News
Health Groups to Cameron and Hunt: Let Parliament Decide on Standardised Packaging
08 May 2013 Following Jeremy Hunt’s appearance on Radio 4’s Today programme saying that a decision had not been taken on standardised packaging, members of the Smokefree Action Coalition [1] have written to Prime Minister David Cameron and Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt today expressing deep disappointment that legislation to introduce standardised packaging of tobacco products was not included in the Queen’s Speech. They believe that the failure to bring forward legislation fatally undermines the Government’s credibility on public health issues. [2] Smoking remains the major cause of preventable death and disease, killing 100,000 people each year in the UK [3] with over 200,000 children taking up smoking each year [4]. It is an addiction primarily of children and young people with two thirds of smokers becoming addicted before the age of 18 [5]. The Public Health Minister, Anna Soubry MP, has publicly stated that she is ‘personally persuaded’ by the evidence of the need for standardised packaging. She went on to say that it was now time for the debate to be had with colleagues in Parliament. [6] The Smokefree Action Coalition agrees with the Public Health Minister. Since the launch of the public consultation on standard tobacco packaging in April 2012, there has been a groundswell of support for the measure with nearly two-thirds of the public and a majority of MPs across all political parties in favour. [7] In their joint letters to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health, members of the SFAC, including the Association of Directors of Public Health, the Faculty of Public Health, the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the British Medical Association and the Trading Standards Institute, say that if the Government will not go ahead with the introduction of standardised packaging then Parliament should be allowed to decide on the issue in a free vote in this parliamentary session. In order to facilitate the debate the Coalition also wants the Government to publish the outcome of the consultation on this issue, a consultation which finished nearly 9 months ago, on 10th August 2012 [8]. The President of the Royal College of Physicians, Sir Richard Thompson said: “This is a major lost opportunity to help protect children from starting to smoke. Evidence shows that plain packaging is less attractive to young people. In the UK, two thirds of regular smokers started smoking before the age of 18; two fifths before the age of 16. Only around half will manage to stop smoking during their lifetime. We need to take every opportunity to reduce the amount of deaths and disease in later life by preventing children from starting to smoke now.” Dr Janet Atherton, President of the Association of Directors of Public Health said: “Smoking is an addiction of childhood, with two thirds of smokers starting before the age of 18. Tobacco packaging is clearly targeted at young people, and standardised packs would provide one less reason for them to start smoking. There has been an extensive public consultation on this issue – this should not be buried – the public has a right to expect that it should be properly debated in Parliament.” Leon Livermore, Chief Executive of the Trading Standards Institute said: “The harm to public health from tobacco use is so great that every possible means of reducing this harm should be considered. Smoking remains one of the most significant challenges to public health. This laudable move towards plain packaging must not be derailed. The UK is the standard bearer for tobacco control in Europe and where we lead others will follow. This gives us added responsibility to proceed with plain packaging sooner rather than later.” Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of health charity ASH said: “Every day nearly 570 young people start smoking, and many will go on to die early from smoking-related disease. Smoking is by far the biggest cause of preventable premature death, and the poorest communities suffer worst. It is clear that a majority of MPs and peers as well as the general public support standard packs. If the Government cannot find the courage to act, then Parliament must be given the chance to decide, as it did with smokefree legislation.” Notes and links [1] The Smokefree Action Coalition is an alliance of over 100 health organisations. The following are signatories to the letter to the Prime Minister : Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of Council, Royal College of General Practitioners, Dr Janet Atherton, President, Association of Directors of Public Health Harpal Kumar, Chief Executive, Cancer Research UK Professor Lindsey Davies, President, Faculty of Public Health Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive and General Secretary, Royal College of Nursing Dr Mark Porter, Chair of Council, British Medical Association Graham Jukes, Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Penny Woods, Chief Executive, British Lung Foundation Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive, British Heart Foundation Francine Bates, Chief Executive, The Lullaby Trust Sir Richard Thompson, President, Royal College of Physicians Dr Hilary Cass, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Leon Livermore, Chief Executive, trading Standards Institute Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive, ASH - letter to the Prime Minister, 08 May 2013 - letter to the Deputy Prime Minister, 08 May 2013 - letter to the Health Secretary, 08 May 2013 [2] Today Programme, BBC Radio 4, 08 May 2013. Jeremy Hunt: We haven’t made a decision actually John and … JH: Well (indistinct) lost it … Jeremy Hunt: … when I have made a decision, when I have made a decision, as you know extremely well and you’ve been in this game for much longer than I have, just because something isn’t in the Queen’s Speech doesn’t mean the Government can’t bring it forward as law. But we haven’t made a decision and when we have … JH: Why? Jeremy Hunt: … made, well when, which, which of those two issues are you talking about? JH: Either, both … Jeremy Hunt: Okay … JH: … because both of them you, you want to do don’t you, you want a minimum price, as the Health Secretary you want a minimum price for alcohol and you would like to see plain packets, certainly your Public Health Minister Anna Soubry does? Jeremy Hunt: I heard the interview but let me just explain on, on minimum unit pricing there was a court case because they are trying to do this in Scotland and that was only resolved this week and so it wasn’t possible for us to actually consider what course of action to do until that was clear. On plain paper packaging if we do it we would be the first country in the Europe, the second country in the world, Australia only introduced it in January so it’s a much harder job to assess the evidence as to how effective it would be and that takes time and I want to make sure we do the job properly. So I’m going to take the time that I need to. JH: But you can see it looks a wee bit as if you’re scared of it now and, and there could be if that is true, if my supposition is true, then it could be that you’re actually you’re rather scared of UKIP because they would be very cross about it wouldn’t they given, given what we know about Mr Farage and his liking for cigarettes and a pint? Jeremy Hunt: Well you keep putting this word scared assuming that I’ve decided, we haven’t made our decision and when we have made our decision we shall see if …. "Just because something is not in the Queen's Speech doesn't mean the government cannot bring it forward as law," Mr Hunt added. (source: BBC News) [3] ASH factsheet. Smoking statistics: Illness and Death. April 2013. (pdf) [4] Statistical analysis by Cancer Research UK based on 2011 data from Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people. [5] Two thirds of smokers become addicted before the age of 18 and 39% under 16 see data from the General Lifestyle Survey [6] Today Programme. BBC Radio 4, 19 April 2013 Anna Soubry: There is work to be done on smoking and that’s the next debate that we’ve got to have. We’ve had a consultation on what’s called plain, it’s not, it’s very colourful very intricate, but standardised packaging, and there’s a real debate now to be had on whether or not we should introduce it like they have in Australia. John Humphrys: Are you in favour of that? AS: I am JH: So it’s going to happen AS: Oh no, it doesn’t mean to say it’s going to happen because we haven’t had the debate. We need now to have that debate. I’ve seen the evidence. I’ve seen the consultation. I’ve been personally persuaded of it, but that doesn’t mean to say that all my colleagues in government on both sides of the house are persuaded, and that’s the debate that we now have to have [7] A poll by YouGov for ASH found that overall 64% of adults in Great Britain were in favour of standard packaging. Total sample size was 12171 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 1st and 19th February 2013. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). A separate YouGov poll conducted on the 10th and 11th March 2013 revealed the views of the public by which party they support. Support by voting intention was 62% of those intending to vote Conservative, 63% of Labour and 60% of Liberal Democrats. There was majority support across all ages, genders and social classes. This was a representative sample of 1684 adults. Respondents were shown what a standard pack could look like, including larger health warnings as in Australia and envisaged under the revised EU Tobacco Products Directive All members of the SFAC (over 100 organisations) support standardised tobacco packaging. [8] DH consultation on standardised packaging started on 16th April 2012 and finished on 10th August 2012. Standardised packaging was defined for the purposes of the consultation as: · All internal and external packaging to be in a prescribed colour/s. · All text on the pack, including brand names, to be in a standard colour and typeface. · No branding, advertising or promotion to be permitted on the outside or inside of packs, or attached to the package, or on individual tobacco products themselves. For this purpose ‘branding’ includes logos, colours or other features associated with a tobacco brand. · Any foils within a pack to be of a standard format and colour with no text permitted. · Packs to be of a standard shape and opening · Packs would still carry health warnings, fiscal marks and other markings to help identify fraud.
Health groups press Prime Minister not to drop standard packs for cigarettes
02 May 2013 After today’s report in The Sun [1] that the Government has abandoned plans to bring in standard packaging for cigarettes and other tobacco products, members of the Smokefree Action Coalition [2] have written to the Prime Minister to express their concern. The health groups say that such a step would seriously undermine the Government’s credibility on public heath. In their joint letter to the Prime Minister, members of the SFAC including the Faculty of Public Health, the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the British Medical Association, say that abandoning standardised packaging would be to miss a golden opportunity to take a further step to cut smoking rates and the toll of death and disease that smoking causes. Since the launch of the public consultation on standard tobacco packaging in April 2012 there has been a groundswell of support for the measure with nearly two-thirds of the public and a majority of MPs across all political parties in favour. [3] The health groups say that if the Government will not go ahead with the introduction of standardised packaging then Parliament should decide in a free vote as was the case with smoke-free legislation. The Labour Party has already committed to supporting the measure. Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of health charity ASH said: “Reports that the Prime Minister has rejected plans for standard packaging are very worrying. But this does not mean that the battle is over. With a majority of MPs and peers as well as the general public in favour of standard packs we believe that Parliament should be given the chance to decide.” Notes and links [1] Plain fag packets plan up in smoke, The Sun, 2/5/13 [2] The Smokefree Action Coalition is an alliance of over 100 health organisations. The following are signatories to the letter to the Prime Minister : Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of Council, Royal College of General Practitioners, Janet Atherton, President, Association of Directors of Public Health Harpal Kumar, Chief Executive, Cancer Research UK Professor Lindsey Davies, President, Faculty of Public Health Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive and General Secretary, Royal College of Nurses Dr Mark Porter, Chair of Council, British Medical Association Graham Jukes, Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Penny Woods, Chief Executive, British Lung Foundation Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive, British Heart Foundation Francine Bates, Chief Executive, The Lullaby Trust Sir Richard Thompson, President, Royal College of Physicians Dr Hilary Cass, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive, ASH The letter is available to download as a pdf. [3] A poll by YouGov for ASH found that overall 64% of adults in Great Britain were in favour of standard packaging. Total sample size was 12171 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 1st and 19th February 2013. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). A separate YouGov poll conducted on the 10th and 11th March 2013 revealed the views of the public by which party they support. Support by voting intention was 62% of those intending to vote Conservative, 63% of Labour and 60% of Liberal Democrats. There was majority support across all ages, genders and social classes. This was a representative sample of 1684 adults. Respondents were shown what a standard pack could look like, including larger health warnings as in Australia and envisaged under the revised EU Tobacco Products Directive All members of the SFAC (over 100 organisations) support standardised tobacco packaging.
Over 78,500 children have started smoking since UK Government’s consultation on standardised tobacco packaging ended
The clock ticks Every day 430 children become smokers in the UK. That's since the consultation on standard packs closed. Tell the Government to act. Find out more	13 February 2013 This Valentine’s day the Smokefree Action Coalition [1] is calling on the Government to take action and “have a heart” by committing to legislation to make all tobacco packaging standard. Today is the tenth anniversary of the implementation of the ban on tobacco advertising and the seventh anniversary of the Commons vote for smokefree legislation. Valentine’s Day is therefore an ideal date for the Government to make its decision known. The clock is ticking. Since the consultation on the legislation ended just over six months ago, it is estimated that 78,500 children will have started smoking in the UK, a number which grows by 430 every day. Now the Smokefree Action Coalition, an alliance of over 190 health organisations including the BMA, medical royal colleges, public health bodies, academic institutions and health charities, is calling on the Government to publish the results of its consultation and announce that it will go ahead with legislation. Currently in the UK, there are no restrictions on the way tobacco multinationals are allowed to promote their brands through packaging. The packs are now the principal form of tobacco promotion and are designed to attract existing and potential consumers with colourful and eye-catching imagery.
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of health charity ASH said: “The evidence is clear that heavily branded, brightly coloured packs are attractive to children. It’s been six months since the consultation closed and the clock is ticking. Every day hundreds more children take up smoking - children who need protecting from tobacco industry marketing. The government must commit now to legislation to put all tobacco products in standard packs.” Sir Richard Thompson, President of the Royal College of Physicians, said: “As a young doctor I was depressed to see so many patients in their 50s and 60s suffering because they had started smoking as children. Back then there was very little we could do, but now we have the opportunity to help protect our children by implementing standardised packaging.” Dr Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK's Chief Executive, said: “Around 430 children start smoking in the UK every day. With one in four cancer deaths caused by smoking, this is far too many children who are pulled into the lethal addiction. More than 80,000 Cancer Research UK supporters were among the 200,000 people calling on the Government to introduce plain, standardised cigarette packs Our supporters run marathons and climb mountains to bring forward the day when we beat cancer. When the Government has a practical way to help prevent cancer, we urge it to act.” Louise Morris, 36, a mother and former smoker from Newcastle who was influenced by cigarette packaging as a child, also wants the Government to act. She said: “I started smoking with a group of friends when I was 13 years old. We all thought it was really fashionable to smoke the brand of cigarettes that looked the most attractive and I remember smoking cigarettes in a shiny gold packet because it made us feel like we were smoking a glamorous brand of cigarettes that looked more expensive compared to everyone else’s cigarettes.” There is no evidence that standardised packaging will bolster the illegal tobacco trade as some tobacco multinationals suggest.[2] Branded tobacco packaging is no obstacle to counterfeiters and standardised packs would carry the same covert markings currently used to distinguish legal from illicit tobacco products. Legislation which ensures tobacco packaging is free from attractive designs will, above all else, help to discourage children from starting to smoke. [3] Smoking is a childhood addiction, not an adult choice. [4] More than 150,000 children start smoking each year in the UK. [5] Half of all lifelong smokers will die from their addiction, amounting to over 100,000 people last year in the UK. [6] Putting tobacco products in standardised packs is a popular measure. Opinion research shows that 62% of the public support the plain, standardised packaging of tobacco products, with more smokers supporting than opposing the measure. [7] Over 200,000 people have expressed their support for the introduction of plain, standardised packaging of tobacco products in the UK. Internationally, standardised packaging is already in place in Australia which became the first country to implement such legislation in December 2012. It’s time for the UK to follow suit. Notes and links [1] The Smokefree Action Coalition is an alliance of over 190 health organisations including medical royal colleges, the BMA, the Trading Standards Institute, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Faculty of Public Health, the Association of Directors of Public Health and ASH. All support the introduction of standard packs. [2] Smuggling the tobacco industry and plain packs. A report by Luk Joossens for Cancer Research UK. [3] As a report by the Public Health Research Consortium showed, tobacco packaging is attractive and misleading, especially to children. See evidence summarised in the PHRC report http://phrc.lshtm.ac.uk/project_2011-2016_006.html [4] Two thirds of smokers become addicted before the age of 18 and 39% under 16 see data from the General Lifestyle survey http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ghs/general-lifestyle-survey/2010/index.html [5] Estimate based on figures taken by CRUK from Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England (2000 to 2010). [6] Data from national sources from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland [7] A poll by YouGov for ASH found that overall 62% of adults in England supported this while just 11% opposed the measure. Even among smokers for every 5 who oppose there are 6 who support. Total sample size was 10,000 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 27th February to 16th March 2012. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults (aged 18+) in England.
SFAC welcomes consultation on plain packaging
16 April 2012 The Smokefree Action Coalition - a group of 188 health and welfare organisations [3] - has welcomed the launch today of the Government's consultation on tobacco packaging. [1] Putting tobacco products in plain packaging is essential because once tobacco is out of sight in shops tobacco packs will be the last remaining promotional tool for the tobacco industry. Also there is good evidence that plain, standardised packs are • less attractive, particularly to young people; • make the health warnings stand out more; and • reduce the ability of the packaging to mislead consumers about the harms of smoking. There is already widespread public support for requiring tobacco to be sold in plain standardised packaging with the product name in standard lettering. A recent poll found that overall 62% of adults in England supported this while just 11% opposed the measure. [2] Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of ASH, said: "If we are to succeed in making smoking history for our children then plain packaging is the obvious next step now advertising promotion and sponsorship are banned and tobacco displays in shops are on the way out. Cigarettes are not like sweets or toys and should not be sold in fancy colourful packaging to make them appealing to children. Cigarettes are full of toxins and cause fatal diseases: plain, standardised packaging will make this explicit." Sir Richard Thompson, President of the Royal College of Physicians said: " From our first report on smoking and health fifty years ago the RCP has strongly supported the implementation of effective and comprehensive strategies to reduce the prevalence of smoking. Plain standardised packaging of tobacco products is the obvious next step - brightly coloured packaging is the major remaining means by which the industry can promote its product to children and young people; it needs to be stopped now." Notes [1] The Consultation document is available from the DH website here. For further information on the case for tobacco plain packaging see: the Smokefree Action Coalition briefing on plain packaging [2] YouGov Survey. Total sample size was 10,000 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 27th February to 16th March 2012. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults (aged 18+) in England. Question asked of respondents: The image above is an example of a 'plain standardised pack' based on Australian legislation passed last year (Source: ASH, 2012). Thinking about the packaging above, to what extent would you support or oppose the following? Requiring tobacco to be sold in plain standardised packaging with the product name in standard lettering. Respondents were shown the image on the right. Australia will be the first country in the world to require plain, standardised packaging for all tobacco products from December 2012. See Australian Government Notice [3] The Smokefree Action Coalition is a group of 188 organisations, united in working to reduce the harm caused by tobacco. . For the full list of members see the about section of this website.
No Smoking Day 2012
01 March 2012 No Smoking Day 2012 is taking place on 14 March. Visit the No Smoking Day website: www.nosmokingday.org.uk for details on how to get involved and information about events in your area. Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 2775 in support of No Smoking Day. The full text of the motion is available here on the Parliament website. You can also check whether your MP has already signed.
Local Tobacco Control Profiles for England
03 February 2012 The Local Tobacco Control Profiles for England have been updated with 2011 figures. The tool, developed by the Association of Public Health Observatories, brings together a detailed picture of the burden of smoking-related disease for every local authority and primary care trust in England. The tool consists of a set of indicators detailing local smoking prevalence data, levels of smoking in pregnancy, deaths from specific tobacco-related diseases as well as hospital costs of treating tobacco related diseases and local smoking cessation data. The data can be accessed on the London Health Observatory website, here.
New Tobacco Control Plan for England
09 February 2011 The Government has launched a new Tobacco Control Plan which sets out the next phase of tobacco policy in England. The Plan includes clear goals to reduce adult smoking prevalence from 21% to 18.5% by 2015 and to reduce smoking rates among 15 year olds from 15% to 12% by 2015 and to reduce smoking in pregnancy from 14% to 11% by 2015. The Plan also commits to ending the display of tobacco products in large shops in England by April 2012, and in small shops by April 2015. Click here to find out more.
Tackling tobacco - a New Year's resolution for the government
24 December 2010 Jean King, Cancer Research UK's Director of Tobacco Control, has responded to an article by the President of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents on the Lib Dem Voice website on the point of sale display of tobacco products. Jean makes a strong case for the need for such displays to be banned and counters the arguments repeated by the tobacco industry and their supporters. She explains that whilst the introduction of plain packs would be an extremely important step, this would not eradicate the need for a display ban. Jean's article can be seen on the LibDem Voice website here.
Have your say on the future of public health in England
24 December 2010 Following the publication of its White Paper on public health: Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England the government has launched consultations on: • funding and commissioning for public health • the public health outcomes framework Both consultations run from 21 December 2010 to 31 March 2011. The consultation on the proposed public health outcomes framework, Healthy Lives, Healthy People: transparency in outcomes, proposals for a public health outcomes framework (pdf), explores the proposed public health outcomes framework. The consultation on the proposed funding and commissioning for public health, Healthy lives, healthy people: consultation on the funding and commissioning routes for public health, explores the proposed funding and commissioning routes for public health, including the ring-fenced budget provided to local authorities.
Public Health White Paper: No going back on Smokefree England
30 November 2010 The Government has published its White Paper on public health: Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England. The White Paper sets out the Government's proposals for setting up a Public Health Service including the outline of a tobacco control strategy. A full plan is promised within months. In the meantime the Government makes it clear that: • it will not compromise smokefree legislation, • it will implement the ban on vending machines as planned, • it will make an announcement very soon on point of sale displays and • it will consult on plain packaging. In an earlier statement, Andrew Lansley had acknowledged that: "The evidence is clear that packaging helps to recruit smokers... It's wrong that children are being attracted to smoke by glitzy designs on packets." Pointing out that the NHS spends over £2.7 billion a year on treating smoking related illness, but less than £150 million on smoking cessation, the White Paper confirms that reducing smoking rates remains a priority for public health, and provides more details of the transfer for public health, including smoking cessation, to Local Authorities. On the heels of the commitment from the Government to implement the ban on vending machines in England as planned comes the news that Sinclair Collis, a subsidiary of Imperial Tobacco and the major operator of tobacco vending machines in the UK, have had their challenge of the ban rejected in the High Court. They are planning to appeal.
UK Government to replace tobacco industry "con" with plain packaging
22 November 2010 On Sunday November 21 Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced that he was "looking at the idea of making tobacco firms have completely plain packaging on their killer brands" so that only basic information and health and picture warnings would be visible. In a strongly worded statement the Department of Health said "light colours on packets has been shown to con children and adults alike into falsely believing that one brand is somehow less harmful than another". In a statement which appeared to endorse the principle of BOTH plain packaging and a tobacco product display ban Andrew Lansley said "the evidence is clear that packaging helps to recruit smokers, so it makes sense to consider having less attractive packaging. It's wrong that children are being attracted to smoke by glitzy designs on packets." ASH has been campaigning for plain packaging for several years but cautioned that the offer of plain packaging some time in the future is no substitute for implementing existing law to end tobacco displays due to come into force in less than a year. Martin Dockrell, Director of Policy and Research at ASH said: "Putting tobacco in plain packs would be an historic step for public health and an amazing centrepiece for Lansley's promised Public Health Strategy. Industry marketing men have become increasingly pushy with pack design, making it a 21st Century billboard, identifying this brand as "cool", that brand as "feminine". That is why it is so important to end the lavish displays behind the sweets in shops but it cannot be a question of one or the other. If the effect of this move was to kick the display ban into the long grass, it would backfire horribly on the Government. It could be years before Lansley's proposed law comes into effect, while the display ban can and must come in next year as planned." Click here for further information on plain packaging.
Local Tobacco Control Profiles for England
28 October 2010 A new tool developed by the Association of Public Health Observatories brings together, for the first time, a detailed picture of the burden of smoking-related disease for every local authority and primary care trust in England. The tool consists of a set of indicators detailing local smoking prevalence data, levels of smoking in pregnancy, deaths from specific tobacco-related diseases as well as hospital costs of treating tobacco related diseases and local smoking cessation data. The data can be accessed on the London Health Observatory website, here.
An open letter to Vince Cable
21st October 2010 In an open letter published in the New Statesman, Peter Kellner, president of YouGov and Trustee of ASH, explains to Business Minister Vince Cable why it is time to stop listening to the tobacco industry when it comes to implementing the tobacco control elements of the Health Act 2010. Read the full letter here.
MPs reject bid to reintroduce smoking in pubs
13th October 2010 The Commons has voted to reject a bid by MP David Nuttall to exempt pubs and private members' clubs from the smokingfree legislation. Under his 10 minute rule bill, landlords and licensees would have been allowed to have dedicated smoking lounges for drinkers on their premises, complete with smoke filters. The motion to introduce the Public Houses and Private Members' Clubs (Smoking) Bill was defeated by 141 votes to 86, a majority against of 55. Read the full transcript of the debate, (in particular Kevin Barron's speech quoting opposition to the Bill by a pub landlord from David Nuttall's own blog) in Hansard here.
Finland to ban Point of Sale display by 2012 in plan to "end smoking"
04 October 2010 Tough new laws aimed at eventually eradicating the use of tobacco in Finland have come into effect as of 1 October, even as a report emerged from Russia that its government is also considering more stringent regulations. With the new laws, Finland has become the first country in the world to specifically introduce legislation that aims to end, and not just reduce, tobacco use. The first phase will see people under the age of 18 being completely banned from possessing tobacco products, and it has become a criminal offence to buy or give minors tobacco, punishable by up to six months in prison. The rules also make it illegal to buy or sell tobacco products over the Internet, to use tobacco in places frequented by minors, or smoke in spectator stands for all outdoor events. The next phase, due in 2012, will make it illegal to display tobacco products in stores, and in 2015 all cigarette vending machines will be banned.
Shop survey reveals tight control of tobacco product display by UK tobacco companies
07 June 2010 A survey of over 100 small shops in England shows that tobacco companies have almost total control over the way tobacco is displayed and marketed. Key findings: • 79% of retailers who had a tobacco industry funded gantry were forced to comply with certain conditions relating to the size and type of display, and positioning of key brands. • Around a third of independent retailers reported receiving an incentive from the tobacco company reps for selling their products. • Typical gifts include pens, free packs of cigarettes and competitions with prizes including a complete shop re-fit. Link to ASH press release Rooke, C. et al. Tobacco point of sale (PoS) displays in England: a snapshot survey of current practices. Tobacco Control 2010 (in press)
Benefits of increasing tobacco taxes
06 March 2010 A new report commissioned by ASH has shown that raising tobacco prices through taxation by 5% above inflation would result in significant cost savings to the nation. Specifically, it would: • lead to a reduction in the number of smokers by 190,000 • save the NHS over £20m a year by reducing the cost of treating smoking related diseases • increase tax revenues by over £500 million a year – a total of £2.6bn in the first 5 years. The full report: The Effects of Increasing Tobacco Taxation: A cost benefit and public finances analysis can be found here and the summary here (pdf files). Link to ASH press release.
A short video by ITN summarising the issues:
Government launches new tobacco control strategy
01 February 2010 The Government's tobacco control strategy launched on 1 February 2010 heralds the start of the next phase in tobacco control in England. The new strategy includes ambitious, yet realisable, goals to dramatically reduce smoking rates among adults and children. The primary goals are to: • Reduce smoking among 11-15 year olds from 6% now to under 1% by 2020 • Reduce adult smoking from 21% now to under 10% by 2020. The strategy can be found here on the Department of Health website. See our press release here. See the Department of Health's press release here.
Tribute to the late David Taylor MP
29 December 2009 Responding to news of the unexpected death of Leicestershire MP and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health, David Taylor, health campaigners were quick to pay tribute. Taylor had been a long time champion of measures to reduce the harm caused by smoking and had been a leader in the parliamentary campaign that made public places in England smokefree. More recently he helped secure the successful passage of the 2009 Health Bill which will put an end to cigarette vending machines and put tobacco products out of sight in shops. Taylor was also one of Westminster's leading advocates of plain packaging for tobacco products. Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of the Health Charity ASH said: "David was a much loved and respected colleague and advocate for public health, fearless in his pursuit of the things he believed in. Our thoughts are with his family and I hope it can be some consolation for them to know that David was admired as a man of great honour and a wise and willing adviser to those who sought his help. It is all the more saddening to know that David was standing down at the next election, looking forward to a less hectic life."
MPs vote to put tobacco out of sight and out of reach
12th October 2009 MPs made the most significant step forward in public health since smokefree legislation when they voted to ban sales of tobacco from vending machines and the display of tobacco in shops on Monday 12th October. See ASH's press release here See the British Heart Foundation's press release here See Cancer Research UK's press release here
Lambert & Butler bosses lobby Health Bill Committee
18th June 2009 Health charities and the tobacco industry have submitted evidence to the committee considering the Health Bill, week beginning 22nd June. Although the rules require that they "should generally include only material specifically prepared for the Committee", industry submissions appear to be substantially recycled from previous briefings. Read what the industry has been telling MPs.         The MPs on the Committee are: Gillian Merron Government Minister, Lincoln Mike O'Brien Government Minister, North Warwickshire Mary Creagh Labour, Wakefield Angela C. Smith Labour, Sheffield, Hillsborough Andy Slaughter Labour, Ealing and Acton Dr Desmond Turner Labour, Brighton Kemptown Patrick Hall Labour, Bedford Dr Doug Naysmith Labour, Bristol NW Jim Cunningham Labour, Coventry South Mike Penning Conservative, Hemel Hempstead Robert Wilson Conservative Whip, Reading East John Horam Conservative, Orpington Stephen O'Brien Conservative, Eddisbury Andrew Turner Conservative, IoW Sandra Gidley Lib Dem, Romsey Dr John Pugh Lib Dem, Southport
Cigarette vending machines are out of order
14th May 2009 The British Heart Foundation, as part of the Smokefree Action Coalition, has been campaigning to ensure children cannot buy cigarettes from vending machines. We were pleased that, following our lobbying, earlier opposition to restrictions on access to cigarette vending machines in the current health bill have disappeared. Despite the narrow defeat of an amendment to ban cigarette vending machines in the Lords last week, we were delighted that so many peers from across the political spectrum spoke out against them. Many have clearly been persuaded that action on cigarette vending machines is crucial to ensure they are put out of children's reach for good. We believe that when the bill moves to the Commons in June, MPs must press the Government to commit to the strongest possible regulations on vending machines, to make it impossible for children to access cigarettes this way. We welcome your support to ensure that when the Health Bill becomes an act of Parliament, cigarette vending machines will be put out of reach of children for good
Lords vote 2 to 1 to put tobacco out of sight of children
7th May 2009 Action on Smoking & Health today praised the House of Lords for putting children's health first following a vote to put tobacco out of sight in shops across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The move, which has been supported by over 100 health and welfare organisations, will close one of the remaining loopholes in the ban on tobacco advertising and will protect children from tobacco industry marketing. More
Observer ad urges support for legislation to ban tobacco displays and vending machine sales
26th April 2009 One hundred national, regional and local organisations and medical and scientific experts have signed a full-page advertisement appearing in The Observer newspaper urging members of the House of Lords to vote to end tobacco displays in shops and ban sales of tobacco from vending machines. The Report Stage of the Health Bill starts on 28th April and the organisations are urging the Lords to vote to put tobacco out of sight in order to protect children from the eye-catching tobacco displays that are often sited next to the sweet counters in corner shops. For more information contact Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) on 020 7739 5902.
Canadians congratulate UK on Point of Sale Ban
The Saskatchewan Coalition for Tobacco Reduction (SCTR) has congratulated the UK Government on its commitment to "measures that will protect children, youth and all citizens from the devastation caused by tobacco addiction". Saskatchewa, Canada, was the second jurisdiction in the world (after Iceland) to implement a ban on tobacco point of sale displays. A spokesman said he had "not heard of any negative outcomes such as businesses closing or staff being let go". Read the SCTR's letter on their point of sale ban success story
Top UK academics tell peers: tobacco displays lead children to smoke
23rd March 2009 Directors of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies have written to 800 members of the House of Lords telling them that the evidence indicates that children are influenced by point of sale displays of tobacco, in terms of their susceptibility to smoking, experimentation and uptake. During the Lords "Committee Stage" debate of the Health Bill several peers said they doubted there was enough evidence to justify legislation but Professors McNeil and Britton are among the leading authorities who have written to put them straight. Click here to read their letter The letter arrives just days after Channel 4's "Factcheck" rated as very strong, the evidence linking displays to youth smoking and legal display bans to reductions in youth smoking. (See story below) The Smokefree Action Coalition are urging the public to write to MPs and peers to make the facts clear.
Top UK academics tell peers: tobacco displays lead children to smoke
23rd March 2009 Directors of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies have written to 800 members of the House of Lords telling them that the evidence indicates that children are influenced by point of sale displays of tobacco, in terms of their susceptibility to smoking, experimentation and uptake. During the Lords "Committee Stage" debate of the Health Bill several peers said they doubted there was enough evidence to justify legislation but Professors McNeil and Britton are among the leading authorities who have written to put them straight. Click here to read their letter The letter arrives just days after Channel 4's "Factcheck" rated as very strong, the evidence linking displays to youth smoking and legal display bans to reductions in youth smoking. (See story below) The Smokefree Action Coalition are urging the public to write to MPs and peers to make the facts clear.
Channel 4 FactCheck: tobacco ban evidence?
Channel 4's FactCheck has assessed the government's claim that banning cigarette displays in shops will stop young people smoking and rated it: 1 How ratings work Every time a FactCheck article is published we'll give it a rating from zero to five. The lower end of the scale indicates that the claim in question largerly checks out, while the upper end of the scale suggests misrepresentation, exaggeration, a massaging of statistics and/or language. The claim "What other countries have found when they've banned point of sale [tobacco] displays is they reduced the number of young people taking up smoking, and that's the primary concern we have here." Alan Johnson, health secretary, Today, Radio 4, 9 December 2008 The background The government announced plans yesterday to ban the display of tobacco products in shops and supermarkets by 2013 - so no more colourful rows of cigarette packets lined up behind the newsagents' counter. Since tobacco advertising was banned in 2002, these point-of-sale displays are the most prominent place in which cigarettes are visible to potential customers. More
Big tobacco hides behind shopfront: MSP condemns tobacco lobby tactics
11th January 2009, SNP News SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson condemned the lobbying actions of tobacco manufacturers after it emerged a campaign by shopkeepers against proposals to stop the display of cigarettes in store is being bank rolled by the cigarette companies. MSPs have been receiving letters from "Responsible Retailers" urging them to support the "Save our Shop" campaign claiming that removing cigarettes from display will lead to the closure of small independent shops. More
MPs fall foul of 'dirty' tricks by tobacco giants
14th December 2008, The Observer Britain's tobacco giants have been accused of 'dirty' tactics after it emerged they created a supposedly 'independent' campaign group for small retailers to lobby against government restrictions on the promotion of cigarettes in shops. The Save Our Shop campaign claimed proposals to remove large displays of cigarettes in stores would result in costly refits and see many small retailers go out of business... more
Government publishes its response to the future of tobacco control consultation
9th December 2008 Read the Government's response to the consultation Find out more about the Smokefree Action Coalition's priorities for a comprehensive strategy We expect a new Bill to be introduced early in the New Year to end point of sale display and give powers to end the sale of cigarettes from vending machines. A comprehensive strategy is expected to follow later in the year.
EDM 189: Point of Sale display of tobacco products
9th December 2008 EDM 189: Point of Sale display of tobacco products. Has your MP signed yet? If not ask them why
Secretary of State gives evidence on health inequalities
19th November 2008 Today Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson gave evidence to the Health Select Committee on health inequalities. He frequently mentioned smoking and tobacco to illustrate his points and correctly identified smoking as the major cause of health inequalities. A number of specific areas in relation to tobacco control were picked up on... more
SAC states case for a comprehensive tobacco control strategy
12th October 2008 The need for a comprehensive tobacco control strategy - SAC document
Coalition members publish responses to the consultation
10th September 2008 Read the Smokefree Action Coalition members' responses to the government consultation
What happens now the consultation is closed?
8th September 2008 The Department of Health’s Consultation on the future of tobacco control closed on Monday September 8th. What happens now? More
Government consultation on the future of tobacco control
31st May 2008 The Smokefree Action Coalition welcomes the Government’s consultation on the future of tobacco control and the commitment to a new national tobacco control strategy. More .

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