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ASH Daily News
15 October 2002


HEADLINES

WHO urges tax rise
Public Places Charter and hot AIR
Philip Morris starts rolling South Korea

FULL TEXT


Who urges tax rise

The World Health Organisation warned yesterday that tobacco products in the
developing world now cost less to buy than they did 10 years ago and urged
governments to increase taxes on them.

“Cheaper tobacco products will only fuel the tobacco epidemic further –
leading to more consumption, disease and death in the future,” the WHO said.

A WHO study of 80 countries shows that cigarette prices declined in many
poor nations over the decade to 2000, while in rich countries the generally
increased.

Last week the WHO raised its estimates of deaths worldwide from tobacco
related diseases from 4m to 4.9m a year and said it would be revising
upwards its projection of nearly 10m deaths annually by 2020. Over 70
percent of those deaths will occur in developing countries.

Source: Financial Times, 15 October 2002


Public Places Charter and hot AIR

According to research commissioned by Atmosphere Improves Results (AIR)
three-quarters of the public support the trade’s voluntary charter on
smoking in pubs over a complete ban.

The research is based on face to face interviews with 408 people.

The results revealed that 63% of respondents were aware of the Public Places
Charter. The results also showed that most consumers have a good
understanding of what the charter signs mean. Furthermore, almost a fifth
of people said they would cease visiting pubs and bars or at least go out
frequently.

The Public Places Charter was agreed two years ago between health officials
and trade leaders – that 50 percent of pubs would be signed up to the
charter by 2003 and 35 percent of these would offer best practice solutions
such as ventilation and smoking areas. The targets have to be met by the end
of this year.

Nick Bish of the trade’s Charter Group and Oliver Griffiths of AIR both
welcomed the research. Mr Bish said: “I look forward to presenting these
results to the government along with evidence of the progress we have made.
I believe we will have a very strong argument to maintain self regulation.”

Failure to meet the requirements of the charter could lead ministers to
introducing regulation to banning smoking in public places and the
workplace.”

Source: Publican 14 October 2002



Philip Morris starts rolling in South Korea

Philip Morris Cos. has begun manufacturing cigarettes in South Korea, the
first foreign company to do so.

Source: Reuters, 15 October 2002

Naj Dehlavi
Action on Smoking and Health
102 Clifton Street
London EC2A 4HW
http://www.ash.org.uk