Shisha is disproportionately used among young people and they are misinformed about its harms. Current laws cannot be effectively applied to the shisha tobacco industry.
Prohibit shisha flavours to reduce underage use and protect young people’s health. License the activity to ensure better enforcement.
Shisha tobacco is a much safer alternative to cigarettes. The water within helps filter out any toxins.
It’s still tobacco! Shisha tobacco is just as harmful as cigarettes; water does not make it any safer. Tobacco smoke contains over 60 cancer-causing chemicals and 200 toxins. Shisha tobacco, like cigarettes, can lead to cancer, heart and lung disease. Shisha cafes remain compliant with legislation and generally are socially responsible in their business. Across the country shisha cafes are known to ignore tobacco, health and safety, and licensing legislation. Under-age use is common, and little is being done to protect minors from the harms of shisha tobacco. Non-tobacco (herbal) shisha does not cause any harm to the body. Herbal shisha is a healthier alternative.
This type of shisha is still harmful to health. Even 'tobacco-free’ shisha will expose the smoker to carbon monoxide fumes and any toxins from the burning charcoal and herbal substances. Occasional and social shisha tobacco use is not addictive and therefore not harmful to long-term health. Shisha tobacco smoking produces significant increases in blood nicotine levels, which causes dependence after several uses. Shisha tobacco smoking also spreads infections as a result of sharing mouthpieces, including oral herpes, hepatitis and tuberculosis. The shisha industry makes positive contributions to the economy due to taxes and employment opportunities. Nearly all shisha tobacco bought and consumed in the UK is not duty-paid, and is therefore illegal, costing the UK tax payer at least £10 million per year. Shisha tobacco contains various kinds of fruit flavours, so it is healthier than other forms of tobacco use.
All forms of tobacco use are known to be life threatening and life shortening, regardless of the flavours used. The flavours mask the dangers of shisha tobacco use. The video featured above is a CTRL-Z production. CTRL-Z is the youth prevention arm of Kick-it Stop Smoking Services and they regularly visit schools and youth clubs to deliver workshops based around the video and shisha usage.
It’s Still Tobacco
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