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ASH News and Events Bulletin - 01-15 August 2011

HEADLINES

EVENTS

  • Study: Graphic warning labels reduce demand for cigarettes

    A sample of 404 adult smokers from four US states participated in an experimental auction on cigarette packs with four different kinds of warning labels. All packs carried the same message: smoking causes mouth cancer.

    The first pack featured a text-only message on the side of the pack, the current US policy. The second had a text-only message that covered 50 percent of the lower half of the front, back and one side of the pack. A third had the same text message, but with a photo depicting mouth cancer. The fourth package had the same text and graphic photo, but was a mostly unbranded pack, meaning all color and symbolic brand elements were removed except for the brand's font, size and descriptors.

    "We found that the label with just the front text warning had little effect on consumers," says study co-author Matthew Rousu, professor of economics at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa.

    "However, demand was significantly lower for packs with grotesque images, with the lowest demand associated with the plain, unbranded pack."

    The bids for cigarette packs that had a grotesque photo and no brand imagery received bids that were 17 percent lower than the bids for the package with the current US warning label.

    "Regulators should also consider health warnings with graphic pictures, but also plain packaging policies for tobacco products," says Rousu, who conducted the study with James F. Thrasher, David Hammond, Ashley Navarro and Jay R. Corrigan. "Color and brand imagery can support false beliefs about reduced risks of some brands."

    Source: Medical Xpress - 08 August 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/oHv00h

  • Smoking may be banned in public parks and cars in England

    The ban on smoking in public places could be extended to parks and cars in England.

    The Daily Mail reports that local councils are planning to use new laws to create ‘zero-tolerance’ zones similar to those in some parts of America.

    Under the Government’s Localism Bill, designed to shift power to communities and councils, the ban will be extended in areas where residents want it. Councils and NHS trusts are targeting places such as play parks to make ‘smoking history for our children’.

    Andrea Crossfield of Smokefree North West said she was helping local councils to use legislation to introduce enforceable bans.

    In the South-West, there are already ‘voluntary’ smoking bans in some children’s parks.

    Source: Daily Mail, 08 August 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/oxJmYt

  • Youth smoking at its lowest level yet

    A government-sponsored survey has shown that smoking among young people has fallen to an all-time low.

    The annual survey on smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2010 revealed that the number of young people who smoke has continued to decline in the past year, with 27% of pupils aged between 11 and 15 admitting to have tried smoking at least once, compared with 29% in 2009 and 44% in 2001.

    Heightened attempts by retailers to clamp down on underage sales and support of No ID No Sale and CitizenCard campaigns have also led to a sustained fall in attempted purchases from shops over previous years.

    In 2010 7% of pupils said they had attempted to buy cigarettes from shops, down from 10% in 2008 and 17% in 2004

    It was revealed that 10% of all pupils had asked someone to buy them cigarettes from a shop in the past year, and that most of these proxy purchases were successful.  

    The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) carried out the survey on behalf of The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

    The full results of the survey can be found on the NHS site, here.

    Source: The Grocer - 03 August 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/oeSZ2M

  • French town makes Mediterranean beach smoke free

    A small town in Provence is attracting more holidaying families by turning a stretch of sun-drenched Mediterranean seafront into the first non-smoking beach in France.

    The smoking ban came into effect earlier this summer, and compliance among the public at the packed beach has surprised even the city official who came up with the idea, deputy mayor for the environment, Noel Collura.

    Collura contends that La Ciotat is the first and so far only no-smoking beach in France –and Europe. The only place he found with a similar law is New York City, which earlier this year banned smoking from all city parks, beaches, boardwalks and pedestrian plazas.

    Source: The Telegraph, 03 August 2011
    Link: http://tgr.ph/orz3SX

  • Tobacco In Connecticut: A Story of Change

    Once over 30,000 acres in the north-central valley grew tobacco, employing thousands of teenagers; acreage has since declined by over 90 percent.

    Philip Devlin takes a look at the history of tobacco in Connecticut.

    Source: Manchester Patch - 01 August 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/ouZ0cZ

  • The science of pleasure: vice or virtue - which motivates you?

    Research into the body’s circuitry reveals a lot about why we pursue pleasure, as well as its dark side – addiction, says David J Linden .

    He argues that most experiences in our lives that we find transcendent – whether illicit vices or socially sanctioned activities as diverse as exercise, meditation or even charitable giving – activate a distinct pleasure circuit in the brain.

    There is, however, a problem: the pleasure circuitry, in which a neurotransmitter called dopamine plays a crucial role, can also be co-opted. Those drugs that carry a risk of addiction, such as cocaine, nicotine, heroin or alcohol, do so because they use our pleasure circuitry.

    Source: The Telegraph - 02 August 2011
    Link: http://tgr.ph/pH9h12

  • BAT seeks Australia documents for fight against plain packaging

    British American Tobacco urged an Australian appeal court panel to order the release of government documents to help it fight a proposed law to remove all manufacturers’ markings from cigarette packs.

    The Dunhill maker needs to deploy the documents “in its efforts to persuade members of parliament that the legislation should not be passed,” Allan Myers, British American Tobacco’s lawyer, told the three-judge panel in Melbourne. A debate on the law is scheduled for next month, he said.

    Source: Bloomberg - 03 August 2011
    Link: http://bloom.bg/q6mfJV

  • BAT withdraws from Bulgaria cigarette maker sale

    British American Tobacco has decided not to bid for Bulgarian cigarette maker Bulgartabak , citing market and strategic reasons, the privatisation agency said.

    BAT's withdrawal leaves only Austria-registered BT Invest, controlled by Russia's state bank VTB, eyeing a majority stake in the company, which has two cigarette mills and a tobacco processing plant.

    'BAT's withdrawal does not make the tender not valid. It can continue with one bidder, and the privatisation agency decision will depend of the quality of the bid,' an agency spokeswoman said.

    'As we have said, Bulgartabak will not be sold at any cost,' she said.

    This is the fourth attempt by Bulgaria to put the company in private hands and is part of the centre-right government's efforts to bolster public revenue in the wake of a recession and ensure a market for Bulgarian tobacco.

    Source: LSE - 01 August 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/pu66tM

  • Fosters set to give Karma rolling paper Zig-Zag treatment

    The former owners of Zig-Zag cigarette rolling paper are set to go head-to-head with the current owners Republic Technologies, after launching their own range of ­papers and filters.

    The Karma range, which is due to hit shelves next month, comprises menthol slim filters, classic filters, slim kingsize rolling paper Karma Blue, king-size rolling paper Karma Green, and standard-size rolling paper booklets Karma Green Cut Corners. The king-size lines and Green Cut Corners will be available in multipacks.

    The range was developed by Fosters Distributors, owned by Jim and Andrew Armstrong. The brothers previously traded as Hilton Tobacco and distributed and developed the Zig-Zag brand under licence before selling it to Republic Technologies last October.  

    Source: The Grocer - 30 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/qun7TJ

  • Imperial gives up on overturning vending machine ban

    The Court of Appeal last month threw out a legal challenge against the move by Imperial during which it claimed outlawing the machines would encourage the trade in illicit cigarettes.

    In a statement to the London Stock Exchange, Imperial said Sinclair Collis was now focused on meeting its responsibilities under the legislation.

    Imperial owns around 20,000 vending machines in the UK, mainly in bars, clubs and restaurants, through its Wolverhampton-based subsidiary Sinclair Collis.

    Source: Bristol 24/7 - 01 August 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/q8x7X2

  • Imperial launches a new cigarette brand for women

    Imperial Tobacco has become the third major cigarette supplier to launch a brand targeted at women in just four months.

    Richmond Superslims are the latest piece of new product development (NPD) to hit the market ahead of the introduction of the ­tobacco display ban for larger stores next April.

    The product, which is being heralded as the UK's first superslim brand in the value-priced cigarette sector is available in standard and menthol 20 packs priced £6.16, the same price as Richmond Superkings.

    The standard pack is embossed with a pink design that is replaced by a mint green version on the menthol variety.

    As with similar recent launches from BAT and Philip Morris - Vogue Perle and Virginia S by Raffles respectively - the new packs are clearly designed to appeal to female smokers.

    Source: The Grocer - 06 August 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/r5v5lJ

  • Japan Tobacco to buy out tobacco firms in North, South Sudan

    Japan Tobacco Inc. said it has agreed to acquire all outstanding shares in major tobacco companies in North and South Sudan, Haggar Cigarette & Tobacco Factory Ltd. (North Sudan) and Haggar Cigarette & Tobacco Factory Ltd. (South Sudan), mainly from their parent Haggar Holding Co.

    Japan Tobacco expects to pay $450 million for the deal, which is likely to be completed in November.

    The company said the acquisition of the two Haggar companies, which have Bringi and other cigarette brands, will enable Japan Tobacco to accelerate its market advances into emerging economies.

    Source: The Mainichi Daily News - 29 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/qm6GMA

  • USA: Jury orders Philip Morris to pay $12.8 million to son for father’s lung cancer death

    A jury has ordered Philip Morris USA Inc. to pay $12.8 million to the 19-year-old son of a man who died of lung cancer from smoking Marlboro cigarettes.

    A Los Angeles Superior Court panel deliberated for about a day before finding 9-3 in favor of Dylan Boeken. The verdict comes a decade after his father, Richard Boeken, won a $3 billion award against the tobacco giant. He died seven months later of lung cancer.

    His son, who was 10 at the time of his father’s death, sought damages for loss of his father’s love, affection, guidance and training. He is now in college.

    Boeken’s attorney, Michael Piuze, said that interest on the judgment could eventually bring the award to $19.2 million.

    Source: SWRNN - 09 August 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/qys2u3

  • USA: Tobacco companies spending less on promoting cigarettes, more on smokeless tobacco

    The nation’s top tobacco companies are spending less money on cigarette advertising and promotion and more money on promoting smokeless tobacco products, according to the latest data from the Federal Trade Commission.

    The data mirrors an industry trend as tobacco companies look to cigarette alternatives such as smokeless tobacco products for future sales growth as tax hikes, smoking bans, health concerns and social stigma make the cigarette business tougher.

    Figures released by the federal agency show cigarette marketing decreased more than 34 percent in 2008, compared with 2003. According to the federal data, the amount cigarette companies spent on advertisements directed to reduce youth smoking fell 84 percent to only $11.5 million. In contrast, money spent on marketing smokeless tobacco products more than doubled to $547.9 million.

    Source: Washington Post, 01 August 2011
    Link: http://wapo.st/r9I84o

  • Zimbabwe: Stem child labour in tobacco farming

    This year alone, the country is projected to produce 170 million kilogrammes of tobacco worth an estimated USD$300 million making Zimbabwe one of the key producers of the 'golden leaf' in the world.

    Despite the resilience of the country's tobacco industry in the face of a decade-long economic crisis, the industry remains buffeted by a number of challenges and these came under the spotlight at the recently held Zimbabwe Tobacco Association Congress.

    These challenges largely focus on the need for heightened compliance in the sector, particularly to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which Zimbabwe has not yet ratified. There is an urgent need for the country to review its tobacco production architecture to ensure that it conforms to current international standards in the production and management of tobacco. One of these standards relates to the non-use of child labour in tobacco farming.

    The ZTA immediate past President Kevin Cooke was unequivocal on the issue.

    "As for child labour, we are very much in the spotlight in this area and need urgently to address, especially in the small scale sector, the use of child labour."

    While there are no readily available statistics on the magnitude of the problem, the fact that the ZTA has identified it as one of the key challenges requiring a resolution is indicative of a growing problem in the sector.

    Source: AllAfrica, 29 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/pOoRLe

  • Affordability of cigarettes in the EU

    Abstract
    Aims: To describe current and recent changes in cigarette affordability across the current 27 European Union (EU) Member States, and to assess the impact of these changes on smoking prevalence in countries that were EU members in 2004 (old Member States) compared to countries that have joined since 2004 (new Member States).

    Design: Investigation of cigarette affordability using the minutes of labour measure, and comparisons of changes in affordability, tax and smoking prevalence in old and new EU Member States.

    Participants: Current 27 EU Member States

    Measurements: Cigarette prices, overall tax yield and incidence, hourly wages and smoking prevalence in the EU were obtained from published sources, and the affordability of the EU Most Popular Price Category (MPPC) cigarettes estimated as the number of minutes of labour required to earn the price of 20 cigarettes in the years 2003, 2006 and 2009.

    Findings: The mean (SD) number of minutes of labour required to purchase 20 MPPC cigarettes in EU Member States in 2009 was 31.3 (10.7), but ranged fourfold across the EU, and was significantly higher in new than old Member States. The number of minutes of labour measure increased more, though not significantly so, between 2003 and 2009 in new (mean (SD) 12.1 (10.9)) than in old (6.7 (4.0)) Member States, largely because of proportionately higher increases in taxation. However there was no correlation between change in affordability and change in smoking prevalence in recent years.

    Conclusions: Cigarette affordability varies substantially and cigarettes are generally becoming less affordable in EU Member States. However, these reductions in affordability do not appear to have impacted substantially on smoking prevalence in recent years.

    Bogdanovica, I., et al., Cigarette price, affordability and smoking prevalence in the European Union, Addiction, Accepted Article, DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03588.x

    Source: Wiley Online Library - 21 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/piqU0f

  • Canadian teenage boys smoking linked to corner stores: Study

    Teenage boys are more likely to light up if their schools are located near a variety store that sells cigarettes, according to a new study by the University of Waterloo.

    The researchers surveyed more than 35,000 students from 76 Ontario high schools, to determine how likely it is that non-smokers, occasional smokers and daily smokers will have a nicotine habit in the future.

    It concluded that young males who had never smoked were slightly more likely to take up the habit if their school was located within a one-kilometre radius of a store that sold cigarettes.

    And the odds of them becoming full-time smokers increased if there was more than one store selling cigarettes within walking distance of school, the study found.

    Female teenagers were unaffected by the proximity of tobacco retailers to their school, according to the study.

    Source: Toronto Sun - 01 August 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/mUHtAG

  • Changes in mood regulating areas of brain among heavy smokers who try to quit

    Heavy smokers who try to quit are typically affected by unpleasant mood changes. A brain imaging study has showed that certain areas of the brain linked to mood regulation really are affected, providing clues to why some heavy smokers find it so hard to give up. The study, carried out by researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, was published in the latest issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

    Ingrid Bacher, Ph.D., and team carried out a study involving 48 participants - 24 of them were not smokers, while the other 24 were smokers but otherwise healthy. Among the smokers, 12 of them smoked from 15 to 24 per day (moderate smokers), while 12 smoked at least 25 cigarettes per day (heavy smokers).

    Higher MAO-A density was detected only among the heavy smokers during a cigarette - a rise of 23.7% in the prefrontal cortex, and an increase of 33.3% in the anterior cortex. No elevation was found among the moderate smokers.

    Source: Medical News Today - 01 August2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/n3bLuO

  • Nicotine dependence and cancer risk

    Abstract

    Background: A behavioral phenotype that characterizes nicotine dependence, the time to first cigarette after waking, is hypothesized to increase the risk of head and neck cancer.

    Methods: A case-control study of histologically confirmed head and neck cancer was conducted that included 1055 cases and 795 controls with a history of cigarette smoking.

    Results: The pack-years–adjusted odds ratio was 1.42 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.02-1.99) for an interval of 31 minutes to 60 minutes to first cigarette after waking and 1.59 (95% CI, 1.19-2.11) for an interval of 1 minute to 30 minutes. The risk estimates were similar when smoking was modeled as total years, smoking status (current vs former), number of cigarettes smoked per day, years since quitting, and excess odds ratio. Findings were consistent for cancers of the floor of the mouth, palate, and pharynx.

    Conclusions: Time to first cigarette is an indicator of increased nicotine dependence, smoke uptake, and risk of head and neck cancer. This high-risk group of individuals would benefit from targeted smoking interventions. 

    Muscat, J., et al., Nicotine dependence phenotype, time to first cigarette, and risk of head and neck cancer, Cancer Journal, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.26235
     

    Source: Wiley Online Library - 08 August 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/q7gXrQ

  • Point of sale and purchase of cigarettes

    Abstract

    Aims: To assess the impact of retail displays of tobacco on tobacco smoking and purchase by smokers and attempting quitters.

    Design: Population based diary style survey

    Setting: NSW, Australia

    Participants: 998 smokers and 111 attempting quitters.

    Measurements: Demographic measures and four-hourly records over four days: number of cigarettes smoked and bought; exposure to cigarette smoking by friends/family or other smokers, and exposure to retail displays of tobacco.

    Findings Subjects reported seeing cigarettes for sale in more than 40% of the time periods when they were outside their home. After allowing for factors which are known to increase smoking, people who saw cigarettes for sale were more likely to smoke, and smoked more cigarettes, even if they did not buy cigarettes in the same time period. There was marginally significant evidence that people exposed to retail displays of tobacco in one time period were more likely to buy in the following time period.

    Conclusions: In a environment which permits point-of-sale displays, smokers were found to see tobacco displays in more than 40% of the four-hour periods that they were outside the home. Exposure to such tobacco displays was associated with a higher probability of smoking, and with higher levels of smoking, even when subjects did not purchase cigarettes.

    Burton, S. et al., The association between seeing retail displays of tobacco and tobacco smoking and purchase: findings from a diary style survey, Addiction, Accepted Article, DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03584.x

    Source: Wiley Online Library - 20 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/qibciM

  • USA: Economic effects of smoke-free laws on rural and urban counties

    Abstract

    Introduction: Numerous empirical studies have examined the influence of smoke-free legislation on economic activity, with most finding a null effect. The influence could possibly differ in rural areas relative to urban areas due to differing rates of smoking prevalence and access to prevention and treatment programs. Furthermore, the discussion of the effectiveness of smoke-free laws has been extended to consider local ordinances relative to statewide laws. This study examines these issues using 21 local laws in Kentucky and the Ohio statewide smoke-free law.

    Methods: The number of employees, total wages paid, and number of reporting establishments in all hospitality and accommodation services in Kentucky and Ohio counties were documented, beginning the first quarter 2001 and ending the last quarter of 2009. A generalized estimating equation time-series design is used to estimate the impact of local and state smoke-free laws in Kentucky and Ohio rural and urban counties.

    Results: There is no evidence that the economies in Kentucky counties were affected in any way from the implementation of local smoke-free laws. There was also no evidence that total employment or the number of establishments was influenced by the statewide law in Ohio, but wages increased following the implementation of the law. Furthermore, there is no evidence that either rural or urban counties experienced a loss of economic activity following smoke-free legislation.

    Conclusions: The study finds no evidence that local or state smoke-free legislation negatively influences local economies in either rural or urban communities.

    Pyles, M. et al., Economic Effects of Smoke-Free Laws on Rural and Urban Counties in Kentucky and Ohio, Nicotine and Tobacco Research (2011), doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntr123

    Source: Oxford Journals - 20 June 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/pWrg4M

Events

  • Health and Wellbeing – the 21st Century Agenda

    The second international conference organised by the journal Public Health is taking as its theme health and wellbeing. The conference will explore the relationships between health, wellbeing and the factors which influence them in a global environment. 


    website

    Date: 08 September 2011
    Venue: Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ
    Contact: crobins@rsph.org.uk

  • UN Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases

    The Summit will focus on the four most prominent non-communicable diseases, namely, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. The aim of the summit is to agree on a global strategy to address NCDs.

    There will be a High-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on the prevention and control of Non-communicable Diseases (19-20 September 2011), while Non-communicable disease indicators are on the agenda for discussion during the Millennium Development Goals Review Session (20-22 September 2011).

    Date: 19 September 2011
    Venue: New York City, USA
    Contact: http://bit.ly/dOgoW4

  • Working together to reduce health inequalities

    This half-day briefing will explore the implications, risks and opportunities involved in the practical application of the Department of Health’s Healthy Lives white paper, published in December 2010, with regards to understanding and reducing health inequalities.
     

    Date: 23 September 2011
    Venue: ORT House Conference Centre, London NW1
    Contact: http://www.pavpub.com/p-399-working-together-to-reduce-health-inequalities.aspx

  • 14th European Health Forum Gastein

    The EHFG has developed into a key annual event, bringing together, politicians, senior decision-makers, representatives of interest groups, and experts coming from government and administration, business and industry, civil society and science and academia.

    Date: 05 October 2011
    Venue: Salzburg, Austria
    Contact: http://www.ehfg.org/registration.html?&L=0

  • Study day at Royal Marsden Hospital: It's never too late to stop

    The day covers Smoking and the impact on cancer treatment and how to support cancer patients and their families to stop smoking.

    Date: 07 October 2011
    Venue: Royal Marsden Hospital
    Contact: www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/studydays or call: (0044) 020 78082924

  • Tobacco and Alcohol: Learning From Each Other Conference

    Cigarette smoking is highly prevalent among people with alcohol use disorders. People who are dependent on alcohol are more likely than those in the general population to be smokers, and people who are dependent on tobacco are more likely than the general population to be dependent on alcohol. Alcohol use problems are associated with higher levels of nicotine dependence and a lower likelihood of smoking cessation. More alcoholics die of tobacco-related illness than die of alcohol-related problems. The link between alcohol and tobacco has important implications for those in the alcohol and smoking cessation treatment and policy fields. The conference is an opportunity to learn from each other and to present new models and ways of working.

    Date: 12 October 2011
    Venue: Parc Thistle Hotel, Cardiff
    Contact: http://www.ashwales.org.uk/conference-registration/

  • Tobacco science at ICAA 54th International Conference on Dependencies

    Plenary sessions with keynote speakers of international renown will address major themes, most of them having a general, non-substance-specific nature covering aspects relevant to matters regarding alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

    On Monday 14th November one plenary session will deal with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. (Presenters: Deborah Arnott, Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) UK,  Prof. Robert West, Professor of Health Psychology and Director of Tobacco Studies. University College London

    On Wednesday 16th November there will be Major sessions including four presentations with tobacco-specific content: 
    Harm reduction 
    Prof Ann McNeil, Professor in Health Policy and Promotion, Deputy Director of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies. Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham. UK

    Pharmacological and non-pharmacological features of Substance Dependence : comparisons between alcohol/drugs/tobacco
    Karl Olov Fagerstrom PhD, Fagerstrom Consulting, Helsingborg, Sweden

    Scientific basis for tobacco product regulation
    Lars Ramström PhD, Institute for Tobacco Studies, Stockholm, Sweden

    Tobacco control policies
    Deborah Arnott, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), London, UK

    SESSIONS OF THE ICAA SECTION ON TOBACCO DEPENDENCE 
    All participants are encouraged to submit abstracts of contributed papers for oral presentation in the sessions of the ICAA Section on Tobacco Dependence. We welcome presentations dealing with any aspect of tobacco science and control (research, prevention, treatment, policy etc). 


     

    Date: 13 November 2011
    Venue: British Medical Association's Conference Centre, BMA House, London
    Contact: www.icaa.ch/london/

  • Fiftieth anniversary of RCP report on smoking and health

    To mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of its first report on Smoking and Health in 1962, the Royal College of Physicians is organising a one-day conference.

    Date: 06 March 2012
    Venue: Royal College of Physicians
    Contact: http://events.rcplondon.ac.uk/details.aspx?e=2497

  • 15th World Conference on Tobacco or Health

    The premier, international conference on tobacco control attracts thousands of academics, practitioners, non-government organisations and public officials. 

    Date: 20 March 2012
    Venue: Singapore
    Contact: http://wctoh2012.org