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ASH Daily News
21 November 2002


HEADLINES

Milburn steps up war on smoking
European Parliament votes to ban most cigarette advertising
BAT finds on-pack route to dodge ad ban
£94m a year spent on helping smokers quit

FULL TEXT

Milburn steps up war on smoking

The Government has declared war on smoking, with a raft of measures designed
to encourage people to quit smoking within the next 3 years. Health
Secretary Alan Milburn announced the measures plus an extra £15 million to
be given to Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation to run
hard-hitting media campaigns. Mr. Milburn is also considering “payment by
results” schemes for health trusts that meet targets on cutting deaths from
smoking, heart disease and cancer, and infant mortality.

Addressing a meeting of health professionals at the Faculty of Public Health
Medicine, Mr. Milburn said: “Our approach is not just about getting people
to quit smoking but to make sure that people, especially the young, never
start. The time has now come to put renewed emphasis on prevention as well
as treatment so that we can develop in our country genuine health services
and not just sickness services.” Clive Bates, director of ASH, said:
“This is incredibly impressive. Hats off to the Government for this.”

However, the Guardian notes that the Minister for Public Health, Hazel
Blears, was careful not to offer any new government directives against
smoking in public places or workplaces.

The Guardian, Daily Express, The Times, & other papers. 21/11/02


European Parliament votes to ban most cigarette advertising

The European Parliament has endorsed a ban on tobacco advertising that would
cover most forms of advertising but analysts say the move is unlikely to
harm major cigarette producers and could strengthen the position of the
dominant cigarette makers in the Euro 18 billion a year European cigarette
market. If the proposal is approved, cigarette firms would be able to
advertise only in specialist journals for the tobacco trade. Foreign
magazines would be except but only if the journal could prove it wasn’t
aimed “primarily” at a European audience. However, critics say the bill’s
provision give the tobacco companies room to manoeuvre Tobacco companies
could simply spend more on indirect advertising, which is not covered by the
ban. Clive Bates, director of ASH, said: “This may not be a cause for
celebration but actually a cause for alarm from a public health point of
view.” But the WHO disagreed. “Anything that moves us closer to a total
ban on all aspects of public advertisement and sponsorship is good news for
public health, said Derek Yach, of the WHO.

Wall St, Journal (Europe), Financial Times, 21/11/02
.

BAT finds on-pack route to dodge ad ban

Rothmans is launching a ‘pub quiz’ concept that encourages smokers to
actively contact the company, thereby dodging the impending tobacco ad ban,
reports Marketing. The technique exploits a loophole whereby cigarette
companies can contact consumers if they request information.

The BAT-owned tobacco brand promotion starts this week on its Royals
cigarettes. This invites smokers to call the company with answers to
questions contained in packs and also offers money-off their next purchase.
According to Marketing, the company will then be able to exploit the
opportunity to market to consumers directly by promoting other brands and
products. Under the new law, cigarette companies will not be able to send
communications to customers unless they specifically request information on
each individual occasion.

£94m a year spent on helping smokers quit

Sales of stop-smoking aids have risen by 160 per cent in five years and the
market is now worth £94 million a year. The National Institute for
Clinical Excellence (NICE) estimates that the annual demand for NRT or
Zyban, will be between 500,00 and 14 million prescriptions next year,
resulting in an NHS bill of between £20 million and £56 million.

The Times, 21/11/02


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Amanda Sandford
Research Manager
ASH
102 Clifton Street
LONDON
EC2A 4HW
Tel. 020 7739 5902
Fax.020 7613 0531
amanda.sandford@ash.org.uk