Campaigners fuming over sweet cigarettes

Published on Saturday 15 December 2007 19:21

HEALTH campaigners have hit out after it was revealed that chocolate cigarettes are among the biggest-selling sweets this Christmas.

As the trend for buying so-called 'retro candy' increases, there are concerns that buying the cigarettes could encourage youngsters to smoke.

Packs which look remarkably similar to the real thing and are emblazoned with names such as 'Old Toad', 'Everest' and 'Krakatoa', are proving very popular. They sell for 99p for three packs, with each containing eight 'cigarettes'.

But anti-smoking campaigners fear that if the cigarettes are passed on to youngsters or if children see adults 'smoking' them, it will entice them into trying the real thing.

Sheila Duffy, director of information and communications at ASH Scotland said she was disappointed to hear of the return of chocolate cigarettes and urged parents not to allow their children to have them.

She added: "While sweetie cigarettes look like harmless fun, research shows that children playing with them are more likely to go on to experiment with real cigarettes. Tobacco is highly addictive and lethal. We need to keep these products well away from children."

The World Health Organisation has been so concerned with the issue of chocolate cigarettes that it suggested a total ban on their sale.

But Neil Rafferty, a spokesman for pro-smoking group Forest, described the fears as "alarmist". He added: "I would assume that children like chocolate cigarettes because they contain chocolate."