Looking to Greece to stop display ban? It was a day too late...

It was a Greek tragedy for opponents of the proposed tobacco display ban this week after hopes of a last-minute reprieve were dashed.

The Greek government raised an objection to the UK government's regulations covering the implementation of the ban.

But according to a statement from the European Commission seen by The Grocer, the objection arrived a day too late the deadline for European member states to raise any objections was Monday.

Had the submission arrived on time the UK government would have been prevented from taking any further action on its plans for a further three months to allow further consultation. A so-called standstill period would have been extended until 14 May, after the expected general election date.

The UK government is now free to proceed with the regulations and is expected to do so as soon as possible ahead of the election making it harder for a future government to reverse the process.

However there appears to be confusion as Greece claimed its "detailed opinion" had been submitted on time last Thursday.

The commission, however, claimed this was comment and not an official submission.

Source: The Grocer - 20 February 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/9SrjQO

Smoke smell is top of the pongs

The legal ban on cigarette smoking in public places seems to be influencing public perceptions.

For the smell of cigarette smoke has been identified as "Top of the Pongs" in a new survey. 

Tobacco was closely followed by stale alcohol suggesting that the smoking ban may have resulted in increased smoking and drinking at home, survey organisers Space Air Solutions said.

Cheap perfume came in third place, cooking smells came fourth and the smell of air freshener sprays, intended to disguise household smells, is named as an unlikely offender with a dramatic rise from tenth to fifth position.

Source: The Scotsman - 22 February 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/a5xHwI

Penge retailer fined for age related sales

A Penge (SE London) business was fined by Bromley Magistrates on 17 February after pleading guilty to selling alcohol and tobacco to under age customers. 

Shuklas (Londis) Ltd, who operate two shops, ‘News and Cards’ and ‘Food and Wine’, in Newlands Park, SE26 sold tobacco and alcohol to two under age volunteers who had been sent into the premises by Bromley Trading Standards in July 2009. ‘News and Cards’ sold tobacco and ‘Food and Wine’ sold tobacco, beer and wine to the volunteers who went unchallenged by staff in both shops. The sales were witnessed by Trading Standards Officers.

The company was fined £400 for each tobacco sale and £600 for the alcohol sale and ordered to pay £200 costs.

In December 2009 the premises licence for ‘Food and Wine’ was reviewed by the Council and was suspended for two weeks. The court heard a previous sale of alcohol and tobacco took place in the same premises in March 2009 resulting in a caution for the director of the company, Rashik Trivedi.

Cllr Colin Bloom, Chairman of the Safer Bromley Partnership said: “Underage drinking not only contributes to levels of antisocial behaviour in the borough but it also carries serious health risks. Bromley Trading Standards have no tolerance for retailers that fail to take all reasonable steps to avoid selling age restricted products to under age purchasers. Anyone caught doing so here in Bromley can expect to be dealt with severely.”

Source: Bromley Council - 22 February 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/crOpZa

Northwest: Anti smoking teens on a mission to turn their friends into quitters

A gang of clued up Bolton lads are organising a huge town centre conference for young people in a bid to encourage them to dump the fags.

The young men from the Sunning Hill Youth centre were given the lowdown on the practices used by the tobacco industry to encourage people to smoke at a weekend residential and now they’re determined to spread the stop smoking message among their peers.

The residential was part of Smoke and Mirrors, an anti tobacco industry campaign by Smokefree Northwest, which counts Ricky Hatton, Chris Eubank, Alistair Campbell and Hollyoaks creator Phil Redmond among its supporters.

The group, aged 13-19, attended the residential after taking part in a number of activities at Sunning Hill which were funded through the Government’s Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) grant.

More than 50 young people from youth centres across Bolton are expected to attend the conference at the friends meeting house on Wednesday (February 24), where the Sunning Hill group will lift the lid on the tobacco industry and encourage them to quit now.

Bolton Council youth worker Louise Gornall said: “There is no better way to educate other young people than through their friends, because they are more likely to listen to other people of their own age than to adults.

“The young lads we selected had really grown in confidence after taking part in the PAYP funded activities, so we knew they would be really open to making the most of the residential and staging a conference like this. It was a natural progression for them and probably not something they would have done if they had not benefited from the PAYP funded activities within the youth centre.”

During the trip, at Trafford Hall in Chester, the young people heard from Californian professor Stanton A Glantz, who is campaigning for films which feature smoking to be given an 18 certificate, and were told about how cigarettes are marketed and used in films and TV, before taking part in team exercises.

They also heard about recent legislation in Scotland which has taken cigarettes away from public view and under the counter before watching films other young people have made about the tobacco industry. [ed. note: while the law has indeed been passed, it has not yet been implemented.]

Louise added: “Research has shown that warning young people about the health risks associated with smoking doesn’t always hit home, so going in at this angle is likely to be a lot more successful.”

Dr Janet Atherton, Chair of Smokefree North West, said: “The tobacco industry needs to recruit new customers to replace those that have quit or died. Smoking is a childhood addiction – 80% of smokers start before they are 19. Smoke & Mirrors is an exciting opportunity for more young people to get involved in creating a tobacco free future for themselves and to protect others from the harm caused by tobacco. Just by challenging the negative practices of the tobacco industry, the young peoples’ films help de-legitimise the industry and the glamorization of smoking amongst young people.”

The PAYP grant is part of Aiming High for Young people, a ten-year strategy from the Department for Children, Schools and Families to ensure that young people across the country have safe places to go and interesting things to do.

For details of local activities for young people in Bolton, please visit www.youngboltonlife.org.uk.

Source: COI - 22 February 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/aCVbSu

Guernsey: Passive smoke dangers highlighted

Anti-smoking campaigners have joined forces with the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service to highlight the dangers of second hand smoke.

Information packs on the benefits of smoke-free living will be handed out as part of routine home safety checks.

A survey carried out last year showed 37% of parents of students in school years nine to 12 smoke at home.

It also showed that 17% of secondary school students have parents who smoke in their cars.

Vidya Amey, project manager of Guernsey Adolescent Smokefree Project, said: "The dangers of smoking have now been well established; however, there seems to be a lack of understanding about the issues linked to passive smoking or second hand smoke.

"The survey clearly showed that adults do not seem to appreciate the dangers of passive smoke. We acknowledge that not everybody wants to stop smoking however, we believe that this should not stop smokers from protecting their loved ones."

Andy Mauger, community fire safety manager, said: 'Working in partnerships is very important, it has helped us reach a greater number of people in the community, with the aim that people are less at risk and lives will be saved."

Source: BBC News - 22 February 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/bpV5YI

Scotland: Illegal cigarettes seized in raid on shops

Customs officials have seized thousands of pounds worth of illegal cigarettes in raids on shops in Fraserburgh and Peterhead.

Officers from HM Revenue and Customs and Aberdeenshire Council’s trading standards department joined forces for the blitz.

More than 33,000 cigarettes worth almost £9,000 were recovered during the operation which targeted two shops at Fraserburgh and one at Peterhead.

The cigarettes had been smuggled into the country and duty had not been paid on them.

Two HMRC officers travelled from Paisley for the raids.

They were joined by two local trading standards officials who had been gathering intelligence on the businesses involved.

An HRMC spokesman said no arrests had been made and inquiries were continuing. Michael Connolly, the body’s assistant director of special investigations said: “HMRC is tackling tobacco fraud at all points of the supply chain from smuggling and storage, through to sale.”

Source: Evening Express - 22 February 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/9sAeSf