ASH Daily News for 17 September 2008

Liberal Democrats: Smokers face higher tax bills

According to the Liberal Democrats, smokers and those who are overweight should be taxed more heavily than those who exercise and give up cigarettes.

The party wants to reward people who lose weight and follow a healthy lifestyle with tax breaks. 

It proposes giving local health boards the power to offer tax breaks to those who sign up for gym memberships or go for regular medical check-ups.

But critics warned that it was wrong to penalise those whose lifestyles do not live up to the Lib Dems "rose-tinted" view of how to live.

The Liberal Democrats claim a "fundamental shift of power" is needed from Whitehall to the health authorities.

Health spokesman Norman Lamb said such a shift would offer boards the financial freedom to offer the incentives.

He argued it would save the NHS cash in the long term and said economists have identified £10billion savings which could be made.

Speaking at the party conference in Bournemouth Mr Lamb referred to a Canadian model of offering a tax-back payment for each child enrolled in sports or activity clubs.

Mr Lamb said: "For the same price as a packet of cigarettes people could get a weekly helping hand to improve their health."

He went on: "Incentives could be offered to encourage employers to provide fitness facilities or gym membership to overweight people who can’t afford the normal fees."

Mr Lamb admitted that there will be people who play the system by falsely claiming that they have quit smoking or are following a healthy lifestyle.

Campaigners for choice to smoke last night said incentives were better than an outright ban but said politicians should "avoid lifestyle issues".

Neil Raffery of the Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco (FOREST) said: "We would rather that people were given incentives rather than being hit with bans such as the current government has brought in.

"People should have the choice. However smokers should not be penalised."

"Politicians generally should stay out of lifestyle issues."

But anti-smoking groups welcomed the move.

Martin Dockrell of ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) said: "Seventy per cent of smokers say they want to quit so it is great to hear politicians coming up with new ideas to help them."

Source: The Sun, 15 September 2008  
Link: http://tinyurl.com/634k3d

Tobacco firms in pack design work

Tobacco firms are putting packaging design at the heart of their marketing strategies as the government continues to clamp down on the promotion of their products.

Gallaher-owned Benson & Hedges is rolling out five limited-edition packs of its Gold range of cigarettes.

Imperial Tobacco has refreshed the identity of its Golden Virginia and Windsor Blue brands and is launching special pack designs for Richmond King Size. It recently introduced price-marked packs.

Meanwhile, Philip Morris, which owns Marlboro, is trialling 'snack size' cigarettes for smokers forced outside by the smoking ban who want only a 'quick fix' of nicotine rather than a leisurely smoke.

Tobacco advertising was banned in 2003, followed by promotions, direct marketing and sponsorship a year later.

The Department of Health (DoH) is proposing plain packaging and a bigger minimum pack size to deter children from taking up the habit. Brand names would be required to be printed in a standard font, colour and size. The DoH is also recommending that cigarette displays and vending machines be banned.

John Noble, director of the British Brands Group, claimed the proposals would restrict brand-building. 'Making all products look the same will reduce consumer choice and weaken competition,' he said.

The tobacco industry in the UK is worth £12.6bn a year, according to the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association. Cigarettes account for 91% of this. In 2006 Imperial Tobacco had a 46% share of the market, followed by Gallaher with 39%, Philip Morris 8% and British American Tobacco 5.5%.

Source: Brand Republic, 16 September 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/6gotv7

Lifestyle changes could halve early deaths

Research suggests that women could halve their risk of premature death by adopting a healthier lifestyle.

By avoiding cigarettes, exercising regularly, eating healthily and keeping weight in check, 55% of early deaths from chronic diseases could be avoided.

Following all four lifestyle tips could cut 44% of cancer deaths and 72% of cardiovascular deaths, the study of nearly 80,000 nurses suggests.

In the 24-year study, 28% of the 8,882 deaths could be attributed to smoking and 55% to the combination of smoking, being overweight, not doing enough exercise and a poor diet.

Drinking too much alcohol also contributed, but women with light-to-moderate alcohol consumption of up to one drink a day were less likely to die from cardiovascular diseases than teetotallers.

Report author Dr Rob van Dam, from the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said the study's positive findings on moderate consumption of alcohol should not encourage people to go overboard.

He said it could be easy for people to adopt the basic lifestyle recommendations.

"It's simple dietary changes like eating more whole-grains and less red meat, walking to work and to the grocery shop, these really add up. And of course the thing to state is not to smoke."

According to Dr van Dam, the recommendations in his study could apply to men as well as women.

It is worth making lifestyle changes now, so that our later years are spent free from diseases.

The work is published on the British Medical Journal website. 

Source: BBC News, 16 September 2008  
Link: http://tinyurl.com/6ptcer

Ghana: Government urged to ban tobacco adverts

Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), an NGO, has called on the Ministry of Health and the Food and Drugs Board to implement a comprehensive policy to ensure a total "ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship" in the country.

"The policy should consider the maximum protection of minors, women and vulnerable groups from false and misleading messages. The policy should in addition ban indirect advertising and ensure the participation of civil society in reporting its implementation and violation."

Ghana is a signatory to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) which it ratified in June 2004 and deposited at the UN headquarters in November 2004.

In a press release signed by its Programme Director, Labram Musah Massawudu the NGO says tobacco companies operating in the country are violating provisions of the convention which are aimed at protecting consumers from the harmful effects of tobacco.

"FCTC is being violated by British American Tobacco (BAT), Ghana and other tobacco industries operating in Ghana. BAT and the marketers of Gold Seal and Capital cigarettes, engaged in a massive and intensive advertising campaign aimed at targeting children, the youth and poor communities."

The objective of the FCTC is to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke by providing a framework for tobacco control measures to be implemented by the parties at the national, regional and international levels in order to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke."

Citing examples, VALD noted that a tour of most Streets in places like Nima, Maamobi, Kanda, Ridge and other deprived communities reveals posters "on walls, trees and shops close to schools" as well as umbrellas advertising Pall Mall, Gold Seal and Capital cigarettes. "Meanwhile the messages are directed and attractive to children and the youth. Pall Mall trade their products in branded cars which violates Article 13 of the FCTC."

VALD has cause to believe that "the tobacco industry's internal documents state that to maintain it profit margin and customers, the youth and children must be recruited into smoking."

It quoted from international sources to support its call for an end to tobacco adverts in the country. "There is now incontrovertible evidence that marketing of tobacco promote youth smoking and can cause young people to begin smoking," said University of Minnesota Professor Barbara Loken, a scientific editor. "This direct link between marketing and tobacco use is very powerful," she added.

To implement the key provisions of the FCTC, Issah Ali; Organising Secretary of the Coalition of NGOs on Tobacco Control urged Cabinet, the Attorney Generals Department and Parliament to expedite action and pass the Draft Tobacco Control Bill into law.

VALD is an NGO established to promote alternative initiative and support development at all levels of society. It's objectives include enhancing education on Tobacco Control and health issues, empowering the youth to participate in governance, promotion of youth enterprise and advocacy for cultural diversity and peace. VALD is a member of the Coalition of NGOs on Tobacco Control - CNTC, Ghana.

Source: All Africa, 15 September 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/6pu2xz