ASH Daily News for 04 October 2007

BAT calls for ban on ‘snus’ to be lifted

British American Tobacco (BAT) is encouraging European regulators to lift the ban on snus, the smokeless tobacco, arguing that use of snus helps to reduce tobacco related harm.

It is only legal in Sweden, as it is part of the national culture and the country negotiated an exemption from the ban when it joined the union.

The move is part of the European corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments that the multinational company launched yesterday, and it coincides with growing pressure for smoking bans in offices and public places.

In its CSR report, the company argues that snus can reduce smoking rates by offering an alternative to starting smoking, helping smokers to quit and by containing fewer health risks.

It notes that BAT “will be an active contributor to the snus debate by seeking to raise EU decision makers’ awareness of the potential health benefits of snus use when compared to smoking”.

BAT accounts for 10 per cent of sales in the Swedish snus market and it is also running pilot projects in South Africa and Canada.

Despite the European Commission reviewing the EU’s tobacco legislation, it made clear that a relaxation of the ban was unlikely.

“We will be guided by the advice of our scientific committee. It has already produced its report and this clearly sets out the harm snus does to health,” a spokesman said.

Source: The Times, 03 October 2007 
Link: http://tinyurl.com/yth2uz

Smoking ban inspires 'great North-East health revolution'

Radical proposals have been unveiled to transform the North-East from the sick-note capital of the country to the healthiest region in England within a generation.

Following the success of the smoking legislation experts plan to tackle binge drinking, smoking, cancer, obesity and physical inactivity. The detailed draft proposals are contained in a 59-page consultation document called 'Better Health, Fairer Health' and aim to create a change in healthy living within 25 years.

Officials want the plan to extend beyond the NHS into the school playground and beyond. 

A major publicity campaign is also planned to highlight the damage caused by smoking during pregnancy as one in four babies in the North-East are born to mothers who have smoked during pregnancy, leading to lower birth weights and increased infant mortality.

Doctors want to see a tough series of targets to reduce smoking from 28 per cent for men and 30 per cent for women to 23 per cent by the end of 2010 and ten per cent by 2032.

Source: The Northern Echo, 04 October 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/yvl9s7

Welsh smoking ban compliance at 97%

Six months since the start of the smoking ban in Wales just 25 penalty notices have been issued with compliance levels at 97% according to official figures.

The latest compliance data from the All Wales Smoking Cessation Service’s report shows July was the peak month for fixed penalties to date with a total of 20 issued after inspections at 3,201 licensed premises.

Just one of the fixed penalties was given for incorrect signage with the remainder issued for smoking in a smokefree area.

Wales’ chief medical officer Dr Tony Jewell estimated 400 premature deaths would be avoided due to the ban. 

Source: Caterer Search, 03 October 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/ysehdo

Shepherd Neame upbeat amid smoking ban

Shepherd Neame, the pub operator and owner of Britain’s oldest brewery, made a satisfactory start to its financial year in spite of the introduction of the smoking ban and bad summer weather.

The family owned company unveiled the optimistic outlook on Wednesday, as it reported a 9.9 per cent advance in annual profit before tax and exceptional items.

In a record year of investment, the company spent £16.4m on 12 pub acquisitions and £6.8m on improvements to existing premises in a bid to lure back customers as the sector suffers a squeeze on alcohol spending.

They plan to capitalise on the eating-out market with food sales rising 7.1 per cent at pubs run by the company.

Sales of Shepherd Neame’s Spitfire ale, known for its “Bottle of Britain’’ advertisements, rose 4.5 per cent in cask form and gained 17 per cent in bottles.

The group said its total beer volumes had expanded 2.6 per cent and own-beer volumes by 1.8 per cent.

Source: The Financial Times, 04 October 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/2gr929

Canada: Academics highlight the risk of breast cancer and smoking at WHO conference

Established research indicates that smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke can nearly double the risk of developing premenopausal breast cancer.

Dr. Kenneth C. Johnson, a senior epidemiologist and research scientist for the Public Health Agency of Canada, said: "There are an increasing number of studies that point to greater breast cancer risks for both smokers and women who never smoked, but who had regular long-term exposure to secondhand smoke."

Speaking at the 5th National Conference on Tobacco or Health he explained that, although the subject is controversial among researchers, the World Health Organization has announced it will reprint and distribute the 2005 California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) report in several languages.

"Enough studies have been published that they're setting off alarm bells and researchers and the medical community are starting to listen. The studies, combined with the chemical concerns surrounding tobacco smoke are compelling," he explained.

Dr Johnson added that, "Laboratory studies indicate that tobacco smoke contains 20 carcinogens linked to breast cancer. The evidence suggests that avoiding regular exposure to tobacco smoke is an important way to reduce the toll of breast cancer."

Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, of which more than 50 are known carcinogens. There is international scientific consensus that smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke results in several fatal diseases including an increased risk of  heart disease and lung cancer.

In recent years, smoking rates have fallen steadily, from 25 per cent of the population in 1999 to 19 per cent in 2005. By continuing to build effective public policies and programmes, tobacco use can be reduced to marginal levels, which will lead to better health for all Canadians.

Source: Canada Newswire, 03 October 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/257wro