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ASH Daily news for 11 March 2011

HEADLINES

  • Smokefree law in England a success - but some groups still vulnerable

    Smokefree legislation has worked - this is the finding of a comprehensive review of all the research that has been carried out on the impact of the law in England. The report 'The Impact of Smokefree Legislation in England: Evidence Review' is published today by the Department of Health, and was conducted by Professor Linda Bauld from the University of Stirling and the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies.

    The ban on smoking in workplaces and enclosed public places was examined for the effects it had on health, smoking and the hospitality industry. The review outlines some important findings. These included a significant improvement in the respiratory health of bar workers; a drop in hospital admissions for heart attacks and changes in smokers' behaviour - including a reduction in their tobacco consumption and an increase in the number of smokers trying to quit the habit around the time of the ban.

    In addition, initial analysis shows that the introduction of smokefree legislation has had no negative impact on business, although longer-term assessment is required. 

    However, Professor Bauld concluded that a priority for future developments should be maintaining and extending smokefree environments to protect children and other vulnerable groups.

    Source: Medical News Today - 11 March 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/hC5sZq

  • The primary school puffers: The town where the average age to start smoking is nine

    Smokers in one of Britain's most deprived towns start lighting up at the average age of just nine, a shocking survey has found.

    The health study found one boy started smoking cigarettes at the age of just three - because his family thought it was funny.

    The research by an NHS anti-smoking programme at Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, discovered that many children are still in primary school when they start their tobacco habit.

    The Smoking Cessation Service at the town's Prince Charles Hospital carried out the survey because of the high number of smoking-related illness in the former industrial town.

    The average age for starting smoking in Wales is 12 and in the U.S. is 13 - although no figure is available for the whole of the UK.

    Merthyr Tydfil, with a population of 55,000, has one of the lowest life expectancy rates in the UK and one of the highest levels of people claiming sickness benefits.

    The Welsh Assembly Government plans to make it illegal for parents to light up in cars alongside their children in a bid to cut smoking levels to 16 per cent.

    Latest Government figures show that 21 per cent of adults in Britain smoke.

    A spokeswoman for anti-smoking charity ASH said: ‘This figure of an average of nine sounds very extreme and shocking.

    ‘There is not an average figure for the whole of Britain although the Office for National Statistics found that 80 per cent of smokers had started by the age of 19.

    ‘Another shocking figure was that 15 per cent of people had started smoking by the age of 15 across Britain.

    ‘You cannot underestimate how much damage smoking does as such an early age.’

    Source: Daily Mail - 10 March 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/ePuwSB

  • MHRA publishes outcome of consultation on nicotine containing products

    The MHRA has issued a statement on the outcome of the consultation on the regulation of products containing nicotine. Extract below: 

    "The consultation highlighted the uncertainty around levels of nicotine that have a significant pharmacological effect and the need for further information on the impact of regulation on public health and business. A period of further scientific and market research will therefore be coordinated by the MHRA with the aim of answering these important questions. The research will be informed by the advice of an expert working group of the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) and the draft Terms of Reference for the programme of research have been published on the MHRA’s website.

    The programme of research will include a work stream on investigation of the levels of nicotine which have a significant pharmacological effect, the actual use of existing nicotine products in the marketplace, their effect on smoking cessation and modelling of the potential impact of bringing these products into medicines regulation on public health outcomes. We envisage the programme of research will take about 18 months to complete and that a final decision on the regulation of nicotine containing products will be made in Spring 2013."

    The report can be downloaded here (pdf).

    Source: MHRA - March 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/9ZDBK6

  • Belfast: Pupils on red carpet after starring in DVD to stub out smoking

    Pupils from Belfast Boys’ Model School got the red carpet treatment at the cinema premiere of a DVD they helped make on Monday night.

    The boys, together with teenagers from St Dominic’s Grammar School for Girls, Cregagh Youth and Community Centre and Youth Intervention Project, scripted, filmed and acted in the production, Dead Cool.

    The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) teamed up with film makers the Educational Shakespeare Company (www.esc-film.com) to produce the film, launched on time for No Smoking Day today.

    The 12 youngsters who made it all happen were there for the premiere of Dead Cool — Young People and Smoking at the red carpet event at Movie House Cinema, Dublin Road.

    The project, funded by Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, explores young people’s attitudes to smoking, triggers for lighting your first cigarette, the use of smoking in media, peer pressure and how families are affected when young people start smoking.
     

    Source: Belfast Telegraph - 10 March 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/hBirfP

  • Rochdale: Strict no smoking zones installed at hospitals

    Hospitals within the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust are creating no smoking zones immediately outside their main entrances and A&E departments. 

    The Trust runs the Rochdale Infirmary, the Fairfield General Hospital, The Royal Oldham Hospital and the North Manchester General Hospital.

    To coincide with national no smoking day today (Wednesday 9 March), Fairfield General Hospital in Bury has had red hatched areas bearing the words ‘Smoking is strictly prohibited in this red zone,’ painted onto the ground outside its front doors. 

    Source: Rochdale Online - 09 March 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/fDrOji

  • USA: State House passes ban on smoking in cars with kids

    A bill that would make it a crime to smoke in a vehicle with a child present in Utah passed in the House 39-35 and went to the Senate despite two attempts to derail it by lawmakers who believed it was a slippery slope eroding personal freedoms.

    The bill would make smoking in the car with a child a secondary offense, meaning the driver would have to be pulled over for a primary infraction before being cited for the crime — which would be a $45 ticket and would also require the officer to issue a pamphlet on the dangers of smoking.

    Maryland lawmakers are discussing a similar move. The bill which has been stopped in committee four years running, may finally make it to the floor of the House of Delegates this year. 

    The legislation would impose a $50 fine for smoking in a vehicle with a child under the age of 8, the same age at which children are required to be in safety seats.

    Source: Utah News - 07 March 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/h5MgWd

  • Bulgaria: Ban on tobacco advertising and additives proposed

    The ministry of health of Bulgaria has proposed a ban on all forms of direct and indirect tobacco advertisements in 2013, according to a Novinite report.

    According to the ministry's National Program for Limiting Smoking in 2011-2015, all tobacco advertisements, including the display of cigarettes and images of them in stores would be banned in 2013 and the sale of tobacco products will be restricted to specialised stores. Cigarette manufacturers would be mandated to account for the exact amount of funds used for advertising, and will not be allowed to sponsor social events.

    The program would also ban the use of additives aimed at improving the aroma and the taste of cigarettes.

    Source: Tobacco Journal - 09 March 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/ghHe0X