Prisoners ‘getting fat’ after smoking ban prompts them to buy more sweets

♦ Inmates have complained that the smoking ban in prisons is making them fat because they are now addicted to sweets instead.

The prisoners claim that since smoking was outlawed, they are spending the money they previously spent on tobacco on sweets, chocolates and crisps instead.

One prisoner at HMP Wymott in Lancashire – calling himself P Grannon – said in jail magazine Inside Time that fellow inmates were turning to “sweet fixes” instead of vaping or smoking contraband tobacco.

“Prisoners are spending their money on products such as sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks (instead of tobacco). Prisons are now probably going to have to invest in new polo shirts,” he wrote.

Others complained that the smoking ban made them “twitchy” and that they ended up using their “spends” – money they are allowed to spend in the tuck shop – to buy chocolate, crisps, sweets and fizzy drinks.

One unnamed prisoner said: “We are allowed £25 a week to spend if we are on enhanced – or £15.50 for non-enhanced. Us smokers used to spend most of it on tobacco, but now we can’t buy it anymore – and I’m not paying £10 for a smuggled-in roll up – we are buying sweets, chocolate and fizzy drinks instead – and it’s not good for the waistline.”