Saudi Arabia: Cancer patient sues tobacco firms

A Saudi citizen has filed a lawsuit against two tobacco companies asking for $10 million (SR37.5 million) in compensation for the health damages he suffered from smoking. This is the second lawsuit from the Kingdom and considered the first personal case against tobacco companies in the Middle East, said Abdullah Seruji, executive director of the Smoking and Drugs Awareness Association. He said a court in Jeddah has accepted the lawsuit from Abu Abdullah, a businessman.

The victim had throat cancer and went though a major surgery in King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh. Seruji said the victim lost parts of his throat and vocal chords and he cannot talk any more except with the help of a special device. He noted that this case, which is supported by the association, is inevitable because the victim’s medical report proved that his disease was due to smoking tobacco.

Seruji noted that Saudi citizens are no less important than American or European citizens where they file lawsuits against tobacco companies and win huge financial compensations. The plaintiff told the association that he would build a hospital for treating tobacco addicts free of charge with the money that he hopes to win from the tobacco companies.

Source: Arab News, 08 June 2009
Link: http://tiny.cc/a9Ptc

ACS calls for free vote on tobacco display ban

Following Monday’s Second Reading of the Health Bill in the House of Commons, The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called on all the Government to give its backbenchers a free vote on whether to introduce a display ban on tobacco. The Conservative Shadow Health Spokesman, Andrew Lansley, announced in yesterday’s debate that his party would be allowing his MPs a free vote, while the Liberal Democrats have consistently stated that MPs will have a free vote on this issue.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “With each debate it becomes clearer that the Government is basing its case for a display ban on flimsy evidence. There is no analysis of the discreet impact of a tobacco display ban which points to this measure reducing youth smoking, with the Government still relying on evidence of the impact of a host of in-store marketing activity that is already banned in the UK. Yet the costs to retailers are clear, with the Government’s own view that a display ban will cost an average of £1000 per store – with some paying much more.

“We believe that MPs should be able to exercise their judgment on the merits of the evidence. Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are free to make up their minds – so should Government backbenchers be. Ministers should not railroad this issue.”

The Health Bill, which includes a clause to introduce a display ban, will be debated in Committee next week, with a vote of the whole House of Commons likely before the end of June. Mr Lowman continued: “Retailers can still make a difference by writing to their MP stating the simple case that our sector has been making throughout this debate: that there is no evidence for the benefits of a display ban, yet the costs to retailers would be significant. A free vote would allow MPs to weigh up these arguments.” In Monday’s debate, new Health Secretary Andy Burnham confirmed that the Government would not introduce the ban in small stores until 2013. A number of MPs pointed out the costs of the new proposals for retailers.

Source: ACS, 09 June 2009
Link: http://tiny.cc/tUcUj

Councils awarded £2.5 million to stub out smoking

Councils in England will share a Department of Health grant of £2.5 million to help smokers quit, Public Health Minister Gillian Merron announced today. Following negotiations by the Local Government Association, the 25 local authority areas with the highest numbers of smokers will each get grants of £100,000 specifically to help tackle smoking. This new funding will help councils improve the health of those who need it most by encouraging smokers to quit and discourage young people from taking up smoking.

The funding could be used to set up local anti-smoking marketing campaigns, support for trading standards to enforce regulations including age of sale and advertising of tobacco, or to work with local revenue and customs officers to combat the illicit tobacco market. Smoking is one of the country's most significant health challenges, with smoking-related diseases resulting in more than 80,000 deaths every year.

Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said: "We have made good progress on reducing overall smoking rates. Now we're helping people in areas with the highest rates of smoking - particularly among young people and those from the poorest communities - so that we can help them to kick the habit for good."

Those local authorities taking part in the programme will meet today in Warwick. The two-day summit is designed to establish the network of councils involved and to provide an overview of why the work is important. It is an opportunity for councils to explore how the funding could be best used.

Improvement and Development Agency and the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services will work with the Local Government Association on the programme to help the 25 councils which are set to receive the grants. Support and advice will also be available from the Department of Health's Tobacco Control National Support Team.

Source: Department of Health, 10 June 2009
Link: http://tiny.cc/s6Jup