ASH Daily News for 21/10/2002
HEADLINES
ASH, 102 Clifton Street, LONDON, EC2A 4HW.
Tel 020 7739 5902 Fax 020 7613 0531
ASH Daily News
19 – 21 October 2002
HEADLINES
Customs to curb random searches of cross-Channel shoppers
China to host F1 grand prix in 2004
Final stages of tobacco ad ban
Celebrity smokers
FULL TEXT
Customs to curb random searches of cross-Channel shoppers
Customs and Excise is to target professional smuggles rather than
day-trippers at Channel ports. The move follows accusations that Customs
officers have been over zealous in stopping apparently innocent shoppers to
check for smuggled alcohol and cigarettes. The issue was inflamed last
month when the EU Commissioner Frits Bolkenstein said that UK controls might
be in breach of EU rules. A spokesman for Customs & Excise said: “We
are looking at ways to improve our targeting” but played down suggestions
that the government would formally announce a new regime. However reports
in The Sun and Daily Telegraph are much more bullish, claiming that an
announcement to be made “shortly” that will back the High Court decision
earlier this year that Customs officers have no right to stop and search
cross-channel travellers for alcohol and cigarettes unless they have
reasonable grounds for suspicion. The Sun has extensive coverage of
individuals who claim to have been “bullied” by customs officials.
Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, The Sun, 21/10/02
China to host F1 grand prix in 2004
Max Moseley, the head of the International motor racing organisation the
FIA, has announced that there will be a Chinese grand prix in 2004. A
six-year contract with the new circuit in Shanghai should be signed this
month. The Guardian notes that the Chinese race “represents a major
commercial coup for Formula 1 at a time when cigarette sponsorship is being
progressively reined in at European events during the countdown to a total
European Union ban in all forms of motor sport by 2006”. Bahrain is also
scheduled to hold its first grand prix in 2004 which means that two races
may be dropped from European venues. The most vulnerable are thought to be
the San Marino, Austrian and Belgian grands prix.
The Guardian, 19/10/02
Final stages of tobacco ad ban
The Express on Sunday notes that cigarette companies “are braced for bad
news” when the bill to ban tobacco advertising is set to be agreed today.
The Tobacco Manufacturers Association is still calling for dialogue with the
government, particularly with regard to advertising at the point of sale.
ASH pointed out that the ban will cut smoking and save at least 3000 lives a
year.
Express on Sunday, 20/10/02
Celebrity smokers
The People reports that Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw (who plays Maxine)
has attended an acupuncture clinic in a bid to stop smoking. Meanwhile the
gossip columnists present conflicting views on the revelation that singer
Charlotte Church has been seen smoking. Vanessa Feltz (Express on Sunday)
defends the teenager from “the legions of bossy boots telling her, she must
never risk harming that precious voice with so much as a single drag on a
ciggy”, while Lorraine Kelly (the Sun) says Ms Church “looked like Waynetta
Slob” and warns that “if Charlotte gets a serious tobacco habit, those
youthful good looks will fade away and she will end up rasping like Daffy
Duck.”
The People, The Express on Sunday, 20/10/02, The Sun, 19/10/02
Amanda Sandford
Research Manager
ASH
102 Clifton Street
LONDON
EC2A 4HW
Tel. 020 7739 5902
Fax.020 7613 0531
amanda.sandford@ash.org.uk
Tel 020 7739 5902 Fax 020 7613 0531
ASH Daily News
19 – 21 October 2002
HEADLINES
Customs to curb random searches of cross-Channel shoppers
China to host F1 grand prix in 2004
Final stages of tobacco ad ban
Celebrity smokers
FULL TEXT
Customs to curb random searches of cross-Channel shoppers
Customs and Excise is to target professional smuggles rather than
day-trippers at Channel ports. The move follows accusations that Customs
officers have been over zealous in stopping apparently innocent shoppers to
check for smuggled alcohol and cigarettes. The issue was inflamed last
month when the EU Commissioner Frits Bolkenstein said that UK controls might
be in breach of EU rules. A spokesman for Customs & Excise said: “We
are looking at ways to improve our targeting” but played down suggestions
that the government would formally announce a new regime. However reports
in The Sun and Daily Telegraph are much more bullish, claiming that an
announcement to be made “shortly” that will back the High Court decision
earlier this year that Customs officers have no right to stop and search
cross-channel travellers for alcohol and cigarettes unless they have
reasonable grounds for suspicion. The Sun has extensive coverage of
individuals who claim to have been “bullied” by customs officials.
Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, The Sun, 21/10/02
China to host F1 grand prix in 2004
Max Moseley, the head of the International motor racing organisation the
FIA, has announced that there will be a Chinese grand prix in 2004. A
six-year contract with the new circuit in Shanghai should be signed this
month. The Guardian notes that the Chinese race “represents a major
commercial coup for Formula 1 at a time when cigarette sponsorship is being
progressively reined in at European events during the countdown to a total
European Union ban in all forms of motor sport by 2006”. Bahrain is also
scheduled to hold its first grand prix in 2004 which means that two races
may be dropped from European venues. The most vulnerable are thought to be
the San Marino, Austrian and Belgian grands prix.
The Guardian, 19/10/02
Final stages of tobacco ad ban
The Express on Sunday notes that cigarette companies “are braced for bad
news” when the bill to ban tobacco advertising is set to be agreed today.
The Tobacco Manufacturers Association is still calling for dialogue with the
government, particularly with regard to advertising at the point of sale.
ASH pointed out that the ban will cut smoking and save at least 3000 lives a
year.
Express on Sunday, 20/10/02
Celebrity smokers
The People reports that Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw (who plays Maxine)
has attended an acupuncture clinic in a bid to stop smoking. Meanwhile the
gossip columnists present conflicting views on the revelation that singer
Charlotte Church has been seen smoking. Vanessa Feltz (Express on Sunday)
defends the teenager from “the legions of bossy boots telling her, she must
never risk harming that precious voice with so much as a single drag on a
ciggy”, while Lorraine Kelly (the Sun) says Ms Church “looked like Waynetta
Slob” and warns that “if Charlotte gets a serious tobacco habit, those
youthful good looks will fade away and she will end up rasping like Daffy
Duck.”
The People, The Express on Sunday, 20/10/02, The Sun, 19/10/02
Amanda Sandford
Research Manager
ASH
102 Clifton Street
LONDON
EC2A 4HW
Tel. 020 7739 5902
Fax.020 7613 0531
amanda.sandford@ash.org.uk
