ASH Daily News for 14 August 2008

Winchester smokers stubbing out

According to a report by South East Public Health Observatory, Winchester has one of the lowest number of smokers in the South East.

The city came in below the south east average for the number of residents lighting up, and also fell below the average for all cities in England, Wales and Scotland.

Winchester also has one of the lowest rates of mortality due to smoking with an estimated 151 deaths per year due to the habit - compared to the England average of 225.

The news comes as The Future of Tobacco Control' consultation looks for the public's input between now and September 8 into further measures that will stop people smoking and prevent young people starting to smoke.

One year on from smokefree legislation in public places being introduced, the consultation looks at new proposals that would take things further.

Among the suggestions the Department of Health has put forward are:

(1) Removing branding and logos from all tobacco packaging.

(2) Restricting access to cigarette vending machines by young people - whether by banning vending machines altogether or through systems that only allow adult purchase.

(3) Restricting the display of tobacco products in shops, which may include putting cigarettes under the counter.

Sarah Preece, co-ordinator of Smoke Free Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: "This is a very important consultation to decide future activity in England around the control of tobacco.

"This could have a major impact nationally and locally and as many people as possible are being asked to respond with their views and comments.

You can show your support for the governments consultation by sending an e-postcard to the Department of Health. 
http://www.smokefreeaction.org.uk/consultation_response/eresponse.html

Source: The Hampshire Chronicle, 12 August 2008  
Link: http://tinyurl.com/5vutzl

Underage sales warning to traders

Traders in the London Borough of Newham have been warned not to sell age-restricted goods, such as cigarettes to children, or face prosecution.

The warning follows complaints made to Newham Council that children as young as 13 are being sold cigarettes and alcohol. Customers need to be over 18 before they can buy these goods.

Trading standards officers are working with the police and undercover underage test purchasers in carrying out spot checks on traders, including cigarette vending machines located in pubs, clubs and bars. Persistent offenders will be prosecuted.

Councillor Andrew Baikie, executive member for public protection, said: During the school holidays, there will be more children around and sometimes it may be difficult to know if they are old enough to buy the goods. Traders are advised that if they are not sure the customer is old enough to purchase the goods, then they should ask for proof of age. If no proof of age can be produced, then refuse the sale.

It is illegal to sell cigarettes, cigarette papers or any other tobacco product to anyone under 18. It is illegal to break a pack open and sell loose cigarettes from it to anyone child or adult.

Traders are advised to make sure the Government health warning on the packet is in English.

Traders are advised to make sure the warning notice, 'It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18' is displayed and can be seen clearly at all times.

Cigarette vending machines must have on them the warning notice, 'This vending machine is only for the use of people aged 18 or over' and users of vending machines must be monitored to ensure no under 18s are buying cigarettes.

Source: 24dash, 13 August 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/5d9bvy

Australia: Smoking mothers put second child at risk despite giving up cigarettes

A large Australian health study has found that women who smoke in their first pregnancy are also putting their second baby at risk of being born small or premature.

Researchers from Sydney's Liverpool Hospital examined the medical records from almost 245,000 mothers who gave birth to two children.

They found women who smoked in the first pregnancy but not the second still had a higher risk of having a pre-term baby.

One fifth of Australian women still smoke while pregnant.

The more women smoked, the more likely they were to have smaller babies or infants prone to becoming sick after birth.

Source: ABC News, 13 August 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/6f925y

German High Court Says Bavarian Anti-Smoking Law Constitutional

Germany's high court said a law that bans smoking in restaurants in the state of Bavaria is constitutional, rejecting an appeal by an unidentified smoker and two innkeepers. 

The Bavarian law is in line with a July 30 ruling that permits smoking bans as long as they don't allow for exceptions, the Karlsruhe-based Constitutional Court said.

The Bavarian state law, one of the strictest in Germany, doesn't apply to clubs with a restricted membership because they aren't open to the public. That regulation doesn't impinge on innkeepers' freedom of profession, the court said.

Government attempts to introduce a country-wide smoking ban last year foundered amid legal opinion that, under Germany's federal system, individual states have the right to legislate on smoking as it affects pubs and restaurants. The 16 states have since passed their own smoking bans, prompting legal challenges by barkeepers and smokers.

The Federal Constitutional Court, in its July 30 ruling on challenges from Baden-Wuerttemberg and Berlin, said that laws in those two states banning smoking in small pubs that don't have an extra room which can be designated for smokers are discriminatory.

Source: Bloomberg, 12 August 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/5otppq

Canada: Rothmans reports loss after smuggling settlement

Rothmans Inc has reported a first-quarter loss, hurt by expenses after it admitted to helping tobacco smuggling.

Canada's second largest cigarette maker said it lost C$354.4 million ($334 million), or C$5.20 a share, compared with a profit of C$33.8 million, or 49 Canadian cents a share, a year earlier.

Rothmans said its profit was hit by expenses relating to a settlement involving its unit Rothmans Benson & Hedges Inc, which in late July admitted to aiding the contraband tobacco trade.

The police investigation relates to the years 1989 through 1996, the company said, when tobacco was exported from Canada to the United States and then smuggled back into the country to avoid high taxes.

Under terms of the settlement, Rothmans said it will pay a total of C$550 million this year. Rothmans said it logged an expense of C$415 million in the quarter to recognise the settlement.

As well, the Rothmans Benson & Hedges said it has logged a related expense of C$9.7 million.

Rothmans said adjusted operating earnings were C$35.4 million, or 52 Canadian cents a share in the quarter.

Analysts had expected average earnings of 51 Canadian cents a share before exceptions, according to Reuters Estimates..

The company said it believes the illegal trade in contraband tobacco will remain a key factor affecting both Rothmans Benson & Hedges Inc and total industry volumes.

Availability of smuggled cigarettes in Canada, due to high tobacco taxes, may hurt sales volumes, it said.

Source: Forbes, 12 August 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/6z2at5