Tobacco Free Futures newsletter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser . Unsubscribe here

May 2014

TFF event inspires young people to back standardised packs

We are happy to report that our Smoke & Mirrors event in April was a great success, with teenagers from across the NW learning about the power of cigarette packaging. The event provided the young people with an insight into some of the successes and achievements of the Smoke & Mirrors project, and a detailed look at how the tobacco industry uses clever marketing tactics to entice young people to smoke.

The young people were passionate and engaged, with many publicly showing their support for standardised packaging by providing quotes for local media. You can read some of the young people's personal thoughts about the effects of cigarette packaging here.

A number of young people expressed an interest in working with us again around standardised packaging and raising awareness of tobacco industry tactics in their area, we look forward to working with them to strengthen campaigns.

We received excellent media coverage following the event in the young people's local areas including the Lancashire Evening Post, Liverpool Echo, The Blackburn Citizen and Salford Online. Please see extra coverage in the 'more local tobacco news' section below.

MP support for standardised packaging

We will be engaging with NW MPs to capture their support for standardised packaging ahead of the Parliamentary vote expected in July this year. We will be focusing on why legislation is needed, why MPs should support the measure and counteracting the tobacco industry's arguments. We hope to secure their support and promote this through photo calls in local press and social media. We'll be tweeting throughout the campaign, for further updates please follow us here.

One in five baby boys born in Manchester will not live to 65

Statistics reveal that 20% of males in Manchester city authority will not make it to 65 years of age. A variety of different factors have been put forward to explain the low life expectancy including tobacco dependency. Read more here.

Illegal tobacco haul seized in Cumbria raids

Illicit cigarettes and counterfeit tobacco have been seized in a county-wide sting which included trading standards officers, supported by the North West Illicit Tobacco Team and Cumbria Police. Similar raids are taking place across the NW, including Bury and Radcliffe. Read more here.

Nine year old asks for NHS help to quit smoking

A nine-year-old boy has asked for help from his local NHS trust to help him quit smoking, after he wanted to "fit in" and look cool. Read more here.

Electronic cigarette users in UK have tripled since 2010

The number of people who use electronic cigarettes in the UK has tripled over the past two years to 2.1 million, according to new research from ASH. Read more here.

Advice about e-cigarettes and pets

The Veterinary Poisons Information Service offers advice following a dog dying in Cumbria from eating an e-cigarette. Read more

Baby heart risk for pregnant smokers

American research suggests babies born to women over 35 who smoke are at greater risk of having specific heart defects. Read more here.

Editor's note

Hi and welcome to your May eNews.

This month we are excited to report back on our fantastic Smoke & Mirrors event. It was great to meet with young people and find out how they have personally been affected by tobacco packaging. Thank you to everyone who helped us contact youth groups across the NW to make the event a success.

We are currently busy planning NW MP engagement work to gain more support for standardised packaging. We will be arranging events, photo calls and press coverage to gain maximum NW support ahead of the upcoming Parliamentary vote. I look forward to updating you on our progress next month.

Ian White, Project Manager: Communications and Marketing