New poll finds that almost half of Czech tobacconists sell cigarettes to under 18's

One tenth of Czech tobacconists occasionally sell cigarettes to children who look under 15, and almost one half of them sell tobacco products to those looking under 18, which is the legal age limit for buying cigarettes in the Czech Republic.

However this figure has decreased by 11 per cent. Three years ago, 60 percent of respondents admitted they had sold cigarettes to juveniles under 18,  and the number of tobacconists who demand an ID from a customer who looks under the legal age limit has also increased to 65 percent, compared to 56 percent in 2004.

Awareness of the law has increased amongst Czech tobacconists. In 1999 the legal age for buying cigarettes increased from 16 to 18 years old. In 2000 ,79 per cent of tobacconists were aware of the legal change and a recent survey found that 96 per cent are now aware of the change.

Although a majority of tobacconists are aware of the ban on selling cigarettes to children, they violate the law as the legal sanctions are low.

Under the law, a tobacco shop can be fined with up to 500,000 crowns for selling cigarettes to minors, but in reality the fines are much lower.

Jindrich Vanek from the Alliance Law 18 association said, "Tobacconists are usually given fines of about 1,000 crowns in similar cases." 

According to the Global Youth Tobacco Surveys (GYTS) international study released this summer, almost 70 per cent of Czech primary school pupils from the seventh to ninth grades have smoked.  The survey also shows that 28 percent of Czech boys and almost 32 percent of girls smoke regularly.

Eva Kralikova from the anti-smoking advisory centre points out that 90 per cent of Czech smokers have smoked their first cigarette before they turned 11 and in Prague the average age is 9.5

Source: The Prague Daily Monitor, 13 November 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/2agce3

Sri Lanka: High tobacco taxes bring benefits

Sri Lanka's high tobacco taxes and new laws have brought big benefits with smokers and consumption falling.

Ceylon Tobacco Company, a Colombo listed firm owned by British American Tobacco and Phillip Morris, said revenues increased 12.6 percent to 11.8 billion rupees as prices were raised.

The company said in a stock exchange filing, "Driven by the decline in the number of smokers and their average daily consumption levels, total industry volumes continued to decline during the period under review."

"Excise led price increases coupled with the effect of new tobacco regulations implemented in December 2006 resulted a decline in the company’s total sales volumes compared to the same period last year."

Taxes to the government rose 9.8 percent to 9.6 billion rupees and after tax profits by 14.4 percent to 431 million rupees but volumes fell as prices were raised. 

Though many western tobacco giants have been targeting women and children in developing countries, Sri Lanka has traditionally had a strong anti tobacco lobby and low smoking prevalence among women.

However tobacco labelling in the country still needs improvement and the graphic tobacco warnings have yet to be enforced.

Source: Lanka Business Online, 13 November 2007  
Link: http://tinyurl.com/2pnqxd

Hogan smoke ban trial adjourned

Landlord, Nick Hogan's court appearance for allegedly flouting the smoking ban has been adjourned until January.

Hogan has now sold the Swan and Barristers in Bolton, but is still running the Swan with Two Necks in Chorley.

Mr Hogan said: "It was -4 degrees last night. You can't throw people outside, it is just wrong."

He added: "I want to make this clear. I am not permitting smoking at the pub. I am advising people it is illegal and they risk getting a fine if they do smoke. But what I refuse to do is to physically remove people from the pub for smoking because it could amount to common assault."

Hogan said he is still considering whether to move to Spain but will not be selling the Swan with Two Necks.

Source: The Morning Advertiser, 12 November 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/ypn4pb

Smoking ban success

Health chiefs hailed the banning of smoking in pubs, clubs and workplaces as a popular triumph this week. 

In a national survey carried out by the Department of Health, the majority of people said they preferred a smokefree atmosphere.

Horsham District Council only received two calls about breaching the new law, according to West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT).

These were later unsubstantiated and no formal action was taken.

Initial visits to premises in the Horsham district area indicated a high level of compliance with rules governing signs being out up informing the public.

Source: West Sussex County Times, 13 November 2007 
Link: http://tinyurl.com/2qenss

Scotland: Launch of support service to help teenagers stop smoking

A support service to help teenagers quit smoking was launched in Glasgow. 'Yeah Butt No Butts' has been designed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde at the behest of young people

It already has its own page on Bebo, the online social networking site, which it is hoped will provide users with a more relaxed forum to discuss smoking and any related issues.

An additional pilot project, Youth Stop Smoking, was also launched alongside it and will see intensive support given for free to young people from the Maryhill Health Centre. The youth orientated projects have been implemented after reports from people attending smoking cessation support groups that around half of them began smoking before the age of 16.

Speaking in Maryhill yesterday, Patricia Ferguson, MSP for the area, said: "I am very anxious to see action taken to tackle the high smoking rate in Maryhill, which is almost the worst in Scotland."

Sarah Neilson, youth smoking cessation adviser, added: "The Youth Stop Smoking pilot will offer intensive support, free of charge and confidentially, for young smokers aged between 12 and 19.

"Yeah Butt No Butts has been launched because an increasing number of the young people we see at the YHS have said that they would like help to stop smoking. That showed us there really was a need for this kind of service."

Source: The Herald, 13 November 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/25vbua