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ASH Daily News

1 December 2004

HEADLINES

Enterprise boss seeks "solution" over smoking
Ireland: Judgement on tobacco case ruling reserved
Canadian police raid BAT offices in smuggling inquiry
Pilot scheme to target unhealthy England
Mental health nurses needed to promote smoking cessation
UK's largest town to go smoke-free by 2009


FULL TEXT

Enterprise boss seeks "solution" over smoking

Ted Tuppen, Chief Executive of Britain's largest pub chain Enterprise Inns, believes he has just four years left to persuade the Government to relax its planned measures on smoking in pubs.

Nevertheless he remains optimistic about the Health Secretary's proposals to curb smoking in public places: "There are some real positives in what the Government has proposed", he said. "The industry put forward some sensible initiatives and the Government clearly listened". He went to add: "We have got to seek to protect our employees so the ban on smoking at or near the bar will come in much more quickly than the legislation planned. We have got four years of consultation to come up with sensible solutions."

Mr Tuppen thought the proposed division between pubs serving food and "wet" led ones was a "less elegant" solution than segregation within a pub. He floated the idea of reviving the "snug" room (smoking room), equipped with proper air ventilation.

Enterprise's pre-tax profits climbed 33 percent to £231 million in the year to end September, due in part to its acquisition of the Unique Pub Company for £609 million.

Source: Evening Standard (Nov 30th), Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Star, Daily Express, Sun, 1 December 2004


Ireland: Judgement on tobacco case ruling reserved

The Supreme Court has reserved judgement on an appeal by the State against the High Court's earlier refusal to allow it to call on detailed evidence about the effects of smoking and the impact of advertising.

The State would like to summon the evidence during the forthcoming hearing of a legal challenge by tobacco companies over new stringent legislation that circumscribes the advertising of tobacco products.

It contends that this evidence is necessary for the court to hear when considering the State's argument that the legislation is proportionate and justified.

Source: Irish Times, Irish Independent, 26 November 2004


Canadian police raid BAT offices in smuggling inquiry

Shares of British American Tobacco (BAT) could come under pressure this week following news that police have sacked the group's main Canadian offices as part of an inquiry into cigarette smuggling in the 1990s.

The three day search by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) took place at the Montreal headquarters of the group's Imperial Tobacco Canada subsidiary. The sought documents concern activities between 1989 and 1994.

A spokesman for Imperial Tobacco Canada refuted any wrongdoing. "The company is surprised about suspicions that it was in any way linked to smuggling activities in the 1990s because of the extensive collaboration that existed at the time with RCMP in the investigation of smuggling activities," he stated.

Source: Scotsman, 29 November 2004


Pilot scheme to target unhealthy England

The Government will unveil its piloted lifestyle advice initiative in the top 88 unhealthy areas of England. The patients covered account for approximately a quarter of England's population.

Health Secretary John Reid last week announced moves contained in the Government's White Paper that a piloted scheme covering people with the worst health in England, would be unveiled. The programme would later be rolled out nationally.

The plan includes health trainers giving people health and lifestyle advice, improved smoking cessation services and school nurses.

Mr Reid said: "We know that there are significant differences in the health of the people, which depends on the area in which they live."
The Health Secretary was speaking from a health centre in Canning Town, east London. Mr Reid noted that the area had a life-expectancy eight years lower than Westminster, despite being only eight stops away on London's underground system.

Source: Doctor, 26 November 2004


Mental health nurses needed to promote smoking cessation

A Consultant Nurse proposes in the Nursing Times that mental health nurse take a more proactive involvement with the smoking behaviour of their patients.

Anthony Harrison notes that "Nurses need to be aware of patients' smoking behaviour and with them, assess its impact on their lifestyle and treatment. Mental health nurses should follow the example of primary care colleagues and develop skills in facilitating smoking cessation programmes. Most importantly, we must all help patients with mental health problems let go of the belief that the only way they can deal with their difficulties is to smoke 40 cigarettes a day."

Source: Nursing Times, 23 November 2004


UK's largest town to go smoke-free by 2009

Northampton Borough Council and Northampton Primary Care Trust are set to dramatically alter the environment of people living and working in the Borough.

In a bid to improve the health and well-being of local people the borough council and primary care trust are committing themselves to creating a smoke-free Northampton within the next five years. A special signing ceremony today will inaugurate the new smoke-free Northampton Charter.

The Charter sets out how the Borough Council and Northampton Primary Care Trust will protect public health by reducing the risks from second-hand tobacco smoke in enclosed public places and workplaces.

Every year more than 350 people in Northampton die from smoking-related disease.

Source: Media Release, Northampton Primary care Trust, 30 November 2004

For further information contact: Bridget Peet, Head of Communications on 01604 615248; email: bridget.peet@northamptonpct.nhs.uk

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Harold Wilson
ASH
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