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ASH Daily News

6 November 2006

[View html version: http://www.globalink.org/nbuk]

HEADLINES

Displacement ventilation systems don't remove toxins

Formula One driver prefers smokefree bars

New laws to stop shops selling cigarettes to children underage

Underage sales police initiative

Big tobacco continue to spend money to fight ballot measures in US

FULL TEXT

Displacement ventilation systems don't remove toxins

Experts on secondhand smoke exposure have been investigating claims that "displacement" ventilation systems could protect nonsmokers from toxic tobacco smoke in restaurants and bars.

The study looked at air quality before and after a smoking ban in a restaurant/bar in Toronto, Canada, and compared it to the levels of chemicals and toxic particles in the air of a similar establishment in Mesa, Arizona.

"This study proves that dining in a restaurant or bar's non-smoking section does not significantly reduce exposure to smoke-related pollutants, even in those establishments that use these sophisticated ventilation systems," says James Repace, from Tufts University School of Medicine.

Displacement ventilation has been proposed as a way to allow non-smokers and smokers to co-exist. This is because it does not re-circulate smoky air but it theoretically removes pollutants from the air.

It has been promoted by hospitality industry associations and tobacco interests as part of a strategy designed to stop strict smoking bans. This study is one of the first to look at whether these systems provide sufficient protection.

James Repace said "These exotic ventilation systems give restaurant and bar owners a false sense of security. They feel they are protecting their employees and customers but really deadly toxins from tobacco smoke remain in the air. Smoking bans remain the only viable option that protects the health of non-smokers and hospitality workers."

James Repace also recently published a study demonstrating that the level of particles in smoke-filled bars is much higher than it is on diesel truck-choked highways.

Source: Medilexion 5 Nov 2006
Link to article: http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=55576



Formula One driver prefers smokefree bars

Former Formula One driver Eddie Irvine has said that when it comes to going out, he prefers the Republic of Ireland over his native Northern Ireland because there's no smoke.

The 41-year-old former sportsman says he loves coming back to his Ulster roots but despises the polluted atmosphere of its restaurants and pubs.

He supported the smoking ban in Ireland where he owns a bar in Dublin. "I love going back to Northern Ireland but I hate going to pubs there because of the smoke," Irvine said. "The smoking ban will be in Northern Ireland next year, but the issue there at the minute is ridiculous.

"I don't want to come out of a bar or restaurant with my hair and clothes stinking with someone else's cigarette smoke. I don't want to breathe in other people's smoke.

It is much worse for the staff because they are there every night. The ban makes a big difference for my staff and I think that is important."

Source: The Belfast Telegraph 4 November 2006
Link to article: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=712935


New laws to stop shops selling cigarettes to children underage

Stringent new laws are to be introduced to stop shops selling cigarettes to children. It is designed to crack down on under-age smoking.

A clause in a new Bill in the Queen's Speech is expected to include measures to license the sale of tobacco, like alcohol. The licence to sell tobacco would be revoked if a shop repeatedly flouts the law on sales to minors.

A government source said: "Shops that repeatedly sell to minors will not be able to sell cigarettes under the changes we are planning. We do not need a full Bill for this. It is on the cards."

Source: The Independent 5 November 2006
Link to article: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article1956555.ece



Underage sales police initiative

Solihull Council's Trading Standards Service has joined forces with West Midlands Police to carry out test purchase exercises on age restricted products.

Young volunteers aged under 16 attempted to buy cigarettes from 22 stores. Three of the stores sold cigarettes to the underage consumers.

Steve Tibbetts Head of Trading Standards and Licensing at Solihull Council said: "We work hard with traders to make them understand the importance of not selling these products to young people under the legal age of 16. It is encouraging that the majority of the traders declined to sell the products."

"The aim of these exercises is to protect the health of young people. Businesses in the area have a responsibility to help us to do this by not supplying cigarettes to young people. Retailers found guilty of selling cigarettes to children can face a fine of £2,500."

Source: Solihull Metropolitan Borough 2 November 2006
Link to article: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/wwwce/asps/article.asp?id=1635



Big tobacco continue to spend money to fight ballot measures in US

Reynolds American is contributing tens of millions of dollars to fight anti-smoking proposals in tomorrow's US elections.

In total, the tobacco industry is estimated to have ploughed more than $84m (£44m) into campaigns in six major states where voters are being asked to sharply raise cigarette taxes.

Plans to ban smoking in bars and restaurants are on the ballot in three states, putting yet more pressure on the tobacco industry.

Reynolds, in which British American Tobacco is the largest shareholder with a 42% stake, has set aside almost $50m to fight the latest US measures, according to an analysis of publicly available campaign finance records.

Peter Fisher, vice-president of the Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids, believes most of the proposed measures would be passed, despite the anti-smoking lobby being heavily outspent on advertising and other campaign efforts.

"We have found that people want and like smokefree environments everywhere from Florida to the west coast." He said.

Tomorrow in California's mid-term election Proposition 86 would raise tobacco taxes by $2.60 per pack of cigarettes, harvesting $2 billion annually from smokers to fund new health services, health insurance for children, and expanded prevention programs.

Anti-smoking advocates spent $14m, while the tobacco industry spent $60m to fund opposition campaigns.

Reynolds sponsored an organisation called the Californians Against Unaccountable Taxes, as did Altria, the owner of Philip Morris. The tobacco giants say Proposition 86 is "a money grab by huge hospital corporations."

Source: The Independent 6 November 2006
Link to article: http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article1959129.ece

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Sarah Ward
Information Manager
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