Wirral children dodge smoking law by buying cigarettes in pubs

Young people are dodging the age ban on smoking by buying cigarettes in pubs, a survey on Merseyside has found.

A Wirral Trading Standards investigation has shown that, 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.

In one pub, the teenager even managed to turn the machine on at the wall and then put money into it without being challenged by staff.

Cllr Gill Gardiner, Wirral's cabinet member for environment, said: “Trading Standards are working with tobacco retailers to stop the sale of cigarettes to young people.

“I would urge licensed premises to ensure that they are vigilant in preventing young people having access to vending machines

Source: Wirral News, 17 June 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/nd8hgt

Liverpool: Smoking in films could be rated 18

Films featuring characters who smoke could soon be handed an automatic 18 rating while showing in Liverpool.

Liverpool Primary Care Trust (PCT) wants young people banned from exposure to smoking actors because of research suggesting they influence children.

An estimated 5,300 under-18s smoke in Liverpool, half of whom were influenced by films, the PCT claimed.

If the policy is approved, the council could enforce 18 classifications under the Licensing Act 2003.

The city council has stressed a decision is yet to be made, and people in the city have been urged to engage in a consultation, which starts in August.

Under the proposals, classic films which feature smoking characters would be unaffected and the policy would only be applied to new releases.

However, films about historical figures and those which show a "clear and unambiguous portrayal of the dangers of smoking" would be exempt.

Councillor Malcolm Kelly, chair of the licensing and gambling committee, said: "I would stress that no decision about this proposal has been made yet.

"We were given a presentation earlier this year by the PCT in which they spoke about the high level of young people who smoke in Liverpool and that research showed young people are more likely to smoke if they were influenced by seeing their favourite stars smoking in films.

"However, we want to get the views of a wide range of organisations and the public in general before we decide whether to go ahead with this idea."

Under the 2003 act, local councils have statutory powers to classify films to be exhibited in their particular areas.

Government guidance says authorities should only overrule the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) if there are "very good local reasons".

In its report to the council, Liverpool PCT said the city's smoking prevalence was "excessively high" at 29%. The national level is 22%.

It added that research from several countries suggested smoking in movies was "the most potent of the social influences which lead young people into smoking".

BBFC spokeswoman Sue Clark told the BBC that while the council was "obviously entitled" to re-classify films, members of the public were unlikely to back the idea.

"We have done our own consultation with the public and we specifically asked them about whether smoking in films should be a classification issue - we were told it shouldn't," she said.

"We don't make it a classification issue unless a film is actively promoting smoking to young people - and we've never seen a film which does that."

Excessive smoking in a film may be flagged up in its consumer advice, or the extended classification information on the BBFC website, said Ms Clark.

Source: BBC News, 17 June 2009  
Link: http://tinyurl.com/mxlngo

Scotland: Cigarette display ban ‘threat to small shops’ says tobacco industry front group

Dundee’s small newsagents and corner shops face the threat of closure under Government plans to ban tobacco displays, it was claimed today

The Dundee and Angus branch of the Scottish Federation of Small Businesses say they have been approached by local shopkeepers, who fear the move could threaten the viability of their business.

Branch chairman Eric Gray said, “Some small shop owners have said they will struggle to come up with the cash to make the necessary changes to their shop displays in addition to the potential loss of income from impulse buying of cigarettes and tobacco.

“We have had calls from some of our members locally saying it will cost around £2000 to change their displays. That is the hidden capital outlay which in some cases could tip some struggling small businesses over the edge.

Ministers want to ban tobacco displays in shops as part of a raft of measures aimed at cutting the health toll from smoking in Scotland.

The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill is expected to complete its passage through the Scottish Parliament by the end of the year.

Alan Mitchell, chief executive of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, said that, while the chamber had not been approached on the issue, any loss of income from cigarettes and tobacco would have an adverse effect on small businesses.

The comments come as a national survey revealed that more than three quarters of corner shopkeepers fear a ban on tobacco displays in shops could threaten their businesses.

The survey was conducted for the Tobacco Retailers Alliance, which represents 26,000 UK shopkeepers and is funded by the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health said, “All this survey shows is that the Tobacco Retailers Alliance, a tobacco industry-funded body, has managed to frighten small shopkeepers into thinking that putting tobacco out of sight will kill their businesses.

“Yet again the tobacco industry is crying wolf, just as it did with smoke free legislation, which it said would destroy our pubs.”

Source: Evening Telegraph, 16 June 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/l3u3qn

Ireland: Low fines make for a 'cigarette smugglers' paradise'

The average fine for handling illegal cigarettes was just €423 during the first three months of the year, new figures reveal.

The paltry size of the fine has prompted calls to end Ireland's reputation as a cigarette smugglers' paradise.

The tobacco industry is among those who want stiffer penalties imposed on smugglers and sellers of illegal cigarettes.

Figures released by the Revenue Commissioners showed that the fines handed down by the courts to those convicted in the first three months of the year.

A breakdown of the revenue statistics reveals that Dublin, Louth and Kerry top the list for cigarette convictions.

Penalties were imposed in 11 counties, with 43pc of convictions recorded in Dublin, 11pc in Louth and 8.5pc in Kerry, while the rest were divided between Clare, Wexford, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny, Cavan, Waterford and Kildare.

The manufacturers said last night the figures showed the geographic spread of the market for the smuggled cigarettes, which were estimated by the authorities to cost the Exchequer €500m every year in lost revenue. The total combined hauls of cigarettes confiscated at Dublin airport alone since the start of the year has reached more than 13 million.

A spokesman for the Irish Tobacco Manufacturers Advisory Committee said: "This evidence highlights that, with continued insufficient penalties, Ireland will remain a smugglers' paradise".

Source: The Independent, 18 June 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/m2xmaz