HEADLINES

• Smokers are "discriminated against" and "persecuted", says report
• Cumbria: Petrol stations support second hand smoke campaign
• 'Quit smoking' drug Champix linked to heart risk
• Iceland considers prescription-only cigarettes
• USA: Scare tactics lift prices for smokers
• Smokers charged extra to work in US

• Smokers are "discriminated against" and "persecuted", says report

  A tobacco-industry-funded report has been released that claims smokers are increasingly discriminated against.

  According to the report by Simon Davies of Privacy International (produced in association with FOREST), legislation introduced for the protection of public health is being exploited to create a range of unintended measures.

  The report highlights seven key areas of concern: an increase in non-statutory penalties and controls; an extensive widening of the scope for restrictions; a shift toward “people’s policing” of smoking; a shift from an evidence-based approach to a morality-based approach; an increase in the surveillance of smokers; a sharp increase in cases of discrimination; and a drift from public health protection to the demonisation of smokers.

  See Also:

  - Report documents 'persecution' of smokers - Politics

  Source: Morning Advertiser - 05 July 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/ktQMTn

• Cumbria: Petrol stations support second hand smoke campaign

  Petrol stations across Cumbria are supporting health bosses to reduce the number of parents who choose to smoke in their cars.

  Posters have been sent to every petrol station in the county reminding parents that smoking in cars with the window down is still harmful to other people in the car’s health, especially children, as part of a second hand smoke campaign.

  The images aim to remind parents just how harmful tobacco smoke is and how it can still linger in cars and on clothing even when they have stopped smoking.

  Source: The Westmorland Gazette - 04 July 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/mGorQN

• 'Quit smoking' drug Champix linked to heart risk

  A drug used by smokers to help them quit increases the risk of heart attacks and other serious cardiovascular problems, research says.

  An international team reviewed studies involving more than 8,000 smokers, and found more of those taking Champix fell ill than those on dummy drugs.

  Doireann Maddock, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Smoking is one of the major risk factors for heart disease.

  "In fact, smokers double their risk of a heart attack compared with people who have never smoked, and quitting smoking is the single most important thing you can do to improve your heart health."

  She said the study's finding was "a concern", but said further research was needed before firm conclusions could be drawn.

  "People using varenicline to help them to stop smoking should not stop using it because of this study alone but should chat to their GP about it and the options available."

  Source: BBC News - 04 July 2011
  Link: http://bbc.in/iLnnPQ

• Iceland considers prescription-only cigarettes

  The parliament in Reykjavik is to debate a proposal that would outlaw the sale of cigarettes in normal shops. Only pharmacies would be allowed to dispense them – initially to those aged 20 and up, and eventually only to those with a valid medical certificate.

  The radical initiative is part of a 10-year plan that also aims to ban smoking in all public places, including pavements and parks, and in cars where children are present. Iceland also wants to follow Australia's lead by forcing tobacco manufacturers to sell cigarettes in plain, brown packaging plastered with health warnings rather than branding.

  Under the mooted law, doctors will be encouraged to help addicts kick the habit with treatments and education programmes. If these do not work, they may prescribe cigarettes.

   

  The proposal would initially result in an increase in cigarette prices, said Fridleifsdottir, of "10% per year, in line with World Health Organisation proposals – evidence shows that a 10% increase results in a 4-8% reduction in consumption".

  But by the end of the 10-year plan, prescription-only cigarettes should actually be cheaper than ever, according to Thorarinn Gudnason, president of the Icelandic Society of Cardiology, who helped draw up the proposal.

  "Under our plan, smokers who are given prescriptions will be diagnosed as addicts, and we don't think the government should tax addicts."

  The proposal also suggests that tobacco smoke should be treated as a carcinogenic substance, and that it should be restricted in a similar way to other known carcinogens, because of the known effects of passive smoking.

  The idea will be debated in the Althing, Iceland's parliament, in the autumn.

  Source: The Guardian - 04 July 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/kKdVEv

• USA: Scare tactics lift prices for smokers

  More US cigarette makers are expected to raise prices in response to antismoking initiatives that are scaring off new customers, tobacco analysts say.

  Lorillard, the third-biggest US cigarette maker by sales, on Friday raised prices by 11 cents a pack on its Newport non-menthol cigarettes, and by 5 cents a pack on its Newport menthols.

  Analysts at Wells Fargo said this increase would probably be followed by similar rises this week by rivals RJ Reynolds, which makes Camel, and Altria, which owns Philip Morris, maker of Marlboro.

  Last month Imperial Tobacco shares were hit as it laid out the full cost of a cigarette price war in Spain and revealed a £110m hit to profits as it followed rival Philip Morris, and cut prices after a ban on smoking in public places. 

  But its shares have now risen 26p to £21.43 after it lifted Spanish prices again across the board to pre-price war levels, the first company to do so. Across its key brands, Imperial has increased prices of Fortuna and Nobel to €3.80 from €3.50 and Ducados, West and JPS to €3.50 from €3.30 (€0.10 less on soft packs across all brands).

  Source: Financial Times - 04 July 2011
  Link: http://on.ft.com/kZCOVf

• Smokers charged extra to work in US

  Smokers who work for US department store Macy's are now being surcharged $35 a month for health coverage. The chain joins PepsiCo and Gannett in imposing a charge on employees who like a drag, while some, such as Union Pacific, refuse to hire smokers at all.

  Smoking costs the US more than $193bn a year according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which bases that figure on a combination of medical spending and productivity losses. A smoker is said to be 18% more expensive than a non-smoker for employers.

  Source: Daily Finance - 04 July 2011
  Link: http://aol.it/lPV81p