'If smoking was really dangerous, the Government wouldn't let cigarettes be advertised' say half of UK's smokers
Embargo: 00:01Tuesday 4 December 2001
“If smoking was really dangerous, theGovernment wouldn't let cigarettes be advertised” say half of UK's smokers.
Abouthalf of smokers (46%) think that smoking can't really be all that dangerous, orthe Government wouldn't let cigarettes be advertised, according to a new surveyconducted by ICM for public health campaigners ASH. In the same poll, amajority of both smokers (54%) and non-smokers (61%) felt that the Government'scontinued delay in banning tobacco advertising showed that Ministers were notparticularly concerned about the number of people smoking.
Thesefigures will make uncomfortable reading for Ministers as they face renewedcalls from health groups for them to act on their often-repeated promises toban tobacco advertising. An ad-ban was a Labour manifesto commitment in both1997 and 2001, but a Bill which would have delivered on this promise ran out oftime in the run-up to the General Election. A Private Members Bill which wouldban tobacco advertising and promotion is currently being debated in the Houseof Lords, but is very unlikely to become law without Government Parliamentarytime and support. Despite repeated calls from the Bill's sponsor, LordClement-Jones, and from health groups, the Government has so far refused togive the Bill this time. ASH is hoping that this poll will make Ministers thinkagain.
JohnConnolly, Public Affairs Manager for ASH, said:
“Itsimply beggars belief that, 40 years after we first found out about the dangersof smoking, half of all smokers still don't appreciate just how dangerouscigarettes are. This poll shows that the Government's actions (or lack of them)have an effect on how the public - especially smokers - perceive these risks.
“Nodoubt these results will come as a nasty shock to Ministers - I'm sure theygenuinely do want to see a reduction in the 120,000 people who die everyyear in the UK from smoking. But they need to realise that they will be judgedon their actions, and their attitude to cigarette advertising sends a verypowerful message about their attitude to smoking as a whole. I only hope thatthey now sit up and take notice and give Lord Clement-Jones' Bill theGovernment Parliamentary time it needs to get onto the statute books.”
ENDS
Notes:
[1]
Interviewswere conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to theprofile of all adults.
[2] The full polling report is on theASH web site at
[3] Lord Clement-Jones' Private MembersTobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill will have its second session inCommittee in the House of Lords on Friday December 7.
