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ASH Daily news for 26 May 2011

HEADLINES

  • Woman dies in house fire after smoking in bed

    A 49 year old woman who died following a house fire at her home is believed to have been smoking in bed.

    Lichfield Area Commander Phil McFarlane said "On our arrival, we were faced with a severe fire on the first floor of a three-storey detached property. The fire started in the bedroom and has destroyed the room as well as causing severe heat and smoke damage throughout the property."

    "Once the fire was extinguished, a joint fire and police investigation took place. We believe that the most likely cause of the fire was a cigarette – it would appear the woman had been smoking in bed. We would urge smokers to ensure they dispose of smoking materials carefully and safely and advise against smoking in bed or in close proximity to any other combustible materials."

    Source: thisislitchfield, 26 May 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/kEBshd

  • BAT buys Colombia's Protabaco for US$452 million

    British American Tobacco has agreed to buy the privately owned Productora Tabacalera de Colombia, S.A.S. (Protabaco), the second largest cigarette company in Colombia, for $452 million (£277 million).

    Mark Cobben, BAT's director for its Americas region said "This investment will strengthen and complement our position in an important market and fill a strategic gap in our Americas region."

    Protabaco sold 5.5 billion cigarettes in 2010, accounting for almost one third of the domestic market. Its biggest brand, Mustang, is the country's second best selling cigarette with a market share of around 18 percent. BAT itself sold 708 billion cigarettes in 2010.

    Source: Reuters News, 26 May 2011
    Link: http://reut.rs/jvJ9pY

  • PCT cost-cutting breaches NHS rules

    Thirty three per cent of PCTs slashed funding for smoking cessation services by up to 90 per cent in 2010/11 according to information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

    The investigation of 120 PCTs found 14 per cent contravene NICE advice by failing to back equal first-line access to smoking cessation drugs NRT, varenicline or bupropion in general practice.

    GPs criticised the measures as short-sighted and potentially harmful to patient health.

    South west London smoking cessation GPSI Dr Alex Bobak said restricting choice undermined patients' faith in treatment, making it harder to quit and a relapse more likely. 'Smoking cessation is a behavioural change. A key factor is to have the smoker buy into the treatment,' he said.

    Martin Dockrell, director of research and policy at charity Action on Smoking and Health, said: 'With a cost of £1,000 to £2,000 per life-year saved, quitting aids far out-save most other medicines. These PCTs are opting to pay for costly care in the future rather than help smokers to quit today.'

    Dr Bobak accused PCTs of 'ridiculous short-termism' by reducing budgets: 'PCTs which cut smoking cessation are cutting based on cost, not cost effectiveness,' he said.

    Source: GPonline, 26 May 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/jos5rh

  • Ill-health costs UK £17bn per annum but lifestyle changes could reduce that dramatically, says Bupa

    According to research release from Bupa unhealthy workers are costing the NHS, employers and themselves £17.7 billion every year through their lifestyle choices.

    If current health trends continue this figure could rise to almost £33 billion a year.

    According to the findings, making healthier lifestyle choices such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake and becoming more active can have an immediate impact on people's wallets.

    Smokers who successfully quit will find, on average, an extra £1,555 in their pocket at the end of the year. If they quit between the ages of 30 and 49 they could enjoy an average additional income of £7,186 per annum in middle age, due to increased life expectancy.

    Johann Carinus, assistant medical director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing, said: "This study not only reveals the true cost to the nation of unhealthy lifestyle choices, but it also highlights the considerable savings to the public purse which could be achieved through individual commitments to health improvement. "Data released earlier this year from the Bupa 'Health Age' report showed that almost 70% of people in the UK wanted to make a positive change to improve their health in 2011.”

    Source: hrmagazine, 25 May 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/mt46Yi

  • Retailers fight EU tobacco crackdown

    Retail associations from 11 countries, including the UK's National Federation of Retail Newsagents have joined forces to fight tougher tobacco control laws which they say threaten half a million small businesses.

    The retail associations met in Brussels to sign a declaration opposing EU Commission proposals for plain packaging of cigarettes, a ban on the display of any tobacco products in shops and restrictions on addictive ingredients in cigarettes.

    The proposed revision of the 10-year old Tobacco Products Directive would remove all logos, graphics and designs from cigarette packaging across Europe, with just the brand name written in small letters.

    The planned moves would tighten EU-wide controls which already stipulate maximum limits for nicotine and tar content of cigarettes, written health warnings on packets and a ban on terms such as "light", "mild" or "low tar".

    Brussels hopes to agree new plans with national authorities by the end of this year.

    Source: The Appointment, 26 May 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/j2TsIA

  • Ireland: Four million cigarettes seized in port

    Customs officers at Dublin Port have seized more than four million cigarettes worth close to €2m.

    The contraband cigarettes were discovered among freight which arrived from China via Holland.

    A Revenue spokeswoman said a man in his 30s from Northern Ireland was arrested, charged with evasion of excise duty and remanded in custody in relation to the find.

    Source: Irish Independent, 25 May 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/k0pPKp