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ASH Daily News

8 November 2006

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

HEADLINES

UK's largest brewer believes its profits will be hit by smoking ban

Smokers and drinkers are less likely to survive cancer

Quitting saves money

Expert awarded for decades of scientific study


FULL TEXT

UK's largest brewer believes its profits will be hit by smoking ban

The UK's largest brewer Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) believes that its earnings will be hit by next years England and Wales smoking ban. The announcement comes as the company said its results were on track despite a weaker than expected beer market.

However, the firm also is seeing good sales in Asian and East European markets.

Rival pub firm JD Wetherspoons said that a smoking ban had helped its earnings growth. It English and Welsh pubs that banned smoking saw a 2% increase in sales during the 13 weeks to the end of October from a year earlier, when smoking was allowed.

In Scotland - where a national ban has already come into force - sales at its 39 pubs were 5.2% higher than before.

Source: BBC News & The Manufacturer 7 November 2006
Link to article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6124176.stm & http://tinyurl.com/ycg5om



Smokers and drinkers are less likely to survive cancer

Researchers from South Korea report that smoking and alcohol use may curb the likelihood of survival among men diagnosed with cancer.

Dr Young Ho Yun from the National Cancer Centre in Goyand examined data from 14,578 male cancer patients, all of whom their pre-diagnosis health behaviours were known. They were followed for an average of about nine years after their cancer diagnosis.

Men who had been smokers were at greater risk of dying from any type of cancer than non-smoking cancer patients, the researchers found. There is evidence that smokers are less likely to undergo cancer screening tests such as colonoscopy, so they may be diagnosed with cancer later on when it is more difficult to treat. The researchers added that cigarette smoking itself could make tumours grow more aggressively.

"Our findings suggest that groups at high risk of cancer need to be educated continually to improve their health behaviours, not only to prevent cancer, but also to improve prognosis" the team concludes.

Source: Reuters 7 November 2006
Link to article: http://tinyurl.com/ydcbkn



Quitting saves money

With the ban on smoking in public places due to come into effect in Wales in April next year, now could be a good time to quit, as 'This is South Wales' reports.

"The Christmas party season is upon us and all those smoke-filled rooms could be bad for your wealth as well as your health. The average smoker is setting fire to £2,500 in cash each year, according to the NHS.

That's enough to pay for Christmas, a round-the-world trip, a designer wardrobe or top football club season tickets. The health hazards of smoking - both for smokers and the people around them - are well publicised.

But if that isn't enough to get you to quit, consider the financial benefits of giving up tobacco. The NHS Stop Smoking Campaign has calculated that someone who smokes 20-cigarettes-a-day spends each year:

* An extra £91 a year on heating through opening doors and windows to clear smoke-filled rooms
* Around £42 on higher life assurance premiums
* Nearly £100 on smokers' toothpaste, mouthwash, mints, breath fresheners, and chewing gum
* £30 on dry cleaning clothes

The cost of smoking also means that people give up other things to continue smoking.
A recent survey of more than 2,500 people across the UK found that 85% of smokers deny themselves treats such as chocolate, magazines or buying music so that they can find the cash to buy cigarettes.

In Ireland, some 7,000 people gave up smoking in the first year of the smoking ban and those who continued to smoke reduced their habit from an average of 20 cigarettes a day to 12.

Dublin pub landlord, Liam Aherne, was initially against the ban. He said: "I've been surprised at how self-policing the ban has been - people just go outside to smoke. Heavy smokers have told me they have cut down since the ban. I can't believe we used to put up with all that smoke."

Source: This is South Wales 6 November 2006
Link to article: http://tinyurl.com/yav3nc



Expert awarded for decades of scientific study

Stephen Hecht, an internationally recognized expert on cancer-causing agents in tobacco has received the Award for Excellence in Cancer Prevention Research, awarded by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation (CRPF).

Dr. Hecht is being honoured for more than three decades of research on tobacco and its link to cancer. Over this span of time, Dr. Hecht has been the most cited author on tobacco carcinogenesis. His other work has shown that exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke resulted in the presence of tobacco-specific carcinogens in nonsmokers.

Dr. Margaret Spitz, from the University of Texas and co-chair of the award selection committee said: "Dr Hecht's research has provided a strong scientific rationale for public policies on smoking restriction."

Margaret Foti, chief executive officer of the AACR added that "His work is marked by its thoroughness, breadth and extraordinary high quality. It has helped to save countless lives."

Source: Medilexon 8 November 2006
Link to article: http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=56030

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Sarah Ward
Information Manager
Action on Smoking & Health (ASH)
102 Clifton Street
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