Survey shock over use of cigarette machines by children

Children as young as 11 can easily buy cigarettes from vending machines throughout the North-East, tests have revealed. Underage youngsters were able to buy cigarettes in 58 out of 99 cases in a survey carried out by Trading Standards officers.

Children aged between 11 and 16 went into bars, amusement arcades, bowling alleys and other outlets across the region. On most occasions, the children were able to buy cigarettes from machines unchallenged by staff.

One 15-year-old was given change by staff to make sure he could buy from the machine. Some employees even helped children who were having difficulty getting the money into the slot.

Officers said that most failures to purchase cigarettes were due to faulty coins or machines, rather than the children being stopped by staff. Even the 11-year-old was only turned away twice in 14 attempts.

The North-East Trading Standards Association has recently called for cigarette vending machines to be banned. The tests were carried out to show how easy it is for children to buy cigarettes, even though the legal age to buy tobacco is now 18.

Richard Ferry, from the North-East Trading Standards Association, said: “We have always thought that these machines are a menace and this massive regional study shows that it really is time to ban these machines. Vending machines are expensive, but remain a significant source of cigarettes for young people, which is why we carryout regular checks like these. We must reduce the availability of a dangerous product to youngsters and banning vending machines would have a big impact.”

According to the association, surveys show 17 per cent of regular smokers aged 11 to 15 usually buy their cigarettes from vending machines. In contrast, last year only one in 20 adult daily smokers said they had bought cigarettes from vending machines over the past six months.

Trading Standards authorities will now be taking further steps in the most serious cases. This can include legal action or a recommendation to a magistrates’ court to order the machine is removed.

Source: The Northern Echo, 30 April 2009
Link: http://tiny.cc/pg0Wh  

Speech by Jan du Plessis, Chairman at the British American Tobacco Annual General Meeting

The full speech is avaliable here http://tiny.cc/G4R0L

Source: InvestEgate, 30 April 2009
Link: http://tiny.cc/G4R0L

Japan Tobacco Profit to Fall due to Smoking Decline and Currency Moves

Japan Tobacco Inc., the world’s third-largest publicly traded cigarette maker, forecast profit will fall 19 percent this year as fewer people smoke in its home market and currency movements hurt its international earnings. 

Net income is forecast to be 100 billion yen ($1 billion) in the 12 months ending March 2010 from 123.4 billion yen last year, the company said in a statement to Tokyo’s stock exchange today. That compares with the 163 billion yen median estimate of 13 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

The maker of Camel and Mild Seven cigarettes is losing sales in Japan as the smoking rate falls and authorities introduce tighter tobacco controls. Earnings from surging overseas cigarette sales, helped by the 2007 takeover of U.K.- based Gallaher Group Plc, are being blunted by the strengthening of the yen against other currencies.

“The tobacco market in Japan has been experiencing a decline in total demand due to various factors including an ageing society, increased health consciousness and stricter smoking regulations,” the company said in a statement today. “The company expects intensified competition in the Japanese market.”

Japan Tobacco said today it would close two factories this fiscal year and a third by March 2011 as demand wanes.

The company’s Japanese tobacco sales fell 4.8 percent to 3.2 trillion yen, including tax, last year. The percentage of Japanese men who smoke has fallen by half over the past 40 years to about 40 percent.

Overseas Sales

Overseas tobacco revenue rose 18 percent to 3.12 trillion yen in the year to December on higher sales of Winston and Camel cigarettes in counties including Russia, Italy and Spain.

Growth in overseas sales was blunted by gains in the yen, which gained 23 percent last year, the best performer among the 16 major currencies tracked by Bloomberg.

Japan’s health ministry last month said it’s considering new smoking bans after public broadcaster NHK reported restrictions would be increased at hospitals, schools and government offices.

Japan Tobacco has said it supports designated smoking areas in hospitals and schools where possible, rather than outright smoking bans.

In December, the government abandoned a plan to raise tobacco taxes after opposition from some lawmakers and a campaign by Japan Tobacco, which argued it would destroy the nation’s tobacco industry.

Japan Tobacco, which is 50 percent government-owned, is the biggest traded cigarette maker after Altria Group Inc. and British American Tobacco Plc.

Source: Bloomberg.com, 30 April 2009
Link: http://tiny.cc/rSsS2

Put cigarettes ‘out of sight, out of mind’ for children urges Moorlands MP

Charlotte Atkins MP has backed calls to further protect children from tobacco marketing at a major Cancer Research UK event in Parliament, where she discussed the importance of making smoking history for our children and heard from experts about the dangers of tobacco. 

The Staffordshire Moorlands Labour MP was among a large number of MPs who heard how they can take positive action by supporting measures contained in the Health Bill - currently going through Parliament - which will also serve the interests of smokers trying to quit.

Ms Atkins said: “Smoking remains the single biggest preventable cause of cancer and evidence shows that 80 per cent of smokers start before the age of 19. I am concerned that the law on tobacco advertising still enables the tobacco industry to promote dangerous products to children and young people through cigarette displays at the point of sale.

“I support Cancer Research UK’s current campaign to put tobacco out of sight and out of mind through prohibiting these point of sale displays. The evidence suggests that this measure would be manageable for small businesses in Staffordshire Moorlands because it could cost under £200 to refit a standard UK small retailer display.

“The lead-in time of 2013 for small retailers protects businesses as well as children, by ensuring that they have the opportunity to prepare and adjust. The benefits for our young people and those trying to quit would be considerable.”

Source: Politics.co.uk 27 April 2009
Link: http://tiny.cc/vvX9x