Press Releases

December 2001

31/12/2001 New Years resolutions… a strategy for smokers: “Don’t quit smoking on New Years day” says ASH

18/12/2001 Ministers swat away European Commission meddling on anti tobacco smuggling strategy

18/12/2001 HM Customs press release rejecting Commission comlaints about tobacco smuggling strategy

17/12/2001 Dubai ambassador to London organised smuggling of BAT cigarettes - documents show

13/12/2001 Public health experts challenge ‘myopic’ medicine regulator over nicotine replacement products and smoking

13/12/2001 New findings: Children are up to 6 times more likely to smoke if they see a lot of smoking on screen. ASH calls for 'smoking' films to get a 15 certificate.

10/12/2001 Cigarettes on the internet: a new frontier for Big Tobacco

05/12/2001 BAT profits warning - reducing smuggling reduces profits

04/12/2001 'If smoking was really dangerous, the Government wouldn't let cigarettes be advertised' say half of UK's smokers

November 2001

27/11/2001 Death-knell for ‘light’ cigarettes sounds as tobacco treaty negotiations accelerate in Geneva

24/11/2001 Row at WHO tobacco convention as ‘petulant’ European Union denies it is dragged down by Germany

15/11/2001 NHS smoking services in danger – careless government may destroy successful public health initiative

12/11/2001 GeneWatch release: Patent on life warning as links between Biotech companies and Japan Tobacco exposed

12/11/2001 Japan tobacco tries to profit from smoking and cancer – controls rights to future lung cancer treatments based on genetic patents

07/11/2001 ASH and the British Dental Association join forces to mark Mouth Cancer Awareness Week.

02/11/2001 On 2 November, the House of Lords debated a Private Member's Bill to ban tobacco advertising. ASH calls for Government to give this Bill the support it needs to become law.

01/11/2001 Analyst reveals truth about tobacco companies' international marketing code - it's a sham.

October 2001

24/10/2001 European Commission sides with tobacco smugglers against UK Customs

September 2001

26/09/2001 Zyban is an essential aid to stopping smoking: ASH calls on the Committee for the Safety of Medicine to show its support.

24/09/2001 Official survey shows public want action on passive smoking: government out of step and dithering

10/09/2001 Nicotine vaccine goes on trial - profound development says ASH, if it can be made to work

09/09/2001 BAT uses covert web site - citygobo.com - to push cigs to clubbers and pub-goers. ASH responds with ‘alternative and truthful’ citygobo2 site

04/09/2001 New research shows that smokers are less productive at work. ASH calls for Government to bring in long-delayed guidance on smoking at work.

August 2001

16/08/2001 Passive smoking at work damages lung function - government must stop dithering on worker protection

15/08/2001 ASH Opinion poll shows ghost of Ecclestone still haunts Labour

15/08/2001 The Truth behind Big Tobacco's 'Ethical Marketing' claims.

July 2001

27/07/2001 Smuggling keeps the poor smoking; tobacco companies keep the smugglers busy - comment on study published in BMJ

26/07/2001 Government figures show decline in teenage smoking has stalled - ASH points to delays in tobacco policy

24/07/2001 30 minutes of passive serious acute impact on blood flow - government dithers over policy - London Assembly to investigate

17/07/2001 ASH response to Philip Morris' report to the Czech Government on the economic benefits of smoking

17/07/2001 Tobacco Disclosure Bill will reveal Big Tobacco's dirty secrets

16/07/2001 Government calls for reduction in tobacco additives demonstrates need for separate tobacco regulatory authority

05/07/2001 Price-fixing: The Economist reveals BAT, RJR

June 2001

26/06/2001 Kenneth Clarke for Conservative leader? ASH says he is soiled by his association with BAT

21/06/2001 Quitting smoking made easier as high street pharmacies offer NRT on the NHS

20/06/2001 Tobacco Advertising ban U-turn: ASH & senior Labour MP join to condemn Government decision

18/06/2001 Letter to Alan Milburn, Secretary of State for Health: ASH expresses case for reversing delays to the advertising ban

18/06/2001 Ministers' views on banning tobacco advertising: a selection of quotes showing strong support

17/06/2001 Government reportedly delays advertising ban: reaction from leaders of health & medical organisations

13/06/2001 Buying cheap cigarettes on the internet: an ASH survey shows it is more risky than you might think

07/06/2001 Tobacco verdict: $3 billion hammer blow to Philip Morris in largest ever individual damages

01/06/2001 New guidance will restore confidence & save lives: ASH backs Zyban

May 2001

31/05/2001 New research reveals parents' ignorance of the health impact of passive smoking on children

30/05/2001 A good start - but could do better: ASH verdict on EU tobacco ad ban

18/05/2001 BMJ Editor resigns from Nottingham University over BAT blood money

15/05/2001 EU turns the screw on tobacco: new warnings, gory pictures, ban on 'light' branding, additive disclosure, tar limits

10/05/2001 ASH joins with health groups to call for a new Ad ban in first 30 days of new Labour Government

04/05/2001 ASH calls for US to withdraw from tobacco treaty: EU needs to agree a new approach

03/05/2001 China sells itself to BAT putting half a billion women at risk

02/05/2001 BAT annual general meeting: an overview of their conduct

April 2001

30/04/2001 Tobacco treaty in danger: sell out by the US, EU & Japan feared

18/04/2001 Why would cigarette firms tell kids not to smoke? ASH exposes the story behind the latest PR smokescreen

02/04/2001 Imperial tobacco's venture in Africa: a cover for more smuggling?

March 2001

23/03/2001 Why do smokers get more wrinkles? New research explains the aging effects of smoking

17/03/2001 Students picket Nottingham University: Red Face Day follows Red Nose Day

14/03/2001 Harder, deeper, longer: experts warn that cutting down can change the way you smoke

14/03/2001 NRT on prescription & in more shops: great news for smokers on No Smoking Day

12/03/2001 SASH urges boycott of Nottingham University Open Day

09/03/2001 Cutting tax would not reduce smuggling: letter to FT

07/03/2001 Budget: tobacco tax policy stalls in shameless but predictable electioneering

05/03/2001 ASH pre-budget comment

04/03/2001 Tobacco companies, cigarette smuggling & organised crime

02/03/2001 Tobacco ad ban: new research shows importance of water-tight laws

February 2001

27/02/2001 Cost of dealing with passive smoking proves negligible: study suggests over-hyping by opponents

27/02/2001 Smoking causes lost recruits during military training: Armed forces join the No-Smoking Day effort

27/02/2001 ASH presses British Board of Film Classification to take account of smoking

27/02/2001 Smoking by famous actors influences teenage fans

20/02/2001 ASH scornful of tobacco industry calls for reduced tobacco tax to tackle smuggling

14/02/2001 The BBC's Money Programme looks at tobacco smuggling: ASH asks - who is behind the mafia connection?

03/02/2001 Teenage smoking going up says Julie Burchill: wrong again!

January 2001

27/01/2001 Tobacco policy in crisis? smoking on the rise? tax cuts needed? It must be the pre-budget tobacco industry spin season!

22/01/2001 Ad Bill will save lives, but Flat-Earth Tories ignore evidence & press for more death & disease