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ASH Daily news for 23 July 2010

HEADLINES

  • Cigarettes on display ‘more likely’ to encourage smoking

    Young people feel more like smoking if they see cigarettes on sale in shops, research showed today, as the UK Government looks set to overturn a ban on displaying tobacco.

    Point-of-sale tobacco displays in shops are “cool, fun, and attractive” and are likely to encourage smoking, said children questioned in a study.

    It comes as the government considers whether to reverse a ban on cigarette vending machines and on shops displaying rows of cigarettes.

    A law was passed by MPs in October when Labour was in power but the regulations needed to implement the changes have not come into force. The 2009 Health Act would ban cigarette vending machines and put tobacco out of sight in all shops by the end of 2013.

    Today, health campaigners called on the government not to scrap the law, saying children’s health must come first.

    Newsagents have said the proposal could cost them £250million to implement while Conservative MPs have questioned stopping shops displaying tobacco during a recession.

    Cancer Research UK’s director of tobacco control Jean King said: “We urge the government to confirm their commitment to protect our children, now and in the future, from tobacco.”

    Today’s research, from Stirling University and published in the journal Health Promotion Practice, found children thought it was easy to buy tobacco and shopkeepers did not always ask for ID. Some 70 youngsters, age 11 to 16 from Scotland were asked for their views on tobacco, with one 15-year-old smoker saying there were few checks. He said: “In most shops, especially corner shops, it is easy to get cigarettes. I would be smoking less if they were really checking.”

    Others said point-of-sale tobacco displays were “obvious” within shops because of the “massive display”. The youngsters supported the ban on smoking in public places and frowned upon smoking indoors around children.

    Lead researcher Dr Crawford Moodie said: “The responses show clear support from young people for tobacco control measures and add weight to the need to remove the flashy shop displays.”

    The Department of Health said: “Discussions are taking place across government to decide how best to tackle smoking in the context of our focus on public health, and our priorities given the challenges facing business competition and costs. These considerations include the policy on display of tobacco products.”

    Research out today from the NHS Information Centre shows a drop in the number of 11 to 15-year-olds smoking, drinking and taking drugs.

    A survey in England found the number who had tried smoking at least once was 29% – the lowest figure since the survey began in 1982 when it was 53%. The report said the drop was a continuation of the decline from 39% in 2006, when smoke-free legislation was passed.

    British Heart Foundation director of policy and communications Betty McBride said: “While it is good news fewer children are turning to cigarettes and a lifetime of health problems, this report illustrates the importance of stopping youngsters smoking at an early age.”

    National Federation of Retail Newsagents national president Parminder Singh said last week: “There is absolutely no reason for the government to press ahead with this ban.”

    Source: The Press and Journal - 23 July 2010
    Link: http://bit.ly/9wJzv8

  • Irish Cancer Society says claims by retailers that drop in sales due to Point of Sale regulations defy belief

    The Irish Cancer Society has responded to claims by Retailers Against Smuggling that the advertising ban on cigarettes in shops has led to a drop in cigarette sales of 40%, by saying that official figures show otherwise.

    Kathleen O'Meara, Head of Advocacy and Communications in the Irish Cancer Society, said the retailers’ claim that sales were down 40% defied belief.

    “It is unclear where these figures have come from, but what is clear from all official data is that there is absolutely no link between the introduction of the point of sale advertising ban and cigarette sales in Ireland.”

    “In fact, according to CSO figures published in recent days, spending on tobacco actually rose by over 3% last year to €2.3 billion, practically the only growth sector in the economy.”

    Month on month figures for the duty paid on cigarettes from the Department of Finance show an increase in the amount of duty paid in each of the four months immediately after introduction of point of sale legislation from August to November 2009.

    “The Annual Report of the Office of Tobacco Control reports 98% compliance by stores with the point of sale legislation. We welcome this high level of compliance and congratulate all those retailers who are ensuring that young people in particular are not exposed to the subtle marketing practices of the tobacco industry by complying with the point of sale regulations,” said Ms O’Meara.  

    Source: Irish Cancer Society - 15 July 2010
    Link: http://bit.ly/bMBGuK

  • NFRN: Public unconvinced about benefits of tobacco display ban

    The National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) has increased the pressure on the government to scrap the tobacco display ban with a new survey that reveals public doubts about the effectiveness of the measure.

    A survey of 2,000 people carried out by Populus showed that 63% of people believe that hiding tobacco products from view will have no effect on young people, with 17% believing the measure will actually increase the appeal of cigarettes. Only 23% believed the display ban would be an effective policy, with other options such as clamping down on smuggling (viewed as effective by 64% of respondents) and outlawing proxy purchase of tobacco (60%) favoured instead.

    NFRN national president Parminder Singh said: "There is absolutely no reason for the government to press ahead with this ban."

    However, wholesaler Booker believes the tobacco display ban could benefit the local retail trade to the tune of nearly a billion pounds a year in extra sales.

    The ban will see large stores forced to conceal their tobacco displays from October 2011 and Booker believes that some multiple retailers will give up their gantries altogether, diverting sales to smaller local stores that will have an extra two years to comply with the legislation. A 10% shift in tobacco business equates to £500m a year, with the added footfall contributing £400m of extra sales in other categories.

    Booker retail sales director Steve Fox told C-Store: "We remain opposed to the ban, but we have to prepare for it. A lot has been made of the negatives without identifying the potential postives."

    Source: The Grocer - 23 July 2010
    Link: http://bit.ly/av18zr

  • Death rate of poorest now greater than in Depression

    The gap between the health of the richest and poorest is greater than at any time since records began, research reveals today.

    Figures show there is a now a higher rate of death among the most deprived than there was 80 years ago at the time of the Great Depression.

    And researchers have warned the latest recession – the worst in living memory – could widen the gap further.

    The figures, which are published in a study on bmj.com today, suggest high-profile government initiatives launched over the last few decades to tackle inequalities have done little or nothing to close the gap between the life expectancy of the poor compared to the wealthy in Britain.

    While mortality rates in the more affluent social classes have fallen markedly between 1921 and 2007, those among poorer people have increased.

    The review of deaths showed that in the poorest section of society, the standardised mortality ratio had increased from 138.1 in 1921-30 to 148.9 between 1999 and 2007.

    The study, carried out by researchers at the universities of Sheffield and Bristol, said: “Despite government interventions, inequalities in health have not diminished; indeed in some cases the gap might have widened over the past 10 years, reflecting widening inequality in wealth and income over this period.”

    The study of death rates also reveals the last time inequalities were almost as high as they are today was in the lead-up to the economic crash of 1929 and the economic depression of the 1930s.

    The researchers said: “The economic crash of 2008 might precede even greater inequalities in mortality between areas in Britain.”

    While rates of rising inequalities may have been showing signs of slowing “some underlying factors such as unemployment have been rising rapidly over the course of those two years (2008 and 2009).

    “Furthermore, in absolute numbers, unemployment has increased fastest in the poorest areas.”

    By the year 2007, for every 100 people under 65 dying in the best-off areas, there were 199 dying in the poorest.

    “This is the highest relative inequality recorded since at least 1921,” the experts said.

    Among under-75s, for every 100 people dying in the best-off areas, 188 were dying in the poorest.

    “Recent government interventions have aimed to reduce these inequalities but, the evidence suggests, to little effect,” said the researchers.

    They analysed death rates in England and Wales from the Office for National Statistics.

    The data on under-75s was from 1990 to 2007 and from 1921 for under-65s.

    Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics at the British Medical Association, said: “This paper provides an insight into the extent of health inequalities in the UK and how much needs to be done to address this issue.

    “We need to look at the causes of ill health to really make a difference.

    “Doctors will need to work across sectors to point out the health impacts of policy decisions.”

    The research comes after the Assembly Government launched its latest initiatives to reduce inequalities earlier this year.

    A spokesman said: “Evidence shows health and life expectancy is continuing to improve thanks to investment in prevention and treatment as well as advances in medical technology and new drugs.

    “Inequalities are reducing, including on childhood accidents and injuries and heart disease in men.

    “But inequalities still exist in Wales – both between social groups and geographical areas. While the size of the gap is less than that seen in Scotland and England, it is still unacceptable and we are committed to tackling the underlying causes such as child poverty.

    “Smoking and obesity continue to be major causes of health inequalities and measures are in place to discourage people from smoking or to help them quit and a number of initiatives are in place to improve people’s lifestyle and diet.

    “Our efforts aim to improve the quality of life of people through investing in education, improving job opportunities, as well as removing barriers to accessing effective healthcare through initiatives such as free prescriptions.”

    Source: Wales Online - 23 July 2010
    Link: http://bit.ly/93sBbt

  • Canterbury bedsit murder trial halted for cigarette

    A man accused of murdering his girlfriend has refused to continue giving evidence because he needed a cigarette.

    Tomas Uptas, 32, is accused of killing his fellow Lithuanian Loreta Raupiene, 46, at a bedsit in Canterbury, Kent.

    He refused to return to the stand at Maidstone Crown Court after lunch as he was stressed and wanted to smoke.

    Judge Mr Justice Cooke adjourned the trial until Friday when Mr Uptas will get another chance to give evidence.

    The judge told jurors there were no facilities to allow Mr Uptas to smoke a cigarette while at court.

    While giving evidence, Mr Uptas denied he ever hurt Ms Raupiene, who was found strangled in the bedsit they shared in Victoria Road last November.

    He was asked by prosecutor Oliver Saxby if they argued, and answered: "Of course. There were arguments every second day over small things.

    "Just family arguments. Not violence, just words."

    Mr Uptas admitted he often lost his temper and had once kicked a door down and punched a hole in the wall outside their bedsit.

    He also said he and Ms Raupiene were heavy drinkers.

    The court heard that fibres taken from ligature marks around Mr Raupiene's neck matched the scarf and his DNA was found on either end of it.

    Police found Ms Raupiene's body in the bedsit after Mr Uptas went into a supermarket brandishing a BB gun, the court has heard.

    Jurors were told Mr Uptas threatened members of the public - including a 12-year-old girl - at Morrisons supermarket in Canterbury before being shot by police.

    He has already pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a BB gun with intent to cause fear of violence and to one charge of attempted false imprisonment.

    The trial continues.

    Source: BBC News - 22 July 2010
    Link: http://bit.ly/alGdvO