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Students ‘Kick Ash’ with local MP

Students from Bottisham Village College met today with local MP Jim Paice at the House of Commons to call for the end of online cigarette promotion aimed at young people. 15-year-olds Carlie Foster, Jess Foster and Katie France highlighted to Jim how tobacco companies are using social networking sites, such as Facebook, Bebo and YouTube, to promote cigarettes to the under 18s.

The students are representatives of Kick Ash, a countywide programme led by young people, which aims to prevent the under 16s from starting to smoke.

Katie said: "Social networking sites are used by millions of young people across the world. We use them because it's a great way to keep in contact with our friends. What's worrying though is how tobacco companies are using them to encourage young people to start smoking. We want Facebook, Bebo and YouTube and other social networking sites to now pull the plug on cigarette promotion by removing videos and pages that advertise tobacco."

Carlie said: "It's really exciting to bring Kick Ash to the House of Commons and meet with Jim to raise awareness about our campaign. I don't think people are aware how tobacco companies use social networking sites to influence young people."

Jess added: "We want young people across Cambridgeshire to realise the dangers of smoking and to show pride in being smoke free."

Jim said, “I was not aware that social networking sites are being used in this way and am grateful for this being drawn to my attention. I greatly admire the work that these girls are doing in our local area, and specifically in their own school, to encourage young people not to start smoking.”