AIMS: To explore attitudes towards, and experience of, illicit tobacco usage in a disadvantaged community against a backdrop of austerity and declining national trends in illicit tobacco use. DESIGN: Qualitative study using 10 focus groups. SETTING: Multiply disadvantaged community in Nottingham, United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-eight smokers, ex- and non-smokers aged 15-60 years. MEASUREMENTS: Focus group topic guides. FINDINGS: There was high awareness and use of illegal tobacco sources, with 'fag houses' (individuals selling cigarettes from their own homes) being particularly widespread. Rather than being regarded as marginal behaviour, buying illicit tobacco was perceived as commonplace, even where products were known to be counterfeit. Smokers' willingness to smoke inferior 'nasty' counterfeit products may be testament to their need for cheap nicotine. Illicit tobacco was seen to be of mutual benefit to both user (because of its low cost) and seller (because it provided income and support for the local economy). Illicit tobacco sellers were generally condoned, in contrast with the government, which was blamed for unfair tobacco taxation, attitudes possibly heightened by the recession. Easy access to illicit tobacco was seen to facilitate and sustain smoking, with the main concern being around underage smokers who were perceived to be able to buy cheap cigarettes without challenge. CONCLUSIONS: National strategies to reduce illicit tobacco may have limited impact in communities during a recession and where illicit trade is part of the local culture and economy. There may be potential to influence illicit tobacco use by building on the ambivalence and unease expressed around selling to children.
AIMS: To explore attitudes towards, and experience of, illicit tobacco usage in a disadvantaged community against a backdrop of austerity and declining national trends in illicit tobacco use. DESIGN: Qualitative study using 10 focus groups. SETTING: Multiply disadvantaged community in Nottingham, United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-eight smokers, ex- and non-smokers aged 15-60 years. MEASUREMENTS: Focus group topic guides. FINDINGS: There was high awareness and use of illegal tobacco sources, with 'fag houses' (individuals selling cigarettes from their own homes) being particularly widespread. Rather than being regarded as marginal behaviour, buying illicit tobacco was perceived as commonplace, even where products were known to be counterfeit. Smokers' willingness to smoke inferior 'nasty' counterfeit products may be testament to their need for cheap nicotine. Illicit tobacco was seen to be of mutual benefit to both user (because of its low cost) and seller (because it provided income and support for the local economy). Illicit tobacco sellers were generally condoned, in contrast with the government, which was blamed for unfair tobacco taxation, attitudes possibly heightened by the recession. Easy access to illicit tobacco was seen to facilitate and sustain smoking, with the main concern being around underage smokers who were perceived to be able to buy cheap cigarettes without challenge. CONCLUSIONS: National strategies to reduce illicit tobacco may have limited impact in communities during a recession and where illicit trade is part of the local culture and economy. There may be potential to influence illicit tobacco use by building on the ambivalence and unease expressed around selling to children.
Authors: Niamh K Shortt; Catherine Tisch; Jamie Pearce; Richard Mitchell; Elizabeth A Richardson; Sarah Hill; Jeff Collin Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-10-05 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Ashleigh Guillaumier; Billie Bonevski; Christine Paul; Catherine D'Este; Laura Twyman; Kerrin Palazzi; Christopher Oldmeadow Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2016-01-11 Impact factor: 3.390