Young film-makers in bid to stub out smoking

Young film-makers are making an emotional plea to help stamp out smoking. Teenagers from Sunderland and County Durham have created a DVD to urge the region's MPs to back new restrictions on tobacco promotion in yesterday's Queen's Speech. The young people devised, starred in and directed the film about the tactics of the tobacco industry and it was premiered last week at Sunderland Empire Cinema.

Hear Our Voice, which contains some disturbing stories on what lures teenagers to start smoking, has been submitted to the Department of Health to back restrictions such as plain cigarette packs and under-the-counter displays. Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, who was at the launch, has signed up to back new controls on promotion and said: "We need to prevent children starting in the first place and make smoking history for them.

"In the next few months MPs will be debating this in Parliament. I want them to hear the voice of our young people loud and clear. I am backing tighter restrictions on the promotion of tobacco and urging all my fellow MPs to do the same."

Fresh, an anti-smoking group involved in the making of the film, is also urging North East MPs to back the measures, which could form part of the new NHS Reform Bill to be outlined in the Queen's Speech today. Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh, said: "In the Queen's Speech, our politicians have a great opportunity to help save lives and protect generations of children from years of smoking-related illness. It's a tragedy to see young people barely into their teens talking with real sadness, anger and regret about their addiction to cigarettes and the health problems they're already experiencing. This film gives a hard-hitting account of how tobacco promotion reaches the youngest smokers. The young people felt very strongly they wanted to tell MPs and decision makers how they feel."

More than 10,000 people from the North East showed their support for the proposals in the Department of Health's consultation, by signing postcards pledging their support for measures including, keeping tobacco out of the sight and reach of children in shops, ending the sale of cigarettes from vending machines and protection children from tobacco marketing.

Source: Sunderland Echo, 02 December 2008
Link: http://tiny.cc/ufnNE

Smoking fight costs taxpayers £30k

The battle to force rebel pub landlord Hamish Howitt to obey the smoking ban has cost Blackpool council taxpayers more than £30,000, it was revealed today. Blackpool Council took the fight to the High Court after a district judge ruled it had been wrong to revoke Mr Howitt's licence on the grounds that allowing smoking constituted crime and disorder. But on Tuesday Judge Denyer backed the council and said permitting smoking in a place where it is banned constitutes a criminal offence.

Julian Kearsley, executive director for business services at Blackpool Council, said: "The cost to the council of upholding this piece of legislation has been in excess of £30,000. "Every other Blackpool pub and club has complied with the ban, as have the vast majority nationally. Blackpool Council has been at the forefront of this legislation nationally because of this issue."

Licensing chairman Coun Henry Mitchell said the council had to pursue the case because it was unfair on other pubs who were upholding the smoking ban.

Mr Howitt was forced to close his Delboy's Bar on Rigby Road immediately after Tuesday's ruling. The 57-year-old had consistently allowed people to light up inside the premises since the ban was introduced in July 2007. After the court hearing in London, Mr Howitt said he hoped to apply for a new licence and would assure the council he would not allow smoking but would continue to fight his battle through the courts.

Licensing chairman Coun Henry Mitchell said the council would listen to an application, provided Mr Howitt could demonstrate he meant what he said about preventing smoking. Coun Mitchell said: "He has gone to the top and feels passionately about this but it has pushed him to the verge of bankruptcy.

"What I am concerned about is the people who have adhered to the laws of the land, even though in some cases the ban has damaged their businesses. If everyone else is adhering to the rules, then Mr Howitt must as well."

Source: The Blackpool Gazette, 04 December 2008
Link: http://tiny.cc/g6ybj

Campaigners call for clarification on anti-smoking measures

Campaign group ASH has welcomed the promise of legislation to improve public health but wants more clarification over how the government plans to protect children from cigarette smoke. The Department of Health has said that new restrictions on the sale of tobacco aimed at protecting children will be announced shortly.

ASH director Deborah Arnott commented: 'We are pleased that the government has announced that it will be bringing forward measures to improve public health but disappointed that it is unclear what exactly this will mean. The government must make clear its intentions and publicise these as soon as possible. Every day of delay results in yet more children being lured into a habit that will ruin their health and shorten their lives.'

The campaign group supports a ban on the sale of tobacco from vending machines and the removal of tobacco products from public view in shops. A recent consultation on the future of tobacco control revealed that the vast majority of respondents supported strong legislation.

Source: Net Doctor, 03 December 2008
Link: http://tiny.cc/DBBRh