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ASH Daily News

17 November 2006

[View html version: http://www.globalink.org/nbuk]

HEADLINES

Northern Ireland announces smokefree date as 30 April 2007

France to go partially smokefree in February 2007

Philip Morris asks for its products not to be used in movies

Scottish Health Minister wins Scottish Politician of the year

Nightclubs not affected by smoking ban

FULL TEXT

Northern Ireland announces smokefree date as 30 April 2007

Northern Ireland's Health Minister, Paul Goggins has announced that
smokefree legislation will come into effect on 30 April 2007.

The legislation has completed its parliamentary process meaning that
smoking will no longer be permitted in enclosed public places and work
places, including bars and restaurants.

Making the announcement, Mr Goggins said: "I am delighted to announce
today that Northern Ireland's smokefree legislation is now on the
statute book. I have been encouraged by the overwhelming level of
support this legislation has received across Northern Ireland. It is
about improving and protecting the health of everyone. Smoking is the
single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death in
Northern Ireland. This legislation will save lives. It will protect the
public and employees from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke."

Source: 4NI 16 November 2006
Link to article: http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=56908



France to go partially smokefree in February 2007

The French government has said that it will ban smoking in public places
as from February 2007, but smoking in bars, nightclubs and restaurants
could be allowed until January 2008.

France tried to ban smoking in public places in 1991, but the law was
not enforced and did not have public support.

The decree will ban smoking in all closed and covered places that are
open to the public or are places of work. There will be no smoking rooms
in public buildings, including work buildings, schools and hospitals,
hospital gardens and school yards.

Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin announced last month that France
would follow other European countries to impose a ban on smoking in
public places.

According to a survey between 70% and 80% of the French support the
decree.

Source: Sofia news agency 16 November 2006
Link to article: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=72740


Philip Morris asks for its products not to be used in movies

The world's biggest tobacco company Philip Morris is asking Hollywood
not to put its products on the big screen, citing studies that have
shown cinematic portrayals of tobacco use can entice children to smoke.

Philip Morris USA said that it will run advertisements in Daily Variety,
The Hollywood Reporter and other trade publications imploring
moviemakers: "Please Don't Give Our Cigarette Brands a Part in Your
Movie."

The ad campaign begins this week. Philip Morris spokesman David Sutton
said the initiative was conceived after meetings with entertainment
industry representatives.

But Matt Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said
the movie industry has been unmoved by previous appeals by the health
lobby.

"Hollywood has ignored the very serious problem that smoking in the
movies contributes to youth tobacco use," said Myers, adding that "the
problem goes beyond which brands are shown."

Stanton Glantz, head of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and
Education at the University of California at San Francisco, dismissed
the ad campaign as a public relations ploy. Glantz said that instead of
threatening to sue over the use of their brands in movies, Philip Morris
officials are saying, "Aw, shucks, we really wish you wouldn't show our
products on screen."

A study published last year in the medical journal Pediatrics is one of
several that have shown that children exposed to smoking in the movies
are more likely than their peers to start using tobacco. Philip Morris
cites that study and two others in its ads.

Movie industry representatives have said that while they don't want to
encourage youth smoking, filmmakers' freedom of speech in storytelling
must be preserved.

Myers believes that the movie rating system should be amended to require
an 'R' rating for films that show a lot of tobacco use, which he
contended is more damaging to children than scenes containing sex,
violence and foul language.

"To the best of my knowledge, nobody's ever died from hearing a
four-letter word," Myers said.

Source: NY Times 15 November 2006
Link to article: http://tinyurl.com/yj3ymq
Also reported in Guardian 17 Nov. 06 http://tinyurl.com/yfwuk6


Scottish Health Minister wins Scottish Politician of the year

Scottish Health Minister Andy Kerr was named last night as the Herald
Diageo Scottish Politician of the Year 2006. This was in recognition of
his work to bring in the smoking ban in public places.

In accepting the award Mr Kerr said: "Success has many fathers. I
strongly believe it was the Scottish people that made the smoking ban
such a success - that pride in doing things differently that Scotland
has."

Charles McGhee, editor of The Herald, said: "These awards celebrate the
positive and significant contributions made to Scottish political life
in the past year.

"Mr Kerr's successful implementation of the smoking ban in public
enclosed spaces, in the face of hostile opposition, has dominated the
health agenda and has made Scotland a healthier place for everyone."

Source: The Herald 17 November 2006
Link to article: http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/74686.html


Nightclubs not affected by smoking ban

Luminar has said that the smoking ban will not impact on night clubs and
discos in England and Wales based on the progress of its 14 clubs in
Scotland.

Chief executive Stephen Thomas said "If you look at Scotland, venues
have been positive - not just if they have smoking areas but also if
they don't have smoking areas."
He said the nightclub dynamic was about meeting people: "Having a
cigarette will come second to meeting the man or woman of your dreams."

Source: The Herald 16 November 2006
Link to article: http://www.theherald.co.uk/business/74578.html

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Sarah Ward
Information Manager
Action on Smoking & Health (ASH)
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