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ASH Daily news for 31 October 2011

HEADLINES

  • Survey: Fewer children smoking

    A health survey by the independent Schools Health Education Unit suggests that fewer children are smoking and drinking.

    The data was collected from 1,100 primary and secondary schools across the UK, covering 83,724 youngsters between the ages of 10 and 15. They were asked more than 100 health-related behaviour questions on what they do at home, at school, and with their friends.

    Just over half of those aged 14 or 15 said they had never tried cigarettes, while 95% of 10- and 11-year-olds said they had never smoked.

    Source: BBC News, 30 October 2011
    Link: http://bbc.in/tTYlBy

  • Birmingham Children's Hospital gets tough on smoking outside its main entrance

    Sick children at a Birmingham hospital are making a plea to smokers to stop lighting up outside its main entrance.

    Unimpressed young patients at Birmingham Children’s Hospital are urging staff and residents to stub it out in the smokefree zone in front of the hospital.

    Posters include a ‘Not In My Face’ poem by 12-year-old patient Ella Ellis.

    A smoking ban came into force at the Steelhouse Lane hospital several years ago, but family members and some staff can still be seen cloistered around the pavement next to the Main Entrance smoking, where it is still legal.

    But this is the spot where all children make their way into the hospital and has led to a series of complaints about them having to walk through “clouds of smoke”.

    Jane Powell, Health Promotion Practitioner for the Children’s Hospital, said: “Young people themselves told us that they did not want to see staff smoking and that smokers outside the main entrance gave a really negative first impression of the hospital."

    Source: Birmingham Mail, 29 October 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/ssZnuH

  • Lambert & Butler new King Size Glide Tec packs

    Lambert & Butler King Size is launching a new Glide Tec pack concept. With a unique opening mechanism, Glide Tec is a world first. The new packs will be available to retailers across the UK from 1st November.

    Sue Tranter, Consumer Marketing Manager at Imperial Tobacco said, “Imperial Tobacco aims to ensure our portfolio accurately reflects the category dynamics. We have manufactured Glide Tec to sit alongside the existing ‘holographic’ Lambert & Butler packs. Our research shows some Lambert & Butler consumers prefer the new Glide Tec pack whilst others will continue to purchase the current packs. In order to cater for all Lambert & Butler smokers, retailers should provide both packs."

    Source: Talking Retail, 27 October 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/s9Svrv

  • Cornwall NHS launches campaign against illegal tobacco

    A new campaign to warn about illegal tobacco in Cornwall has been launched by the county's NHS.

    Health bosses said they were concerned that smuggled tobacco sold cheaply was creating an inexpensive source for children and young people.

    They added that such tobacco also allowed adults to continue smoking when they otherwise could not afford it.

    Trading Standards officers from Cornwall Council will give advice about illegal purchases, and Stop Smoking Service health advisors would be available to assist people who wanted to quit smoking, they added.

    NHS Cornwall said the campaign was part of the South of England Tackling Illegal Tobacco for Better Health programme.

    Source: BBC News, 29 October 2011
    Link: http://bbc.in/vp7kNS

  • Dubai: Anti-smoking initiatives to focus on schoolchildren

    The Dubai Health Authority said it will intensify its anti-tobacco initiatives through its cessation clinics and campaigns especially targeting school children.

    Dr Hanan Obaid, Head of Community Health Services Programmes Section at the DHA, said, "Through our smoking awareness campaigns which we have conducted in 2010 and this year, we realised that there is an urgent need to create regular community awareness activities with regard to tobacco use because of the significant number of youngsters using tobacco."

    In 2010, the DHA conducted 98 anti-smoking campaigns targeting 6,221 people from various schools, colleges, malls, government institutions, and sports clubs.

    The data collected from these institutions prompted the DHA to reach out to more schools in Dubai.

    Source: Gulfnews, 31 October 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/tlEDj7

  • California: 2.5 million children still at risk of secondhand smoke exposure

    Despite having the second-lowest smoking rate in the nation, California is still home to nearly 2.5 million children under the age of 12 who are exposed to secondhand smoke, according to a new policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

    Using data from several cycles of the California Health Interview Survey, the study's authors estimate that 561,000 children are directly exposed to secondhand smoke in the home. Another 1.9 million are at risk because they live in a home where another family member is a smoker, even though smoking may not be allowed in the home itself.

    Sue Holtby, the study's lead author and a senior researcher at the Public Health Institute, which works with the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research in conducting the California Health Interview Survey said, "The next frontier in the campaign against smoking is to reduce smoking at home. California's fight against tobacco has been a major public health success story, but we still need to spread awareness and ensure that every family knows the dire consequences of addiction."

    The authors noted that the data can help identify communities that may benefit from targeted messages concerning the adverse health effects of secondhand smoke.

    Source: HealthCanal.com, 27 October 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/s0IOLh

  • New Zealand: Packet helps smokers hide graphic warnings

    Sticky seals in the packets of one brand of cigarettes are helping smokers cover up graphic health warnings.

    ONE News [the news division of New Zealand television network TVNZ] looked at a range of cigarettes from a number of companies. Dunhill was the only product found with a seal inside the packet that can be stuck on the outside.

    It is labelled "exclusively Dunhill". The sticky 'reloc' seal is just the size to cover health warnings.

    Michael Colhoun of Action on Smoking and Health said, "Nothing about a tobacco packet is accidental and the sticky seals have been included deliberately. This seems to be a brand marketing exercise."

    Manufacturer British American Tobacco says its design is not intended to undermine the law.

    The company said the seal is simply for keeping cigarettes fresh.

    Source: TVNZ, 29 October 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/u9547H