ASH, 102 Clifton Street, LONDON, EC2A 4HW.
Tel 020 7739 5902 Fax 020 7613 0531

ASH Daily News

16 October 2003

HEADLINES

McTear vs. Imperial
Canadian Grand Prix back on track
Hail to the ban
Smoking ban in shopping malls

FULL TEXT

McTear vs. Imperial

International tobacco giant, Imperial Tobacco, which is being sued over the death of a smoker refused to accept the health risks associated with smoking, a court was told yesterday.

Imperial Tobacco was one of five major cigarette manufacturers asked by the Commons health committee if smoking caused lung cancer.

While the company's competitors said there was a link, or "considerable evidence" to support an association, Imperial Tobacco only conceded that cigarettes "might" be a cause of the disease.

Imperial Tobacco is fighting a £500,000 damages action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. It is the first time an attempt to sue a tobacco firm over the death of a smoker has made such progress in Britain. The case was started by Alfred McTear, a 60-a-day chain-smoker, just before he died of lung cancer in March 1993.

His widow, Margaret, 58, of Cherrywood Drive, Beith, Ayrshire, is continuing the action in her own name.

Imperial Tobacco denies the company is to blame for his death and is contesting the claim that smoking had to be the cause of his lung cancer.

Full Telegraph article linked from:
http://www.tobacco.org/news/140535.html
Source: 15 October 2003



Canadian Grand Prix back on track

The Canadian Grand Prix was put back on the 2004 Formula One calendar on Wednesday, giving the series 18 races for the first time.

The race, scheduled for June 13 in Montreal, was included in a revised 18-race schedule approved by the sports governingn body FIA.

The Canadian Grand Prix had been dropped in August because of a ban on tobacco advertising that will come into effect this fall. But FIA revived the race, provided there was a financial agreement that will make up for a lack of tobacco sponsorship. The Canadian Grand Prix will take place one week before the US race in Indianapolis.

Source: Associated Press, 16 October 2003



Hail to the ban

An editorial in the Bradford Argus lauds the Metro's decision to ban smoking in Bus Stations across West Yorkshire.

Metro's decision to ban smoking progressively in bus stations throughout West Yorkshire following successful trials at Huddersfield is a commendable measure which surely will be welcomed enthusiastically by those who prefer not to breathe nicotine-laden air.

The total ban at Keighley bus station and strict controls at Bradford Interchange (where smokers will be restricted to a designated area fitted with extractor fans) will remove for the non-smoking majority one of the irritations of travelling by public transport.

Indeed, having to put up with other people's smoke while they are waiting in an enclosed queue can be enough to put people off using the buses if they have an alternative available, so the measure may ultimately help to boost passenger numbers and ease traffic congestion on the county's cluttered roads.

The majority of smokers will no doubt respect the new restrictions, as they have done in workplaces, cinemas, theatres, shops and the smoke-free zones created in many restaurants and pubs.

Full editorial linked from:
http://www.tobacco.org/news/140586.html
Source: Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 14 October 2003



Smoking ban in shopping malls

Anti-smoking rules could be extended to cover a second Newcastle shopping centre and the historic Grainger Market, it was revealed yesterday.

Members of the city council's constitutional committee have approved plans to introduce a byelaw covering Eldon Square shopping centre.

It will mean that anyone caught smoking in the malls could be fined up to £500.

The byelaw is thought to be unique, and has to be created because the city council has a "walkways agreement" with the owners of Eldon Square, which means that the walkways in the shopping centre are treated as public highways.

As such, any bans have to be backed by byelaws. Malcolm Lumsden, operations manager at Eldon Square, said most shopping centres now had smoking bans.

At the meeting yesterday, councillors were told the byelaw would have to be put out to public consultation first and then approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Councillor Tony Flynn, leader of the council, said: "I would like to see negotiations begin with Eldon Garden shopping centre for a similar byelaw and also for Grainger Market, where we are also landlord.

Full article linked from:
http://www.tobacco.org/news/140553.html
Source: The Journal, 15 October 2003


----------------------------------
Unsubscribe:

Public subscribers: http://www.ash.org.uk/?unsubscribe
Globalink members: http://member.globalink.org/nbuk
----------------------------------