most preventable cause of ill health, disability and death in the country, killing up to 2 in 3 long term smokers.
Every year in London, smoking leads to almost 6,000 deaths and 15,500 children start smoking.”