YOUNG people don’t realise the danger they are putting themselves in with water pipes and chewing tobacco, says West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service.
The organisation has given out a warning to people who use Gutkha, Zarda, Khaini, nasal snuff, Biri or Beedi cigarettes, shisha or hookah pipes.
These products are sometimes known as smokeless tobacco, chewing tobacco or niche tobacco.
Officials say many people don’t realise that these products contain tobacco.
They add that just like smoking cigarettes, the use of such tobacco products is addictive and presents serious health risks.
Mouth cancer increased in the UK by 41% in the last 10 years.
A new sensation which has grown in popularity rapidly among young people is the smoking of “shisha” or water pipe. It has become a social occasion like going to the movies or going out for a meal.
Parents may allow young children to participate as they think it is a safe alternative to cigarette smoking, when in fact one full shisha session can contain the same amount of smoke as up to 100 cigarettes. Trading Standards in partnership with NHS Kirklees has teamed up with the Pakistan Association and Thornton Lodge action group in Huddersfield to inform service users of the harms of these types of tobacco.
Graham Hebblethwaite from Trading Standards said: “The project aims to address this by working with people of all ages and would encourage anyone who would like to find out more information to contact Trading Standards.”
Clr Mohan Sokhal said: “I am pleased to see that this partnership is taking an active role in highlighting the dangers posed by these products. Some service users have said they have grandchildren, who were using the shisha and wanted the information so they could pass it on to them.”
