Illegal fake cigarettes flood into Merseyside

MERSEYSIDE is being flooded with smuggled cigarettes and counterfeit tobacco, damaging the health of thousands of people.

The trade is not only undermining government attempts to encourage people to kick the habit but is also damaging smokers’ health more than ordinary tobacco.

Andy Hull, chairman of Smokefree Liverpool and head of public protection at Liverpool City Council, encouraged people to quit on No Smoking Day but warned of the health risks and scale of the trade.

Samples taken of counterfeit tobacco in the city often contain rat droppings, plastic and floor dust. He estimates around three in five cigarettes in some communities are illegal.

A Tobacco Control Strategy has now been announced in Liverpool to clamp down on the trade.

Trading Standards will be working closely with police and Customs to reduce the amount of the illegal tobacco getting on to the streets of Liverpool.

Mr Hull said: “This is a huge problem that we are tackling.

“Inhaling the things in these cigarettes is more dangerous than smoking tobacco and the amount of people buying them in some communities is very worrying.

“Criminals make enormous profits from selling this tobacco, at the expense of people’s health.”

Pippa Sargent, smoke free programme manager for Heart of Mersey, said: “Smuggled cigarettes, and counterfeit tobacco in general, undermine efforts to support people to quit smoking.

“Cheap cigarettes are likely to influence young people to take up the habit. This could condemn them to a lifetime of nicotine addiction and consequent poor health.

“We need to take action to prevent counterfeit tobacco making smoking the norm for future generations.”

Dr Paula Grey, Director of Public Health for Liverpool, added: “Smoking accounts for one in five of all deaths, according to Department of Health figures.

“We have a real commitment to working to prevent counterfeit and illegal tobacco coming into this country, as well as creating a smoke free environment for everyone.”