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ASH Daily News

28 October 2003

HEADLINES

Smoking can double risk of MS
London survey on smoking bans
BAT and RJ Reynolds combine forces in US

FULL TEXT

Smoking can double risk of MS

Smokers are 1.81 times more likely to develop multiple sclerosis than non smokers according to Dr Trond Riise from the university of Bergen, Norway, whose findings were reported in the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Scietntists found that smokers in their forties were almost twice as likely as non-smokers to develop MS in later life, with male smokers having 2.7 times the risk.

The study examined 87 MS patients in a sample of 22,312 people between the ages of 40 and 47 in the Norwegian country of Hordaland, in order to identify the environmental factors that increase the chances of developing the disease.

Professor Riise said: "This is the first time that smoking has been established as a risk factor... hopefully these results will help us learn more about what causes MS by looking at how smoking affects the onset of the disease."

Source: The Guardian, The Independent, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mirror.



London survey on smoking bans

Londoners are being asked to say what they think about smoking in public places. A referendum launched yesterday seeks views on bans on smoking in places such as pubs, shops and restaurants.

The results could be used to shape a smoke-free initiative along the same lines as the New York ban and San Francisco, where smoking is banned in bars and restaurants.

Other cities including Sheffield, Birmingham and Brighton are already considering increasing restrictions.

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, said he looked forward to the hearing the views on the issue and working with businesses and groups to increase access to smoke-free venues.

The pro-smoking group Forest labelled the initiative a "crude publicity stunt"

The poll will run until the end of the year Londoners can log onto http://www.bigsmokedebate.com or fill in the questionnaire in the Mayor's newsletter 'The Londoner' delivered to households.

Source: The Times, 28 October 2003



BAT and RJ Reynolds combine forces in US

British American Tobacco's subsidiary Brown and Williamson and its long-time rival RJ Reynolds have agreed to combine their American operations in a $6.2bn (£3.66bn) merger deal that promises to create a powerful competitor to Altria's Philip Morris.

They aim to create a new company that will be called Reynolds American.

The shake up follows years of tough legal challenges for the whole tobacco industry in the United States related to the health hazards of smoking.

Under the deal, RJ Reynolds will agree to indemnify BAT from all current and future litigation in the US courts.

The transaction is due to begin in New York to close mid way through next year, pending regulatory and shareholder approval.

Source: The Independent, The Guardian, The Times, 28 October 2003



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