Western Australia - added sweetners make cigarettes easier to tolerate..

September 18, 2009 - Liquorice (Licorice), sugars and even cocoa are being added to cigarettes to help smokers inhale a "lethal cocktail", tobacco control experts say.

Bill King, from the , who has conducted extensive research into the make-up of cigarettes, said tobacco manufacturers added substances including sugars, cocoa and liquorice that made cigarettes more attractive and addictive.

Mr King: "These additives make cigarettes more attractive to smokers, and that's what's wrong with them. They lull smokers into a false sense of security. They're tricked into believing that a less harsh taste makes the cigarette less harmful for them. These additives ultimately help smokers swallow a lethal cocktail."

Mr King helped the Cancer Council WA (Western Australia, W.A.) launch a new television advertisement today which shows a number of different smoking-related health conditions and is set to the well-known song "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies.

Make Smoking History campaign manager Susan Stewart said smokers needed to know that while the true flavour of tobacco could be masked with additives, the damage caused by smoking could not be hidden. "In fact, many smokers are fascinated, unaware or shocked to discover cigarettes are made up of such ingredients," said Ms Stewart.

Almost 300,000 WA adults still smoke and around 1200 Western Australians lose their lives to smoking every year. The new ad campaign aims to get smokers to quit before it's too late.

Smokers can call the Quitline on 13 78 48 to talk to someone confidentially about quitting or enquire about the Cancer Council's Fresh Start quit smoking course. Smokers can also talk to their local GP or pharmacist.

Make Smoking History is an initiative of the and is proudly



supported by the and .

Reference: Additives make smoking sweeter, but just as deadly, KATE TARALA, The West Australian, 9/14/2009.

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