Ireland: Smoking rate up from 27% to 29% since 2002

The proportion of people who smoke in Ireland has increased over the past seven years despite the introduction of the workplace smoking ban and significant increases in the price of cigarettes. New figures from the Department of Health put the overall smoking rate at 29%, compared to 27% in 2002.

The rate of smoking is higher among women at 31%, compared to 27% of men. Smoking is also more popular among younger age groups, with more than one-third of 18- to 29-year-olds now engaging in the habit.

Source: Belfast Telegraph, 16 June 2009
Link: http://tiny.cc/rWtjd

New Zealand: Teen smoking rates hit new lows, reveals survey

Teen smoking rates have dropped in the past decade to reach new lows. Action on Smoking and Health New Zealand's (ASH NZ) Year 10 Snapshot Survey for 2008 showed a record 61 per cent of pupils aged 14 and 15 nationwide have never tried smoking, compared with 32 per cent in 1999.

The number of teens who said they smoked daily has dropped to 7 per cent from 15.6 per cent in 1999, and the number who smoked regularly has dropped to 12 per cent from 29 per cent. The survey found that more girls (8 per cent) smoked on a daily basis than boys (6 per cent). The highest regular smoking rate was the domain of Maori girls, at 22 per cent, with Asian girls smoking the least (2 per cent).

ASH NZ said while the results were encouraging, the decline in smoking rate was smaller than the drop-off between 2003 and 2005 after the introduction of the Smokefree Environments Act which banned smoking in school grounds, hospitals, workplaces, restaurants and bars. Researcher Janine Paynter said the impact of the law change was wearing off and new policies would be needed to prevent more teens taking up smoking.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia said she was encouraged by the survey results but would be looking into what could be done to bring the Maori statistics down. ASH NZ surveyed 31,000 out of 61,000 Year 10 pupils.

Source: The New Zealand Herald, 13 June 2009
Link: http://tiny.cc/Y8j12

Pubs peddling cigarettes to youngsters

Children as young as 14 were able to buy cigarettes in almost half of the pubs surveyed by consumer watchdogs on Merseyside. A survey by Wirral Trading Standards has shown how easy it is for young people to buy cigarettes from vending machines in pubs. In six out of 13 pubs visited, a 14-year-old child volunteer was able to buy cigarettes from vending machines.

Only one pub asked the volunteer for proof of age. Four of the premises had the machines turned off, although in one pub the volunteer even managed to turn the machine on at the wall and put money into it without being challenged. The other two pubs would have also allowed the 14 year old to purchase cigarettes, except the coins were rejected by the machine.

Cllr. Gill Gardiner, Wirral's Cabinet member for Environment said: "It is worrying how easy it is for a young person to buy cigarettes from a vending machine in a pub. Trading Standards are working with tobacco retailers to stop the sale of cigarettes to young people and I would urge licensed premises to ensure that they are vigilant in preventing young people having access to their vending machines."

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to a person under 18. New sanctions came into force on the 1st April 2009 enabling a Court to ban retailers who sell tobacco to a person under the age of 18.

Source: Click Liverpool, 15 June 2009
Link: http://tiny.cc/WLOPk

Isle of Man: Law change sought to combat rise in smoking litter

A change in law is being sought to force managers to ensure the outside of their premises, up to the edge of the kerb, are kept free of litter.
The catalyst for the change has been the increase in discarded cigarette butts on the streets since the smoking ban was introduced in March 2008. Ivan Bratty, Department of Local Government and the Environment food safety manager, admitted earlier this year that the 'major problem as a result of going smoke free is the litter'.

'We were aware of it before the legislation came in, but we are certainly seeing more cigarette butts on pavements and in gutters,' said Mr Bratty. 'It is not so much a problem with the majority of pubs but it is office locations like Athol Street, Douglas, and back lanes adjoining office premises where a lot of litter is ending up.' On the spot £50 fines can be issued by by law officers to anyone caught dropping litter.

The DLGE has gone out to consultation on plans to amend regulations so that a Litter Control Notice can be issued in respect of litter generated from all pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants, all offices, factories or shops in which one or more works — making managers of premises responsible for the litter that they generate.

If the amended regulations are passed by Tynwald, Mr Bratty said it would mean a notice could be issued to the controller of the building to ensure litter is cleaned up. 'It would be a notice to say that there was litter outside and it was the controller of the building's responsibility. They would be responsible to ensure the outside of premises up to the kerb is kept clean,' he said. If there was more than one company in the building a general notice on all companies might be served.

Mr Bratty said: 'In the first instance we are looking for voluntary co-operation and taking legal action by issuing a notice is a last resort. Once the notice is issued the department must specify what action it expects the person in control of the building to carry out and the period within which it must be carried out. That period must not be less than 21 days. The person on whom the notice has been served also has 21 days to appeal against the notice. Non compliance with the notice means that it will go to court and the court will fix the fine.'

Source: Isle of Man Today, 15 June 2009
Link: http://tiny.cc/QKwcu

Jail for tobacco smuggling gang

Members of a Kent-based cigarette smuggling gang have been jailed for total of six-and-a-half years. Christopher Osborne, 49, of Bromley, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for his part in an operation which evaded an estimated £18 million in excise duty, and traded some 78 million cigarettes, Isleworth Crown Court heard. Osborne’s son, Jack, 23, was sentenced to one year.

The pair were caught at a lock-up in East London on May 3 last year over 2 million cigarettes and £79,980 in cash. Over £200,000 was recovered from the Osborne family home at a later date by Sniff, a cash detection dog.

Andrew Pavlinic, HM Revenue & Customs assistant director for criminal investigation, said: “These criminals have lived a lifestyle funded by the proceeds of crime and we will work closely with our prosecutors to confiscate illegally-funded assets. Tobacco smugglers don’t care about undercutting honest retailers and tobacconists. All criminals care about is profit.”

Source: Off Licence News, 15 June 2009
Link: http://tiny.cc/GVRuH