ASH Daily news for 02 August 2010
HEADLINES
- Eighty thousand counterfeit tobacco products seized in Coventry
- Smoking could be banned from Kent's parks
- People urged to stop smoking in order to help save NHS cash
- Scotland: Smoking warning for NHS Grampian patients and staff
- India: Integrate tobacco control in medical curriculum
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Eighty thousand counterfeit tobacco products seized in Coventry
More than 80,000 fake tobacco products have been seized by Trading Standards officers in Coventry since April.
The counterfeit cigarettes and loose tobacco were found being sold at a variety of shops across the city, selling at half the price of legitimate brands.
Officers say city traders are being lured into selling the rogue products as there are considerable profits to be made and it is seen as less dangerous than dealing drugs.
But officers warned the fake products often contain dangerous ingredients, such as sawdust and rat droppings, as their production is not closely monitored like their legitimate counterparts.
The counterfeit goods are often smuggled into the country illegally.
Andrew Tandy, from Coventry’s Trading Standards department, explained officers are clamping down on the illicit trade.
He said: “We have been making a concentrated effort to tackle those who sell counterfeit tobacco products. These products are not controlled and neither is the level of noxious items in them. In some cases elsewhere, tobacco items have been tested and found to have things such as rat droppings inside them, which is very bad for the public’s health.”
As the products are bought illegally, no duty is paid, which causes a loss to the public purse.
Rogue traders have been snared by trading standards officers conducting test purchases at their shops. The officers have also been on the lookout for shopkeepers selling cigarettes to underage customers.
Since April, a total of 82,000 fake tobacco items have been confiscated by officers and they are on the lookout for more.
Mr Tandy added: “A legitimate packet of cigarettes costs £6.50 but these counterfeit ones will cost £3.50.
“But even on that the sellers are making a significant profit. These cigarettes are less dangerous to sell than drugs but the margins are just as good.”
Nationally, Revenue and Customs seized four million fake tobacco items across the country between 2009 and 2010.
The goods had an estimated value of £40million, based on the price of the genuine item.
Nationally, fake cigarettes and loose tobacco make up 16 per cent of the tobacco market.Source: Coventry Telegraph, 02 August 2010
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Smoking could be banned from Kent's parks
Smoking could be banned in public parks if there are children around – but officials are worried about how it could be enforced.
The option is being considered by Kent County Council, but enforcement problems could stub it out at an early stage. The idea was mooted in a KCC document on ways to help people stop lighting up.
The report, called Towards a Smokefree Generation, says smokefree homes and cars would help protect children, and adds: “Smokefree parks, events, sports grounds and arenas. There is an opportunity for Kent partners, especially local authorities and the county council, to demonstrate a commitment to protecting children from tobacco by supporting the call for smokefree conditions (mandatory or voluntary) to be applied to events and/or facilities that are aimed at children and/or families.”
Allan Gregory is the tobacco control manager of the Kent Alliance on Smoking Health (Kash), based at County Hall in Maidstone.
He said: “This is central government strategy and in our report we are bringing it to people’s attention. It is in our report for information and a reflection of the national agenda.”
It also suggests banning smoking in prisons and mental health units.
Kash is a partnership between Kent organisations involved in tobacco control. It wants to promote smokefree environments, highlight stop-smoking support, tackle underage tobacco sales, and stop counterfeit tobacco products and smuggling.
It is made up of representatives from the Eastern and Coastal Kent and West Kent Stop Smoking Services, the 12 local authorities in Kent, the county council, Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue, UK Border Agency, HM Revenue & Customs, education services and Trading Standards.
KCC says more than 2,000 Kent people die prematurely every year due to smoking, which is the biggest cause of preventable death in the county.
And it costs Kent businesses about £215 million in sick days and smoking breaks.
Reaction around the county was variable. A Medway Council official said: “We are not currently considering a ban on smoking in parks.”
A Shepway council spokesman said: “We think this is unenforceable under the Health Act.
“Any landowner can make what restrictions they like in the way their own land is used, although we’re not sure how they would enforce this smoking ban.”
A Dover District Council official said: “We will continue to work with KCC and other agencies to help promote healthy living across the district.
“The proposal relating to smoking in parks does raise issues regarding enforcement and we await further information on how it could be taken forward before giving serious consideration to the idea.”Source: Kent News, 01 August 2010
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People urged to stop smoking in order to help save NHS cash
NHS Yorkshire And The Humber figures suggest about £24 million is lost from the North Lincolnshire economy in sick days and hospital appointments directly related to smoking each year.
But that figure may be set to drop, with more than 1,400 people signing up to NHS North Lincolnshire's Stop Smoking service over the past year. Frances Cunning, North Lincolnshire's director of public health, is delighted so many people are choosing to quit the habit.
She said: "It is great news that the number of people giving up smoking in North Lincolnshire is on the up.
"Giving up smoking is one of the single most important changes people could make to improve their health.
"Smokers who use NHS Stop Smoking services are four times more likely to quit than those who go it alone."
More than 840 smokers in North Lincolnshire successfully quit as a result of the service, smashing the Government target of 600.
The figures is also the highest the region has achieved since records began in 2001.
David Hardy, the Stop Smoking service manager said: "North Lincolnshire NHS Stop Smoking services offer a range of options to smokers wanting to quit their addiction to tobacco.
"Our advisors work with smokers providing impartial advice and information and will tailor a programme to meet the needs of individual smokers. The service is free, friendly and flexible".
Deborah Arnott, director of the anti-smoking charity Action On Smoking And Health, said: "This is clearly positive news for the North Lincolnshire area and confirmation of the positive benefits of stop smoking services.
"We hope that, in the current climate, funding remains forthcoming to help these services which ease a significant burden on the NHS."
Source: thisisscunthorpe, 31 July 2010
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Scotland: Smoking warning for NHS Grampian patients and staff
Patients could be refused treatment - and staff disciplined or sacked - if they smoke on NHS Grampian hospital premises, under new plans being considered by the health board.
The move, which was first proposed last year, would see staff banned from smoking while in uniform or wearing ID badges, even during breaks.
Officials put the plans on hold last year after widespread opposition.
If given the go ahead, the rules could be in place from January next year.
Under the plan, smoking shelters outside some buildings, including Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, would be removed, and smoking would be banned across health authority property.
Source: BBC News, 02 August 2010
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India: Integrate tobacco control in medical curriculum
In view of increasing tobacco use and its serious health hazards, a study has recommended that information on the hazards of tobacco use and cessation should be formally made a part of the medical curriculum in India.
The study 'Tobacco Control and the Training of Health Care Providers' emphasises that there is an urgent need to integrate tobacco control into public health and the Medical Council of India (MCI) should be responsible for developing a tobacco cessation training manual for medical students and health care providers.
"Tobacco cessation techniques should be formally included in the undergraduate and postgraduate medical curriculum. Clinics for tobacco cessation should be started in each medical school and appropriate training should be given to faculty," said Alok Mukhopadhyay of Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI), which conducted the study.
The study shows that a substantial proportion of medical students in India smoke or use tobacco products. In the current climate of disease prevention and health promotion, smoking behaviour of future physicians and health providers have become increasingly significant.
"Although, there may be many health care professionals today who believe that it is important to address the issue of tobacco use with patients and give cessation advice but they do not have adequate training or support to do so effectively," he said.
According to health experts, the health ministry should bring tobacco under the category of National Communicable Disease (NCD).
"The study comes at an opportune moment when MCI is seriously thinking of revamping the medical curriculum. The MCI should seriously consider bringing tobacco under the category of NCD," said L.M. Nath, an expert in community medicine.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death globally, causing 5 million deaths a year, out of which close to 1 million deaths are in India.Source: Thaindian News, 31 July 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/dnAYmf
