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ASH Daily News
29 November 2002

HEADLINES

Smoke-free zones ‘can lift trade’
BAT and Imperial indulge in PR makeovers


FULL TEXT

Smoke-free zones ‘can lift trade’

Pubs and restaurants should not fear losing money if they introduce smoke
free areas, the British Medical Journal has claimed. This months issue of
the specialist BMJ title Tobacco Control reveals that catering for non
smokers can actually increase profits.

The journal has published a report by researchers from Manchester
University, who questioned 632 establishments included in the Roy Castle
Good Air Award for Yorkshire and a smoke free guide for Sunderland.

Of the 389 licensees who responded to the survey ‘Are smoke free policies
good for business?’, 55% said trade had increased following the introduction
of a non smoking policy while a further 35% said sales had been unaffected.
Only 4% said takings were down.

Joanna Carrington, project manager at the anti-smoking campaign group ASH,
said the findings confirmed that smoke free areas do not drive away trade.
“The tobacco industry has been running scared of smoking restrictions but
smoke free areas are overwhelmingly popular with both licensees and
customers,” she said.

Nick Bish, chairman of the Charter Group (smoking in public places) said:
“The licensing trade is taking this issue seriously and not tackling it with
gritted teeth as some claim.

“We are in favour of smoke-free areas if it makes commercial sense […] but
we believe that self regulation is best.”

Source: Morning Advertiser, 28 November 2002



BAT and Imperial indulge in PR makeovers

PR Week informs that British American Tobacco and Imperial have undertaken
an overhaul of their public relations departments.

Imperial Tobacco’s PR overhaul, led by corporate affairs director Frank
Rogerson, has seen a complete reorganisation of the departments structure to
create a centralised corporate affairs division, which sits alongside key
group functions such as sales and marketing, finance and human resources.

Ciberion, the management consultancy firm set up by British American Tobacco
and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. Has hired a freelance PROs Jane Lee and David
Bridson to handle its UK and Ireland PR. Ciberion was set up two years ago
to specialise on sales and trade consultancy work

Source: PR Week, 29 November 2002



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Naj Dehlavi
Action on Smoking and Health
102 Clifton Street
London EC2A 4HW
http://www.ash.org.uk