HEADLINES

• Ferrari extends partnership with Philip Morris
• Disadvantaged households need more smoking support
• Stop smoking group for mums awarded
• Ireland: Health Service Executive launches new campaign to stop tobacco use
• Australia: Health minister stares down big tobacco
• USA: New York: Buffalo Bills go smokefree

• Ferrari extends partnership with Philip Morris

  Formula One team Ferrari has extended its partnership with tobacco company Philip Morris through to the end of 2015.

  Philip Morris’ Marlboro brand has been a sponsor of the team since 1984 and Ferrari’s title partner since 1997. Although tobacco advertising was banned from the sport in 2007, the team’s official name away from the track remains “Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro”.

   

  Last year, Ferrari removed a barcode livery from its F1 cars that was thought to resemble Marlboro branding after the team was accused of subliminal advertising.

   

  In a one-line statement, the team confirmed: “Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro announces that it has extended its collaboration agreement with Philip Morris International to the end of 2015.”

  
  Philip Morris’ previous deal with Ferrari was struck in 2005 and was due to expire at the end of the 2011 season.
  Source: Sportsbusiness.com, 15 June 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/mEgMA2

• Disadvantaged households need more smoking support

  Many UK children are at risk of health problems caused by exposure to second-hand smoke in the home, with poorer households more likely to need support.

  Research  by the University of Nottingham, published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research, looked at the concept of harm reduction in deprived families where children might be exposed to levels of smoke in the home. Harm reduction can involve the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to help support smokers during times when they would prefer not, or are unable to, smoke, such as in the home around children, or in public places.

  
  The researchers found that the majority of participants had used NRT to support previous quit attempts, but that, in general, attitudes towards temporary abstinence were negative, as people felt they would rather wait until they were in a position to give up completely.

  
  The study findings suggested that further information on the effects of second-hand smoke is required, but that providing demonstrable evidence of the impact that caregivers' smoking is having on their children's health is more likely to be effective in the long term.
   
  Source: Nursing in Practice, 14 June 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/monrEZ

• Stop smoking group for mums awarded

  A support group helping mums-to-be to kick the habit has been praised at a national awards ceremony.

  The Stop Smoking in Pregnancy Team at the Jessop Wing maternity hospital has been commended at the British Journal of Midwifery awards.

   

  The project was awarded third place in the Team of the Year category for their work implementing a new strategy to help pregnant women stop smoking.

   

  The team of stop smoking advisors and midwives enabled 183 pregnant smokers to kick the habit in 2010-11, along with 22 of the women’s partners.

   

  The team have also established a multi-agency Stop Smoking in Pregnancy Forum which meets monthly to share ideas, examine research and design and develop resources to support the new National Institute of Clinical Excellence compliant strategy.
  Source: Sheffield Star, 14 June 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/jU2kg4

• Ireland: Health Service Executive launches new campaign to stop tobacco use

  A new health education campaign launched by the Health Service Executive (HSE) has highlighted that one in every two smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease,

  The campaign — which tells smokers ‘You can quit, and we can help’ — hopes to reduce the number of smokers in Ireland and, by doing so, the level of illness and deaths caused by tobacco use.

   

  There are currently almost one million smokers in Ireland. Some 5,500 people die annually from a tobacco-related disease, and the HSE estimates that between €1 and €2 billion is spent every year in treating tobacco-related diseases.

   

  According to the HSE, 80 per cent of smokers want to quit and 40 per cent try to do so every year.  Those who use supports like the National Smokers’ Quitline, online help, smoking cessation services, or medications are twice as likely to succeed.
  Source: Irish Medical News, 15 June 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/liEYjr

• Australia: Health minister stares down big tobacco

  Health Minister Nicola Roxon has weathered an attack over her attempt to solicit funds from big tobacco in 2005 and vowed to push ahead with plans to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes.

  Ms Roxon says even if cigarette makers win compensation for the loss of trademark rights, the commonwealth would be ahead because plain packs would cut smoking rates and therefore health spending.

   

  It was revealed on Tuesday night that in 2005 Ms Roxon asked three executives at Philip Morris to support her re-election by attending a $1500 a table fundraiser. The Labor Party had banned political donations from big tobacco a year earlier under then leader Mark Latham.

   

  "Obviously it's an embarrassment for me," Ms Roxon told ABC TV. "But it does need to be kept in perspective. Six years ago an invitation was sent that was not accepted - a donation was not made."  Ms Roxon accused big tobacco of "playing the man and not the ball".

  
  The opposition  coalition failed to press the issue in Question Time - perhaps because that would inevitably raise fresh questions about the millions big tobacco still donates to the Liberal and National parties. Ninety-seven per cent of BAT's worldwide donations in 2010 went to the Australian Liberal and National parties.

  
   
  Source: Sydney Morning Herald, 15 June 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/lfMc4x

• USA: New York: Buffalo Bills go smokefree

  American football team the Buffalo Bills are going smoke-free by banning all smoking at Ralph Wilson Stadium next season.

  CEO Russ Brandon says the team made the decision as part of two changes it's making to its fan behavior policy. Previously, fans were allowed to smoke in several designated areas just inside the entry gates, but outside the stadium bowl.
  Source: Buffalonews.com, 14 June 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/llQVrs