ASH, 102 Clifton Street, LONDON, EC2A 4HW.
Tel 020 7739 5902 Fax 020 7613 0531

ASH Daily News

6 November 2003

HEADLINES

Dundee smoking ban - could England be next?
ASA examines Rizla ads after rival's allegations
BAT in CSR conference
BAT plans to acquire Italian tobacco firm
Doubts emerge over Turkish cigarette group sale
Reid quits smoking

FULL TEXT

Dundee smoking ban - could England be next?

The Publican reports on news from Scotland that family pubs could be
forced to ban smoking completely after a Scottish licensing board
refused to issue licensing certificates to pubs that welcome smokers.

A strict new policy banning smoking in pubs with children's certificates
has been introduced by Dundee's licensing board, leading to the magazine
wondering whether England could be next.

The accompanying editorial urges the hospitality sector to 'solve the
smoking issue and avoid legislation.'

Relevant article:
http://www.thepublican.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=11508&d=11
Source: The Publican 3 November 2003



ASA examines Rizla ads after rival's allegations

Imperial Tobacco's Rizla advertising is being scrutinised by the
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), after rival Zig-Zag complained it
condones the use of drugs.

The complaint swiftly follows the introduction of guidelines by the
Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), warning against using drug
references in the marketing of rolling papers and filters. The CAP
guidance, drawn up in consultation with the rolling-paper industry and
the Department of Health, also stipulates that tobacco paper advertising
should not depict smoking or suggest smoking is glamorous, rebellious or
aspirational.

The new rules could help Zig-Zag's case against Imperial Tobacco. This
is the fourth time the company has complained of drug references in the
"twist and burn" Rizla advertising, which shows a packet of Rizla papers
in situations such as being roasted on a spit.

Zig-Zag is confident that its complaint will be upheld, after the CAP
sent out draft recommendations, which will be put before the ASA, that
state the advertising "could be seen to condone the use of drugs".

Imperial Tobacco marketing manager for tobacco products Terry Rogers
says he is surprised the recommendations may rule against the Rizla
advertising: "We have had no consumer complaints since we launched the
campaign."

Source: Marketing Week, 6 November 2003



BAT in CSR conference

An academy could help companies understand that corporate social
responsibility goes beyond being nicer to workers and not ripping off
customers, says Oliver Balch in The Guardian.

How do companies behave responsibly? That was the question preoccupying
managers from Premier Oil, British American Tobacco, Shell and other
leading companies at a conference this week.

Not a difficult goal, you might presume. Be nicer to your employees,
don't rip off your customers, and preferably avoid devastating the
environment.

Full article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1078322,00.html
Source: The Guardian, 5 November 2003



BAT plans to acquire Italian tobacco firm

BAT has announced plans to acquire Italian state owned tobacco company
Ente Tabacchi Italiani for $2.6bn.

BAT, the worlds second largest manufacturer of tobacco products, owns
lucky Strikes, Pall Mall, Dunhill and Kent cigarette brands.

BAT outbid French-Spanish group Altadis and an Italy based investment
group, Imprenditori Associati for ETI.

Source: Global Finance, October 2003



Doubts emerge over Turkish cigarette group sale

Doubts have been raised over the Turkish govern-ment's privatisation of
the state cigarette manufacturer Tekel because the highest bid was below
its lowest expectation.

Metin Kilci, the Turkish privatisation agency director, said Japan
Tobacco offered to pay $1.15bn for Tekel's cigarette arm, which
accounted for 77 per cent of the company's total revenues of $2.8bn in
2002. Japan Tobacco raised its bid after the privatisation agency
invited the highest bidders to make better offers.

"Our expectations were much higher," Mr Kilci said after announcing the
results of the tender. "If I were in the place of [the state tender]
commission, I would decide to cancel Tekel's tobacco arm tender."

Tekel was estimated to be worth $1.5bn-$2.5bn, with some estimates as
high as $3.5bn. These were wildly wide of the mark.

Full FT article:
http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?id=031106001296
Source: Financial Times, 6 November 2003



Reid quits smoking

The health secretary, John Reid, was offered congratulations for having
gone without a cigarette for 11 months. Labour former minister George
Foulkes hailed him for "now having given up smoking for 11 months".
Junior health minister Melanie Johnson said she was happy to
congratulate Dr Reid on his period of "abstinence from tobacco".

Source: The Guardian, 5 November 2003


----------------------------------
Unsubscribe:

Public subscribers: http://www.ash.org.uk/?unsubscribe
Globalink members: http://member.globalink.org/nbuk
----------------------------------