ASH Daily News for 11/10/2001
HEADLINES
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ASH Daily News
11 October 2001
Headlines
UK tobacco firms reject ad standards
Smoking cessation intervention by GPs
Smoke screen
Full Text
UK tobacco firms reject ad standards
Imperial Tobacco and Gallaher Tobacco, two of the UK leading tobacco companies, have rejected invitations to sign up to the industry’s new global marketing standards.
The firms, whose brand include Benson & Hedges, Embassy and Regal, have declined to join the tobacco alliance that has pledged to adhere to a set of basic marketing principles. The standards include banning the use of models aged under 35 in their advertising and not running ads in publications if fewer than 75% of readers are adults.
So far seven companies have signed up to the agreements, including British American Tobacco, Philip Morris, Japan Tobacco and Thailand Tobacco Monopoly. The initiative, which was formulated within and proposed by the tobacco industry itself was meant to demonstrate its growing desire to be seen to be ‘socially responsible’.
However, anti-smoking groups observing industry tactics, have suggested that this is not more than a cynical attempt to stave off governments introducing legislation to ban tobacco advertising.
A spokeswoman for Imperial Tobacco said the company had its own marketing that were ‘broadly congruent’ with the framework being proposed. She denied there was a need for industry-wide stance on the issue.
Source: Marketing Magazine, 11 October 2001
Smoking Cessation Intervention by GPs
The General Practitioner elaborates on proposals made by Smoking Cessation Action in Primary carE, SCAPE, a group of health care professionals aiming to contribute to the efficacy of smoking cessation measures within the NHS.
Proposals put forward by SCAPE are meant to help GPs streamline their smoking cessation interventions during patient consultations without losing too much time. A recent survey by SCAPE had found that even though a vast majority of GPs thought that helping patients stop smoking was the best they could do for their long-term health, nearly an equal majority were put off by engaging in smoking cessation advice due to a lack of time.
Details of SCAPE proposals are available from:
SCAPE: 1st Floor, 30 Orange Street, London WC2H 7LZ
Tele: 020 7331 5300
Fax: 020 7331 9084
Source: General Practitioner, 11 October 2001
Smoke screen
Sold Out is backing the governments Smoke Screen anti-smoking campaign, being launched this month. The company is putting information and competition leaflets in with 400,000 budget-priced games. The company says it is the first time the government has turned to their industry for help. Trouble TV will show five short films about smoking next month.
Source: Guardian G2 ‘Online’ section, page 7, 11 October 2001
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