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ASH Daily News

1 November 2006

[View html version: http://www.globalink.org/nbuk]

HEADLINES

Leeds school reinstates smoking ban after complaint

Imperial tobacco profits up despite fewer UK sales

US appeals court stays racketeering ruling

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

No fix for Jim

FULL TEXT

Leeds school reinstates smoking ban after complaint

Tinshill Learning Centre in Cookridge, Leeds, had allowed pupils as young as 14 to smoke as part of a programme it claimed was designed to help them quit.

As long as parents gave consent, the youngsters were allowed to light up between lessons in a designated area at the centre, which caters for 120 14 to 16-year-olds who have been expelled from mainstream schools.

The arrangement has now been scrapped following continued criticism.

Dr Ian Cameron, director of public health at the North West Primary Care Trust, said: "We understand the unique circumstances of the children that attend the Tinshill Learning Centre.

"However this should not mean we condone smoking in anyway, it should be made clear that smoking should not be an acceptable lifestyle choice for young people."

Leeds City Councillor Les Carter, executive member responsible for environmental health, also blasted the policy.

"It is a fact that smoking damages health and it should not be encouraged by allowing this type of behaviour on school premises.

"Next year smoking on school premises will be made illegal and nationally the age limit on smoking is being looked at, with a view to increasing it to 18.

"We should not send out the wrong message to young people that it is okay to smoke."

The Tinshill centre, run by Education Leeds and part of a Leeds Healthy Schools scheme, re-introduced the smoking ban yesterday, having allowed pupils to light up since early September. About 10 parents had given written permission allowing their children to smoke on the grounds.

A spokeswoman for Education Leeds said: "We do not and never have, encouraged or condoned smoking in any of our learning environments and do everything we can to support our young people to make healthy lifestyle choices.

"Following a planned review of the trial smoking cessation programme at Tinshill Learning Centre, the decision has been taken to stop arrangements for smoking anywhere on the site.

"We are committed to protecting the individual safety and well-being of pupils at the centre and will continue to pursue a pragmatic approach towards working with parents and carers looking at alternative measures to support these young people giving up smoking.

Source: Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds Today, 1 November 2006
Article link: (LT) http://tinyurl.com/y46grq


Imperial tobacco profits up despite fewer UK sales

Imperial Tobacco, the world's fourth-largest cigarette company, yesterday reported an increase in earnings, despite falling volumes in Britain and Germany, its two core markets.

The company, which makes Lambert & Butler, Richmond and Davidoff cigarettes, said cigarette sale volumes around the world had risen 7% to 186.9bn in the year to the end of September and earnings advanced by 9% to 112p a share.

Imperial increased market share in Britain and Germany, which between them account for nearly 60% of the company's profits, although it sold fewer cigarettes. In Britain, where Imperial sells Lambert & Butler and Richmond, it increased its market share to 45.5% but cigarette volumes were down marginally to 23bn. Revenue rose slightly to £835m after price rises.

Imperial says the British cigarette market is shrinking and that it dropped by 3% in the past year. It said consumers were also switching to cheaper brands.

A ban on smoking in public places, which came into effect in Scotland in March, will start in the rest of Britain next year. Imperial said it expected cigarette sales to dip initially but to return quickly to previous levels and that the ban would not have a significant long-term effect on its business. "We believe smokers will continue to choose to smoke regardless of regulations and our view is supported by experiences in other markets," it said.

Source: Guardian, 1 November 2006
Article link: http://tinyurl.com/vtaqg


US appeals court stays racketeering ruling

A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday put on hold sanctions imposed on cigarette makers by a judge who had found they violated racketeering laws in a decades-long conspiracy to hide the dangers of smoking.

A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia granted a request by the tobacco companies to stay the ruling and remedies imposed in August by District Judge Gladys Kessler.

In a 2-1 decision, the appeals court judges said the tobacco companies had "satisfied the stringent standards" required to stay the lower court judgement while it considers the industry's appeal.

Kessler had ordered the companies to make "corrective" public statements about the health effects and addictiveness of smoking starting in December. Her order also imposed a ban on the companies that would have gone into effect on January 1 preventing them from describing cigarettes in ways that convey health claims such as "low tar" and "light."

Philip Morris parent group Altria Group Inc. said it was "pleased" with the appeals court action.

William Corr, executive director of the anti-smoking group Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, said the court's decision to grant the stay came as no surprise.

"The stay itself does not suggest that the industry is going to win anything on appeal," Corr said.

Cigarette makers escaped major financial penalties in the August 17 ruling by Kessler, even though she found them liable for a decades-long conspiracy to hide the dangers of smoking.

Source: Reuters, 1 November 2006
Article link: http://tinyurl.com/y8awuv


November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Health minister Rosie Winterton today launched Lung Cancer Awareness Month at the Royal Mail's South London Mail Centre, where she heard first hand the experiences of lung cancer patients and met representatives from Royal Mail, the voluntary sector and health professionals.

She said:

"Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the UK but people don't realise that if it is caught early enough it doesn't have to be a death sentence. This is why Lung Cancer Awareness Month is so important. Working in partnership with the voluntary sector, we must ensure that people are aware of the symptoms and know to seek professional help at the earliest opportunity."

In the US, today saw the launch of 'the Code Blue campaign', a comprehensive effort to raise awareness about preventing lung cancer and increase survival rates for those struggling with it. Code Blue includes a 30-minute documentary that explores the devastating impact of lung cancer on four families and discusses how to reduce lung cancer deaths, primarily through early diagnosis and by quitting smoking. The campaign, in both English and Spanish, also includes radio and television public service announcements, a guidebook for local broadcasters, and an accompanying online component

Related link: http://www.roycastle.org
Related link: http://www.americanlegacy.org/codeblue
Related link: http://tinyurl.com/y8m7dt


No fix for Jim

Sir Jimmy Saville has been banned from puffing on his famous cigar while filming the new Jim'll Fix It revival.

A UKTV spokeswoman told us: "He wanted to smoke his cigar but the studio bosses wouldn't let him because of the health and safety and fire regulations. Times have changed since it was first filmed in the 1970s."

Source: Daily Mirror, 1 November 2006
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