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ASH Daily News

17 November 2004

HEADLINES

Public Health White paper: wrong cignals?
Mapping technique's findings
Greater Merseyside Leaders sign up to smoke free



FULL TEXT

Public Health White paper: the reaction

The Health Secretary's White Paper proposals restricting smoking in public places appears to have annoyed both sides of the debate.

Health campaigners said the proposals did not go far enough, whilst Tories and industry leaders complained they went too far. James Johnson, Chairman of the British Medical association (BMA) was disappointed that the proposals did not extend to cover all public places. He was concerned that the proposed legislation would be unclear and difficult to enforce. "It makes no sense to allow smoking in some pubs. What about the health and lives of employees who work in them? Mr Johnson asked. The prospect of pubs finding loopholes in the legislation was a concern. Mr Johnson, by way of example cited a landlord buying in pre-prepared sandwiches and asked if smoking would be permitted in that scenario.

Deborah Arnott of ASH greeted the proposals as a "big step forward" but warned that the attempt to exempt some pubs and clubs was an "unworkable and unsustainable bodge." She also said that the Government would find it very difficult to set safe standards for pubs and clubs that still allow smoking.

An article in the Evening Standard about the proposed new legislation was unambiguous - "Don't kid yourself, smoking kills". It continued: "Ministers cannot fudge it. The evidence supporting a blanket ban is so strong that there is widespread agreement among the medical community, and no room left for scientific debate.
The Government should follow Ireland and Scotland's bold leads and introduce a comprehensive ban on smoking in enclosed places."

In the Daily Express Fiona Castle, widow of entertainer Roy Castle, who died 10 years ago as a result of passive smoking, expressed anger that the proposals were half-hearted: "Scotland and Ireland have banned smoking in public places simply because it saves lives. I am appalled that non-smokers in England are to be denied that basic protection," she said.

Illustrating its grasp of the issues involved, a Sun editorial cited the "deeper issues" of personal liberty, rather than simply public health and asserted that "A pint and a fag is a man's right."

A Times editorial chimed to the same theme by describing the White Paper as "Nanny Phobia". The Telegraph also detected a growing threat to "our precious liberty" in the curbs on smoking. They dismissed Labour's plans as "gimmicks" which will not help the National Health Service.

By contrast, the Independent said that Government could no longer idly stand by whilst ill health remained a major issue. "Mr Reid has sought to balance the demands of the medical establishment for intervention and compulsion against the political dangers of too much intervention. To a large degree, he has succeeded. But this is just the first step on the path to a healthier nation," the paper noted.

The Mirror noted that pubs had been in the process of transforming themselves from drinking dens to civilised, family orientated places. Yet the government proposals were labelled "a missed opportunity for the sake of pandering to the smoking lobby," It did not marry up with its claimed intention of creating a healthier nation.

As a result of Government plans, publicans may opt to end serving food rather than alienate their core profitable clients with a smoking ban. The food industry expressed concerns that certain foods will be stigmatised under a new labelling system. By the end of 2008, arrangements will be in place in England and Wales to ban smoking in restaurants and bars that prepare and serve food.

Responding to concerns that pubs might abandon food provision, the government said this was unlikely as food was too profitable to abandon. Yet the British Beer and Pub Association said despite the recent healthy profit margins derive from food, profit margins were higher on alcohol sales.

Estimates of the impact of smoking restrictions on the trade have varied. BDO Stoy Hayward, the professional services firm claimed that 32,000 jobs could be lost and profits fall by £230m as a result of proposals in the White Paper.

The Tobacco Manufacturers Association said the proposals had "gone beyond what the public said it wanted."

Predictably, pro-smoking lobby group reacted true to form. An angry Simon Clark, its Director said: Most people want more no-smoking areas and better ventilation in pubs and bars. They do not want a complete ban on public smoking enforced by an army of tobacco control officers."

However, Punch Taverns, the second biggest pub owner in the UK was more optimistic about the plan, saying food pubs were already becoming smoke free: "That's the way the market is going."

In a cool and detached article the correspondent for the International Herald Tribune detected that the sun might finally be setting over the pubs in England. "Since the days, decades ago, when smoking was an accepted feature of British public life - indoors, outdoors, in pubs and movie-houses, trains and buses - smoking has become a frowned upon pursuit," it observed. It continued: "Now London's smokers huddle on sidewalks to indulge their habit, outcasts from many working areas."

Writing in the Daily Mail Peter Oborne confided that he has been won over to the smoke-free argument. Whilst previously of the opinion that New Labour's clampdown on smoking was simply killjoy proposals, Mr Oborne's visit to Ireland after the introduction of a smoking ban changed his mind. The pubs there were a good deal cleaner and the famous Irish atmosphere had not dimmed.

Source: Times, Financial Times, Evening Standard, Daily Express, Sun, Mirror, Daily Mail, Guardian, Telegraph, International Herald Tribune, 17 November 2004


Greater Merseyside Leaders sign up to smoke free

A petition signed by key policy makers, which included Council Leaders, NHS Chairs and Chief Executives from across Merseyside, and was delivered to Health Secretary John Reid on the eve of the White paper being published.

The signatories were calling for national legislation to protect the health of workers by prohibiting smoking in enclosed workplaces.

Source: Heart of Mersey Press Release. 15 November 2004
Further details available from http://www.heartofmersey.org.uk


Mapping technique's findings

The Guardian has identified communities most vulnerable to serious preventable diseases.

The paper used a new technique of "health needs mapping", with statisticians pinpointing English districts likely to have the worst problems associated with heart disease and diabetes, as well as mental illness, teenage pregnancy and winter hospital admissions.

Source: guardian, 17 November 2004
Article link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1352927,00.html

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Harold Wilson
ASH
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