World No Tobacco Day – Football Community Programmes to Reduce Tobacco Consumption
Can football have a positive impact on reducing tobacco consumption? Today, at the World No Tobacco Day, we are presenting a range of CSR programmes delivered by football clubs and their community trusts aiming at reducing tobacco consumption in the local communities. Additionally, we have selected resources from sport organisations that are advocating for tobacco-free sport events.
Every year, on 31st of May, the World Health Organisation and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health and additional risks associated with tobacco use, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.
This year’s motto of the World No Tobacco Day has been declared to be “Tobacco – a threat to development.”
On World No Tobacco Day, in particular, the threats that the tobacco industry poses to the sustainable development of all countries, including the health and economic well-being of their citizens shall be demonstrated and measures that governments and the public should take to promote health and development by confronting the global tobacco crisis shall be proposed.
Next to governments that are proposing and implementing changes on a large scale, also other major actors, as football clubs and their community trusts and foundations, are using their influence to communicate the risks that are associated with the consumption of tobacco.
It can be observed that programmes focused on reducing tobacco consumption, delivered by football organisations, have increased and sport organisations advocating that smoking has no place at sport events are becoming more active.
In this article, we are presenting a range of CSR programmes aiming at reducing tobacco consumption. Additionally, tobacco policies at sporting events are being presented.
Football contributing to reducing tobacco consumption in the community?
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Tobacco and Young People – Rangers Charity Foundation
The Rangers Charity Foundation is committed to helping create an environment where future generations of young people choose not to smoke. The Tobacco and Young People initiative delivers a tobacco prevention programme to pupils in primary 5, 6 and 7 with the aim of achieving this goal.
This programme has delivered a number of positive outcomes, including increased participation in physical activity and increased knowledge amongst the young people involved on the dangers of smoking. The programme is funded and supported by the NHS Health Improvement South Sector (Glasgow).
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Stop, Quit and Be Fit – Aberdeen FC Community Trust
Aberdeen FC Community Trust holds a smoking cessation and physical activity programme at Pittodrie Stadium. The sessions are delivered in partnership with NHS Grampian. Over the 12-week period participants receive different techniques on how to stop smoking, as well as taking part in different physical activities delivered by AFCCT.
Aberdeen City currently has a smoking prevalence of 24% which is above the national average of 20.2%. Research has shown that taking part in physical activity while smoking is the best way to stop.
Aberdeen FC Community Trust is the first football club in Scotland to take part in this innovative programme. Wendy Innocent, Health Promotions Services Manager with NHS Grampian says “NHS Grampian are looking forward to working in partnership with Aberdeen FC Community Trust to deliver a new programme to support people to stop smoking and improve their physical activity levels. The 12-week programme has been designed for any fan looking for help to stop smoking. Fans can expect a friendly, supportive and free service and access to free stop smoking medications.”
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Tobacco-Free Stadia Guidance– Healthy Stadia
“Sports clubs and sports facilities have a lot to gain from adopting and enforcing a tobacco-free policy prohibiting the use, sale and promotion of any type of tobacco product within a stadium environment”.
A well-enforced tobacco control policy protects fans, staff, players and guests form the acute health hazards of exposure to second-hand smoke, as well as guarding against potential fire hazards, lowering cleaning costs and de-normalises any association between sport and tobacco.
In short, clean air has now become an international standard of comfort and safety expected at sports events in many countries across Europe and the rest of the world.”
Healthy Stadia, provides guidance and project support to enable clubs to utilise their stadia as a vehicle to influence the health and behaviour of these individuals and those living in the surrounding communities.
Resources on tobacco consumption
Also on the EFDN Online Learning Platform valuable resources to the topic of Tobacco can be found. The Online Learning Platform offers a wide range of reports, research papers, policy guidelines and intervention plans freely accessible for everyone.
The offered resources provide the opportunity to develop best practice, share knowledge and create innovative solutions to the social issues being faced within our local communities.
