ASH Daily News for 09 October 2007

10-year warning for persistent smokers

Launched by SmokeFree Greater Manchester, innovative techniques are being used to persuade smokers to quit the harmful habit, including showing the damaging effect on their appearance.

In a reversal of the hit TV show “Ten Years Younger”, where participants are given a makeover to roll back the years, smokers in Oldham were shown how they will look in ten years time if they keep smoking. The tactic of appealing to people’s vanity was part of a package of measures being used as smokers across Oldham were invited to hop on to the Quit It bus to help stop. Specialist NHS Stop Smoking advisors were on board to give practical help and advice as they shopped.

High-tech age progression software was used to show how people will look in ten years time if they continue to smoke, including extra wrinkles and dry skin with a yellowish taint.

Lung capacity testing also spelt out the health dangers, while experts on healthy eating were also at hand to provide tips on how people can keep their weight under control after quitting.

With the ban on smoking in public places fully enforced now is the perfect time to quit. 

Liz Woodworth, Oldham PCT’s Stop Smoking service co-ordinator, said: “Our aim is to help and support people to quit smoking.

“Our message is, all is not lost — there is still the opportunity to obtain help and support to kick the habit.”

Smokers are four times more likely to quit using such a service, which can support people in a number of ways, including holding group sessions, one-to-one support or telephone advice

Source: Oldham Evening Chronicle, 8th October 2007
Link: http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/NEWSM09.html

North West Minister welcomes new tobacco law

North West Minister Beverley Hughes has welcomed a new law making it illegal for retailers to sell tobacco products to under 18s.
The law, which came into effect on October 1st, aims to discourage young people from taking up smoking.

"Here in the North West we have some of the highest smoking rates in the country, and, as a consequence, high levels of serious smoking related illnesses. We know prevention is better than cure, so anything that will reduce the number of young people who start smoking in the first place is very welcome.

"Raising the legal age at which tobacco can be bought from 16 to 18 will help prevent young people getting addicted, and help retailers by bringing age restrictions for tobacco into line with those for alcohol and other substances," said the Minister.

Over 20% of 14 to 17-year-olds in the North West claim to be smokers, according to a report by Trading Standards.

Young anti-smoking campaigners have welcomed the new law, with Charly Southern (17), who is involved in the Roy Castle Lung Foundation's anti-tobacco youth campaign, saying: "If it's harder for young people to get hold of cigarettes, then it reinforces how bad they are."

Research released by YouGov revealed that 67% of adults in the North West believe it makes sense to raise the minimum age for the sale of tobacco to 18 in line with alcohol. This backs up evidence from Ireland that shows the same law change there played a key role in reducing the prevalence of teenage smoking.

Andrea Crossfield, the North West's tobacco Tobacco Control lead, said: "The latest figures show a startling number of young people are smokers. This law change is vital in our battle to prevent teenagers from taking up this addictive habit. The younger a smoker starts the more likely they are to die prematurely as a result of their addiction. Someone who starts smoking at 15 is three times as likely to die from cancer due to smoking as someone who starts in their mid-20s."

Tony Allen, of the Trading Standards' Under Age Sales Strategy Group in the North West, said: "Raising the age limit from 16 to 18 will help reduce levels of sales of cigarettes to young people. For the last few years, Trading Standards Officers have shown that by clamping down on under-age sales, significant reductions in under-age drinking can be achieved. Now the fight is on to tackle under-age smoking."

Source: Pendle Today, 5th October 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/25dacn

Smoke rebel faces prosecution

Smoke rebel Tony Blows is being prosecuted for flouting the ban at his Dog Inn pub in Ewyas Harold, Herefordshire.

Blows will appear before magistrates on 26 October for allegedly smoking himself and allowing others to on 4 August.

He is also accused of failing in his duty to stop customers smoking in the pub on 23 July by Herefordshire council.

However, Blows remains defiant. "To be honest I think they are idiots," he told the Morning Advertiser.

"They are going to spend a lot of money getting nowhere. I have spoken to my solicitor and we are confident. This will go all the way to the European Court if they pursue it."

Blows claims he has “done his bit” by informing all his customers of the law but said he cannot risk the safety of his staff by making them enforce it.

“Because of the Health and Safety Executive’s violence in the workplace legislation I can’t ask my staff to enforce the ban. If someone wants to light up I will tell them it is illegal but I can’t put my staff in a position where they might be threatened with violence.

“If they tell someone to stop smoking and that person rears up I’ll tell them to get on with it.”

"The legislation says I must take reasonable steps to stop people smoking and I have done that."

He added: “The support I have received has been overwhelming. I have had offers of financial help but I have not yet taken that up."

Blows said he would continue with his policy at the Dog Inn.

Source: Morning Advertiser, 8th October 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/27po43 

Bar workers feel benefits of smoking ban

Hospitality workers across the country are already experiencing health benefits following the 1 July smoking ban, a study has suggested.

Research by the Tobacco Control Collaborating Centre in Warwick reported that before the ban, the average hospitality employee's exposure to second-hand smoke was the equivalent to smoking 190 cigarettes a year. However, the study of 40 bars, pubs and restaurants in August revealed today that employees' exposure to second-hand smoke has since dropped by 95 per cent.

Now that smoking is allowed only in specified outdoor areas of pubs, restaurants and hotels, the study asserts that employees are now exposed to the second-hand smoke of only 44 cigarettes a year.

Researchers tested the air quality of pubs and restaurants and measured the level of cotinine, the metabolic byproduct of nicotine, in non-smoking workers' blood. They found that the air quality dropped from near hazardous levels to ones similar to outside air and staff now have four times less cotinine in their blood than in June.

Source: People Management Online, 8th October 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/39aw83

Australia fines smokers on beaches, sidewalks, all open areas

Australia, having banned smoking in bars and clubs and other closed areas, is to fine those who smoke in open public places like beaches, side walks, and anywhere near a playground for children as of next year.

The Australian government is very serious in combating smoking and its fierce campaigns have brought the percentage of smokers down to 15 percent of the population, which is the lowest figure among industrial nations. Legislation today allows smoking in places where open areas take up 25 percent at least. 

Assistant Health Minister Verity Firth launched the line recently with the hope of saving some 5.2 billion Australian dollars over the next two decades.

Australia's first smoking ban law was issued 95 years ago. Today, all sorts of advertising for tobacco are banned.

Australian researchers recently concluded that by 2030, Australia has a shot at being smoke-free when being publically seen holding a cigarette would be frowned upon.

Source: Kuwait News Agency, 7th October 2007 
Link: http://tinyurl.com/2t6uo6