The History of Tobacco Infographics

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Action Being Taken On Tobacco Smugglers

Tobacco smuggling has been an industry that is hard to control. However, Britain has finally taken control and is winning the war concerned with cheap cigarettes being imported illegally. The products are usually targeted at children and those who are short on money, giving them a deal that is very hard to refuse.

Currently, the black market operates at 9%, a massive fall from figures in 2000, where one in five of cigarettes was sourced from the black market. The amount of smugglers fell by 22% over the same period of time, showing just how much the black market has fallen. Cheap cigarettes made it easier for people to obtain cheap cigarettes, meaning they were readily available and also avoiding tax on the products. The cheaper the cigarette the more appealing they will be to children, which is encouraging younger people to take up the habit.

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Therefore, the British Government is taking action against the black market, with most action being taken by the UK Boarder Agency and HM Revenue & Customs. The action came due to businesses in the tobacco industry worrying that smugglers were taking a large fraction of their trade and are also worrying the introduction of standardised cigarette packets would encourage more people to produce black market products as they are easier to counterfeit.

MP’s have denied that the tobacco industry has anything to worry about but are taking more precautions to put their minds at ease and it seems they don’t have anything to worry about, with the amount of smugglers still decreasing considerably. Previously, some tobacco cigarette manufacturers deliberately exported more cigarettes than needed, knowing they would be smuggled back into the UK. There has been action taken against this and it is unlikely this problem will continue.

Extended Smoking Ban

There are talks in Parliament of further regulation to be made to the smoking ban, introduced to the UK in 2007. The smoking ban made all tobacco smoking in public places illegal and it is thought further action should be taken to improve public health. The further smoking ban will make smoking in cars where children are present illegal because the fumes breathed in can be 11 times more concentrated.

The Prime Minister has stated the improvement in public health since the health ban being introduced. On average 300,000 children visit their GP each year for illnesses caused by second hand smoke. With new laws banning smo king in the car it is hoped the public health issues will fall even more. In Australia, recent laws have meant the packaging for cigarettes is completely plain. There are also talks for this to become legal in Britain as well.

As well as it being a public safety concern, it can also cause a lack of concentration. Lighting up will take their eyes off the road, meaning the possibility of a crash is higher. However, health minister Anna Soubry has stated it is mainly a child welfare issue. Health and anti smoking groups have backed both the plain packaging and car ban laws. They believe after the evidence that has come to light, the ban is unarguable. With so much support from the public, it is unlikely the ban will not be passed.

The amount of children admitted to hospital over second hand smoke is astonishing and not doing anything about the problem will be ignoring the problem. With 9,500 children being administered to hospital, something has to be done to solve it. It is hoped banning smoking in the car will solve it. Smoking in vehicles used for work, like vans, lorries or car pools has been banned since 2007.

With it most infecting small children and babies due to their small lungs, they breathe in more smoke, which will affect them largely because their lungs are so small. Some of the most common illnesses associated with second hand smoke in children include asthma, ear infections and pneumonia. Cot death is also more common with babies who are subjected to second hand smoke. Children’s immune systems haven’t yet fully developed, making the chances of them getting them ill even more likely. It is also a lot more likely that the child breathing in the smoke will form cancer later on in life.

The plan has been slightly set in motion, with fines of £60 being given to people who have been smoking in a car. They also have to attend a smoke awareness course . This shows the problem has been acknowledged and further action is being taken to prevent the problem.

Some countries have already banned smoking tobacco in the car, including South Africa, America and Australia. They have seen an improvement in public health and it is likely Britain will follow in their footsteps. Tobacco specialists are a company selling the best quality tobacco products. Owning a company in Blackburn, Lancashire they have been in business for over 85 years, making sure they sell only the best products.

Chewing Tobacco

Chewing tobacco is a form of smokeless tobacco. In order to release flavour and nicotine the user must chew on the tobacco. There are different forms of chewing tobacco that are manufactured all over the world. Chewing tobacco was most popular in America during early 20th Century until cigarettes became popular. There are four main types of chewing tobacco that are listed below.

Loose Leaf Tobacco: This type of tobacco is also known as snuff and is chopped to create loose leaves. It is packed in aluminium-lined pouches and is widely available and easy to use. It gives the user the stimulating effects of nicotine without inhaling any smoke and it simply dissolves in the mouth.

Plug Tobacco: Using molasses to sweeten it, it comes in pressed blocks that the user has to cut or bite off in order to consume it. This is a great option for first time users due to the sweetness of the product. They have a lot of moisture and flavour.

Twist Tobacco: It is spun and rolled to resemble ropes and twisted to form a knot. There is less moisture than plug or loose-leaf tobacco in twist tobacco and it is possible to smoke rather than chew.

Dipping Tobacco: This is a very moist type of tobacco and is traditionally ground or shredded. Very similar to loose leaf tobacco it also goes by the name of moist snuff. It can have a range of different cuts depending on the comfort for the user.

Tobacco Bits: These are flavoured and sweetened tobacco that the user chews. Tobacco Bits are small bits of tobacco so are eaten individually, like mints. Chewing tobacco isn’t as popular as it used to be due when it came to light that it could be as harmful as cigarettes and cause cancers in the mouth and throat. Chewing tobacco also went out of fashion when cigars and cigarettes started to be imported more readily, however it was a sign of masculinity in the 20th century.

Iconic Smoking Scenes

Smoking has long gone hand-in-hand with Hollywood blockbusters. From the days when actors would actively endorse different tobacco brands in between feature presentations to now when smoking signifies a rebellious, devil-may-care attitude to authority and the rules. Connotations of down-to-earth rugged action are often born from the simply drags of a cigarette on screen. Here are some of the most iconic smoking scenes from the silver screen.

It is a guarantee that Sharon Stone would not have been smoking Cheap Tobacco in Basic Instinct. One of the most famous scenes in movie history when her leg switch revealed more than was reportedly intended. It is reported that it was not the intention for her to bare that much flesh but only happened because the underwear she wore was reflecting light and had to be removed. The cigarette in hand only served to ramp up the sexual energy in the scene.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Pipe Tobacco smoking Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings. As one of only 6 wizards in Middle Earth, it may have been hard for many to identify with Gandalf. However, the act of smoking a pipe and enjoying simple pleasures served to make him easier to connect to for audiences whilst retaining his quiet and wizened dignity.

Dustin Hoffman delivered one of the most famous and iconic lines in movie history when he caught Mrs Robinson pulling seductively on a cigarette in her living. The smoking middle aged woman has been a symbol of sexual excitement for almost as long as films have been made. The act of smoking created a sense of authority and empowerment within Mrs Robinson that could not be fought.

During The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Clint Eastwood retains a cigar in his mouth throughout the entire Mexican Standoff. The control and poise created by the clenched jaw signified a powerful man who astutely judged the situation and acted accordingly. Many men have since tried to reenact the scene with a single cigar bought from their local Tobacco Shop.