Scotland: Surge in smokers trying to quit smoking

The number of smokers trying to kick the habit in Scotland has soared by more than 6,000, according to annual statistics from the Scottish Government.

The figures, show that 50,121 people attempted to quit smoking in 2008 compared with 44,019 the previous year.

However, the national figures were not reflected in some health boards which experienced a fall in attempts to quit. The Scotland-wide figures, meanwhile, show almost 5% of attempts were made through NHS smoking cessation services – slightly more than the previous year – while almost half, 44%, where made through pharmacies.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison welcomed the statistics, saying smokers are more likely to quit by using NHS services.

She said: “Not everyone succeeds at their first attempt, but cessation services are there to support them as they become a non-smoker.”

Sheila Duffy, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Scotland, called the figures “encouraging”.

She said: “Giving up smoking has both immediate and long-term benefits for smokers of any age and smoking cessation services are saving lives.

“Around 70% of smokers say they want to quit, so well-supported services must remain a priority.”

Liberal Democrat health spokesman and former smoker Jamie Stone MSP urged more people to use the smoking cessation services. He said: “It is encouraging that more and more people are making an attempt to stop smoking in Scotland.

“Figures show that success rates for those trying to quit is much higher when people use the NHS smoking cessation service.”

Health boards in the Highlands, Tayside and Western Isles all saw an increase in smokers trying to kick the habit. Orkney, Shetland and Grampian, however, experienced a fall.

A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian, which saw an 899 fall in people trying to quit, said the board was reviewing the services.

She added: “Previously, if clients set quit dates too early then dropped out, they were still counted on the national statistics. Now we have introduced ‘Week Zero’. Week Zero is an introductory week and allows for a cooling-off period, ensuring only the most motivated quitters continue to set a quit date.”

Source: Press and Journal, 27 May 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/ojca8r

Canada moves to restrict tobacco marketing aimed at children

Canada introduced amendments to its tobacco law to make it harder for cigarette makers to market their products to children and ban small packages of certain tobacco products -- so-called “kiddy packs.” 

The legislation would ban cigarette makers from adding fruit flavours and other additives that give tobacco products a candy flavour and would end an exemption that permits tobacco adverts in publications aimed at adults. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaqsaid said in a statement.

“The changes would also require that little cigars and blunt wraps be packaged like cigarettes in minimum quantities of 20,” the statement said. “ This will put an end the industry practice of selling these products in single or small quantity ‘kiddy-packs’ that are affordable to youth.”

The new rules fulfill a promise made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper during the 2008 election campaign.

Source: Bloomberg, 26 May 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/pksget

Retailer charged over bootleg cigarettes

Bootleg cigarettes with a retail value of more than £2,000 have been seized from a Sunderland newsagents.

Anthony Kean, who ran Tony's Newsagents in Hendon, was due to appear before city magistrates' last week after denying two charges of possessing the counterfeit tobacco products.

But the 31-year-old failed to turn up at court and the trial went ahead without him.

Prosecuting for Sunderland City Council, Shirley Tracey said the two specimen charges were brought after enforcement officers visited the store in July last year.

They found a small number of cigarette packets in a drawer under the counter, and hundreds more in a storeroom, which also breached tobacco regulations.

Some of these had illegal health warnings in French, others were in English but below the required size.

In total. more than 400 packets of 20 cigarettes were seized – 44 of John Player's Special Black and 383 cartons of Lambert and Butler.

Miss Tracey said the haul could have made Kean, 31, a potential profit of £1,696, costing the Government £1,835 in unpaid tax.

Magistrates found the case proved, and adjourned sentencing until June 5.

Speaking after the trial, Tom Terrett, Trading Standards and Licensing manager said: "The sale of counterfeit and non-duty paid cigarettes can encourage smokers to smoke more than they otherwise would."

"This puts smokers at even greater risk of suffering the well-known harms associated with tobacco use. Additionally, the public purse is being cheated of the tax normally paid on tobacco.

"The Council's Trading Standards Officers inspect cigarettes on sale to ensure that they are legal. If they're not, they will be seized and, as in this case, the seller is liable to prosecution."

He added: "The City Council treats such offences extremely seriously.

"If members of the public suspect the sale of counterfeit or non-duty paid tobacco they should call Trading Standards on 561 1719."

Source: Sunderland Echo, 25 May 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/p4884j

Chorley man charged after 21 million counterfeit cigarettes seized

A Chorley businessman has been charged with importing more than 21million counterfeit cigarettes into the UK through Southampton's container port.

Guy Simpson, 52, of Flag Lane, Heath Charnock appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court accused of tax evasion - estimated as being in the region of £4.5m. 

The haul, wrapped in brown paper packages and worth an estimated value of £5.3m, was found by Border Agency officers in two containers that arrived from China in December.

Customs said it was the biggest cigarette haul found in Southampton.

The cigarettes have since been shredded and burnt at a power station to fuel the national grid.

Source: Chorley Guardian, 27 May 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/orp93c