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ASH Daily News
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14 December 2004
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HEADLINES
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BAT and balls
Close, but no cigar for Jimmy Saville=20
Drinkers nationwide polled on pub smoking ban
Smoker Church gives up=20
French high speed trains now smoke-free
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FULL TEXT


BAT and balls

Why are British Tobacco Manufacturers suddenly cooperating with the =
government in its battle against cigarette smuggling in a move that is =
sure to hit their business?

This U-turn emerged last month when more light was thrown on the =
relationship between the big tobacco business and the government during =
discussions before the treasury select committee.
Questioning customs officials about tobacco smuggling, the committee =
learned that the three UK cigarette manufacturers BAT, Imperial and =
Gallagher have now signed a "memorandum of cooperation" with the =
government. The details are secret but appear the companies to be more =
circumspect about selling to obvious would-be criminals.

This is all in stark contrast to the industry's past profiteering from =
cigarette smuggling, exposed by a parliamentary health committee inquiry =
in 2000 when anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) =
produced reams of evidence of how BAT had encouraged the illicit trade.
At the time BAT's deputy chairman, former Tory chancellor Ken Clarke, =
could only defend his firm's behaviour on the grounds that it was at =
least legal, testifying that "where any government is unwilling to act =
or their efforts are unsuccessful, we act, completely within the law, on =
the basis that our brands will be available alongside those of our =
competitors in the smuggled as well as in the legitimate market."

The committee ordered an investigation by the Department of Trade and =
Industry into whether BAT had done anything illegal, such as conspiring =
in the smuggling. After four years the investigators finally concluded =
this year that BAT had not broken the law. To the disgust of =
campaigners, trade secretary Patricia Hewitt refused to publish the =
report, so the reasons for the finding remain secret.

Last month Customs officers claimed the new memorandum of cooperation =
was a great step forward. But Labour treasury committee member Nigel =
Beard saw the obvious point. "Never mind welcome developments. Why is =
it that we have three major British companies which plainly up until now =
have not been cooperating...or you would not have needed the memoranda?"

Mr Beard might also have asked why, when four years ago the tobacco =
companies were happy to go along with the smuggling, and the drawn out =
DTI inquiry found nothing illegal, the firms are now cooperating to =
tackle the problem of contraband fags. Only a cynic would suggest the =
volte-face has something to do with the hushed up DTI investigation that =
saw Clarke and BAT chairman Martin Broughton (now at the helm of British =
Airways) escape scot-free.

Source: Private eye, 10 December 2004
Article link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1372151,00.html =



Close, but no Cigar for Jimmy Saville

A photograph of veteran DJ Jimmy Saville was removed from a hospital =
charity calendar because he insisted on being photographed with his =
trademark cigar.
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"We are a no-smoking unit. It is quite clear that it is one of Sir =
Jim's trademarks but we felt that other photographs were more =
appropriate. We are trying to promote health," said David Griffiths, of =
the National Spinal Injuries Centre at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in =
Buckinghamshire.
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"Of course I understand that it's a no-smoking hospital, but the cigar =
was not lit", said Sir Jim, who is a long time patron of the hospital. =
"Me without a cigar is like Tommy Cooper without his Fez", the 78 year =
old went on to say.
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Sir Jimmy eventually agreed to pose for another picture, without a =
cigar, and he will now appear in the calendar.
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A Hospital spokesperson said "We do understand his disappointment but it =
would have been inappropriate for the NHS to endorse smoking in any =
way."

Source: Daily Express, 14 December 2004
Article link: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004580539,00.html=20


Drinkers nationwide polled on pub smoking ban

A nationwide ballot to establish what drinkers think about Government =
plans to introduce a smoking ban in pubs serving food is being launched =
today.

The Staffordshire-based Union Pub Company will be surveying customers =
and staff at almost all of its 1,200 outlets over the next few months.

This follows publication of a White Paper setting out plans to ban =
smoking in all workplaces and areas serving food by the end of 2008.

Stephen Oliver, managing director of Burton-on-Trent-based UPC, said the =
ballot would give drinkers the opportunity to register their opinions.

He said it would also allow licensees to gather valuable information =
about customer preferences.

Mr Oliver added: "The impending legislation means that licensees need to =
start talking to their customers now to explain what the law will mean =
to them.

"For food pubs the ban will be automatic, while non-food pubs will be =
exempt.

"But there's a real dilemma for pubs where food plays a small but =
important part of the business. In this case licensees will be forced to =
make a difficult choice - whether to cater for diners or smokers."

Earlier this month, a leading UK operator warned the Government that =
pubs might stop selling food altogether if it pressed ahead with the =
ban.

Birmingham-based Mitchells & Butlers, which owns brands including All =
Bar One and O'Neills, said it could lead to pubs opening all areas to =
smokers if it made commercial sense.

This would run counter to the aims of the Government which recommended a =
smoking ban in an effort to improve the nation's health.

UPC is part of Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries and operates pubs in =
more than 20 counties across England and Wales.

The ballot is being launched today at The Foresters Arms, in Yoxall, =
near Burton-on-Trent.

Source: Daily Telegraph, 14 December 2004
Article link: http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3D3879807 =20
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Smoker Church gives up

Singer Charlotte Church is quitting smoking - to stop her boyfriend =
nagging about the unhealthy habit.
The young star had been smoking 20 menthol cigs a day despite warnings =
it could damage her voice.
But now Charlotte, 18, has decided to quit after lover Kyle Johnson, 19, =
begged her to give it up.
She has tried nicotine patches, gum and went to see a hypnotherapist to =
kick the habit - all in vain.
But sporty Kyle has made clear his dislike of fag smoke since moving in =
with the star in her luxury rented flat in Cardiff.
The Voice of an Angel's mum Maria, 38, said yesterday: "Kyle nags her =
about it, so she wants to quit. But she finds it tough because a lot of =
the family smoke, including me.
"Charlotte knows that smoking is bad for her voice and is always trying =
to give up.
"But her dad also doesn't like it, so now she'd rather quit than put up =
with their nagging."

Source: Daily Mirror, 14 December 2004
Article link: =
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=3D14976176&method=3D=
full&siteid=3D50143=20


French high speed trains now smoke-free

The aroma of Gauloises and Gitanes has disappeared from high-speed =
trains on France's railways.
Smoking has been banned on the SNCF's Train =E0 Grande Vitesse network =
after a trial period on services to Atlantic coast cities including =
Bordeaux.
An overwhelming majority (91 per cent) of passengers questioned during =
the test said they approved of the ban.
Even 55 per cent of those who smoked said they preferred clean air while =
travelling.
Source: Financial Times, 14 December 2004
Article link: =
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/d81199ec-4d76-11d9-b3be-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=3D,s=
01=3D1.html=20

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