Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

News Roundup [abridged Versions Appear In The Paper Journal]

Chocolate cigarettes “recruit” children to smoking

BMJ 2003; 326 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.326.7384.302/b (Published 08 February 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;326:302

Rapid Response:

There were candy cigarettes in the UK!

I distinctly remember on more than one occasion buying a packet of
cigarette shaped white candy sicks as a child in Lanarkshire. (A place
were chocolate cigarettes would have negigible influence on children
smoking). I also remember plastic pipes being sold which acted as
whistles.

I have never smoked ever. I also didn't "worship" alcohol as a
student because I looked at crates and crates of beer as child in my
father's restaurant store room.

The draw for a child to smoke is curiosity. Demystifying something in
a child's eye, takes away temptation and glamour. Like alcohol for me. I
don't smoke because my grandparents died of smoking related diseases.

I'm not sure whether banning chocolate cigarettes will have a great
impact in children taking up smoking, but if it does, then it can only be
a good thing.

Competing interests:  
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

14 February 2003
Chris Chung
SHO A+E
Formerly Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow