Tobacco-Free Sports and Recreation Policies

Tobacco-Free Sports and Recreation Policies
P1: For stamina wise it’s [chew] less harmful for your body-
P2: Yeah.
P1: whereas in cigarettes it’s easier to lose your stamina and you’re allowed to
breathe easier with chewing tobacco so.
P3: Yeah and like people don’t really think twice about throwing in a chew. It’s just
like they do it …whereas smoking a cigarette they’ll you know kind of just say, ‘oh I
shouldn’t be doing this’.
P4: having to chew is like easier if you really need that nicotine fix really.
Players reported that the most favoured tobacco products in the league are chew and cigars.
Chew was cited as most frequently used by players although it was not clear during the focus
group if participants used the product. Comments provided important insights into Junior-level
player choices and reasons for these. Another player suggested that Junior-level players choose
chew tobacco because it is discrete:
It’s easier to hide-especially if people don’t know what, you could think it’s gum in
your mouth or something like that so it’s a little bit easier. (Player)
Two players described their previous experiences with tobacco use problems among players with
Junior-level teams, and the team administration:
Last year was I guess it’s kind of like a sanitary too cause like when I played Junior
C they had like spit, little spittoons everywhere around the room, little spitters and
even our trainer he got in trouble once cause he was smoking in the trainers’ room-
-and all the jerseys smelled like smoke so it was kind of disgusting. (Player)
Players talked about cigar use but primarily in reference to celebratory events and mostly in
reference to elite players’ (e.g., NHL) use. Two players did mention their personal use:
P1: Like I’ve personally and I’ve smoked a cigar and I don’t even inhale it.
P2: Yeah you don’t. You’re not supposed to. Yeah and cause I don’t know if that
makes any difference or not. What kind of cigars are we talking here? The big
fatties or like the stogies?
One PHU key informant noted that at the Junior B level chew tobacco use patterns change as
players move from team to team and individuals may not be fully aware of any TFSR policies that
are in place:
Ontario Tobacco Research Unit 45