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ASH Daily News

9-11 December 2000

Headlines

'A depressing testament to the skewed priorities of modern politics'
Childminders get right to smack and smoke near children
'Big Mac looks to back Ferrari F1'
'New Tip for safer smoking'
'Fabian Society pushes for 'NHS tax' on cigarettes and alcohol'
'BAT to cut 350 jobs in Australia'
'Duty paid marks arrive on packs'
'Canada battles smoking'
'Just say No'

Full Text

'A depressing testament to the skewed priorities of modern politics'

There is a comment piece in the Independent Weekend Review that rages
against the Government's proposed ban on tobacco advertising arguing that a
'tolerant society which respects minorities should not ban things because
most of its citizens disapprove of them. There has to be stronger argument
than that, on the grounds of public interest. On tobacco advertising Labour
pretends that there is a public health argument. There is not. There is no
evidence that advertising encourages young people to smoke who otherwise
would not: it is all a matter of persuading existing smokers that one brand
is preferable to another. Young people take up smoking because it is cool in
a subculture beyond the reach of billboards or racing-car logos, or because
they want to lose weight, or because they want to do something of which
grown-ups disapprove.'

It carries on in a similar libertarian vein for much of the article whilst
also offering an opinion on Fox hunting.

Letters to the Independent can be emailed to: letters@independent.co.uk
Source: The Independent Weekend Review, 11 December 2000

Childminders get right to smack and smoke near children

The Telegraph reports, 'Childminders will be allowed to smack children and
smoke near them with the consent of parents, the Government said yesterday.

The decision follows consultation with parents which showed overwhelming
support for the right to choose. But both smoking and smacking will be
banned in daycare settings, such as nurseries and out-of-school clubs, under
new standards to be enforced by Ofsted. It is the first time that any
government has attempted to set national minimum standards for the care of
pre-school children.'

The article quotes, Margaret Hodge, the employment and equal opportunities
minister, said the consultation had confirmed "our instincts" that such
matters should be decided through private, written agreements between
parents and childminders. Nursery nurses reacted angrily to the announcement
and claimed that the survey sample was not representative. Patricia
Pritchard, professional officer of the Professional Association of Nursery
Nurses, said: "How representative are these parents? It depends on who you
ask and how you ask it. I don't take anything from these findings - all it
demonstrates is that the Government is hell-bent on ignoring the
childminding profession."

Letters to the Daily Telegraph can be emailed to: dtletters@telegraph.co.uk
Letter to The Times can be Faxed to: 020-7782 5046 or emailed to:
letters@the-times.co.uk

Source: Daily Telegraph, The Times, 9 December 2000
Links: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,49046,00.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=003972848039178&rtmo=psp3NUse&atmo=rrrrrrrq
&pg=/et/00/12/9/nsmack09.html (you may have to cut and paste this link into
your web browser)

'Big Mac looks to back Ferrari F1'

The Sunday Business reports, 'McDonald's, the fast-food restaurant chain is
in talks to sponsor the Ferrari Formula One team. If successful, it would be
the first time the burger giant has sponsored the sport.'

Source: Sunday Business, 10 December 2000

'New Tip for safer smoking'

'Cigarette filters made from a new material can dramatically reduce harmful
chemicals reaching the lungs, Dutch scientists announced yesterday.'

The research was carried out by scientists at Wageningen and Masstricht
Universities and the researchers have, 'called on the tobacco industry and
European governments to fund further research.'

John Carlisle of the Tobacco Manufactures Association said, "Without a full
appraisal by our scientists, it is difficult to say what the implications
could be. The industry will certainly want to investigate these claims."

Letter to The Times can be Faxed to: 020-7782 5046 or emailed to:
letters@the-times.co.uk

Source: The Times, 9 December 2000
Link: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,48779,00.html

'Fabian Society pushes for 'NHS tax' on cigarettes and alcohol'

The Health Service Journal, 'The Fabian Society says the government should
introduce an ear-marked 'NHS tax' on cigarettes and alcohol - although it
flies in the face of Treasury thinking. And the amount of income tax spent
on the NHS should also be separately identified in pay slips,' suggests the
Labour party affiliated society.

Source: Health Service Journal, 30 November 2000

'BAT to cut 350 jobs in Australia'

British American Tobacco Australasia, formed through the global merger of
BAT and Rothmans, will cut about 350 jobs in Australia next year.

Source: The Times, 9 December 2000

'Duty paid marks arrive on packs'

The Grocer reports that, 'Duty paid marks will appear on packs of cigarettes
this month as the tobacco companies begin to comply with new anti-smuggling
legislation. The marking was adapted as a compromise between the industry
and Customs and Excise after an initial proposal to introduce date marking
was dropped after an outcry from independent retailers.'

Source: The Grocer, 2 December 2000

'Canada battles smoking

The Advertising Age profiles how the Canadian government is intending to
launch a new phase of tobacco control with tough new pack warnings and a
whole range of initiatives designed to encourage people to think about stop
smoking.

Source: The Advertising Age, 4 December 2000

'Just say No'

An article in The Economist provides further coverage on 'how California
beat smoking' and profiles the public health campaign in the state that
included adverts and billboards with the words 'Impotent' on them. It adds
that, 'A report issued on December 1st by the Centres for Disease Control
and Prevention and California's Department of Health Services claims that
these billboards, and the campaign around them have helped to bring about a
remarkable long-term decline in lung cancer.'

Source: The Economist, 9 December 2000 & The Guardian, 12 December 2000
Karl Brookes
Action on Smoking and Health
102 Clifton Street
London
EC2A 4HW
Tel: +44 (0)20 7739 5902
Fax: + 44 (0)20 7613 0531
http://www.ash.org.uk