ASH Daily News for 12/11/2004

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ASH Daily News

12 November 2004

HEADLINES

Compromise on smoking ban?
Talk of pub exemptions and smoking licences
Public opinion favours smoking ban
Nurses' General Secretary supports smoke-free public places


FULL TEXT

Compromise on smoking ban?

England's smoking black spots have been highlighted just days ahead of
conflicting gossip about government concessions over controlling
smoking.

Speculation continues over a possible softer alternative to an outright
ban on smoking in enclosed spaces. The Cabinet agreed a plan yesterday
that would allow restaurants, pubs and offices to apply to their local
authorities for a licence that would allow smoking.

It is thought Health Secretary John Reid will now attempt to persuade
health campaigners that his proposals will reduce passive smoking.

New statistics reveal parts of London, Manchester, Liverpool and
Humberside have the worst rates for deaths from tobacco-related
diseases; four in ten of those 35 or over die as a result of their
smoking.

Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer welcomed the publication
of the figures by the NHS's Health Development Agency. He warned: "We
are in the grip of a smoking epidemic: an estimated 106,000 people in
the UK are dying needlessly each year because of smoking. Smoking isn't
just a national problem. These figures show clearly how our local
communities are affected. I believe this will be a useful document
working to tackle the prevalence of smoking in this country."

However, in an optimistic note the Guardian noted that more people were
abandoning the habit. The paper interviewed a number of heavy smokers
from less affluent areas of Manchester who have quit.

In a more detailed analysis of the smoking figures the Independent
points out that "smoking claims almost twice as many lives in the
deprived urban areas of the North and of London as it does in rural
England."

One grim statistic from the findings is that more than 1,600 people a
week died from smoking, equivalent to 86,500 a year, in England between
1998 and 2002. The Daily Mail reduces the figures to a stark daily toll:
"Smoking causes 230 deaths a day."

Despite the "carnage", the Independent notes that the death rate has
fallen, and according to the report will continue to do so. However, the
report also implies that specific attention may need to be paid to
groups where this reduction is not being registered.

Source: Guardian, Independent, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Daily
Telegraph, 12 November 2004
Guardian link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/smoking/Story/0,2763,1349368,00.html
Health Development Agency Smoking Report:
http://www.hda-online.org.uk/Documents/smoking_epidemic.pdf


Talk of pub exemptions and smoking licences

Trade publication the Morning Advertiser notes that Westminster rumour
suggests Government may exempt pubs from a proposed ban on smoking in
public places.

However, the new-style licences which licensees and pub operators may
have to apply for from local councils, has been roundly criticised by
the trade.

Trade leaders fear that the smoking licences would descend into chaos
and confusion, with a different set of rules applying to pubs depending
on which local authority area they are situated in.

The Morning Advertiser referred to Cabinet policy papers leaked to the
Times, which claimed that outlets that allowed children on the premises
would automatically be refused a smoking licence.

Laurel Chief Executive Ian Payne described local authority vetting of
smoking pubs as a "nightmare scenario". Kate Nicholls, spokeswoman for
the Industry Charter Group also believed the proposals wound lead to
anarchy. Yates Group Chief Executive Mark Jones accused the Government
of "ducking the issue" and passing the buck to local authorities. John
Huston, Managing Director of JD Wetherspoon was also critical about the
patchwork regulation across the country.

The Times flagged the prospect of exemptions for private clubs. The
paper reports: "Senior sources have told The Times that private clubs
will not be required to obtain a smoking licence but will be subject to
inspections where managers must prove that they are not admitting
children and have taken necessary steps to protect staff from exposure
to smoke."

Pubs and restaurants will have to meet more stringent tougher
requirements before being granted a licence. These will include
providing a ventilated area for smokers segregated from staff and other
customers, as well as most eating areas.

The prospect of councils overseeing smoking licences will allow local
authorities only "limited discretion." One source said: "We are not
going to allow councils like Liverpool to bring in a local ban. Although
they may be able to issue fewer licences, we envisage it will still be
possible to smoke in some Liverpool pubs for a few years yet."

Source: Morning Advertiser: (11th), Times, Daily Express, 12 November,
2004
Times article:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1355003,00.html


Public opinion favours smoking ban

More than three out of four people support a ban on smoking in public
places, according to an NOP poll.

Sixty percent called on ministers to take immediate action. A government
spokesman said the survey results would be taken into account when
decisions are being made on the public health White Paper.

A MORI survey also revealed strong support for curbs on smoking. 86
percent of respondents favoured a law to make enclosed shopping centres
and malls smoke-free. 79 percent supported legislation to make
restaurants smoke-free. A Large majority adopted a similar same stance
for cafes (78%), whilst pubs and bars (47% in support with 34 % against)
and nightclubs (47% in favour, 33% against) also returned strong
smoke-free sentiments.

Source: Evening Standard (11th), Local Government Chronicle 5th November
2004


Nurses' General Secretary supports smoke-free public places

Beverly Malone, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing has
come out firmly in support of smoke-free public places.

"Having smoke-free air to breathe has become one of the biggest issues
of the moment for the general public," she writes in the Nursing
Standard.

"By speaking up together, we as nurses really can help to create
cleaner, safer, smoke-free public places. In 1998, the White Paper
Smoking Kills put forward a wide range of proposals on encouraging
smoking cessation. Since then, smokers who want to quit have been able
to access help. The government is now putting the finishing touches to
its public health White Paper. We will be very keen to learn what it
says about smoking."

Source: Nursing Standard, 10 November 2004

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Harold Wilson
ASH
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