Licensees warned over Tobacco Vending Machines

Licensees who fail to ensure their cigarette vending machines are up-to-date with new legislation could face fines of up to £5,000.From December 21^st 2004, the amount of advertising permitted where tobacco products are sold will be restricted under the new point-of-sale regulations laid down in Parliament earlier this year.

Any other point-of-sale advertising elsewhere in the pub, for example gantries, branded ashtrays or display holders, will also be banned.

The only advertising allowed will be pictures of the cigarette packets in the machine itself. The regulations have been brought in as part of a raft of government action against tobacco advertising and promotions in the belief that it will reduce consumption and lead to a "reduction in the number of deaths caused by smoking".

Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said: "Licensees should remember that they will be as liable as the vending machine company and both can be fined up to £5,000."Rob Bullough, managing director of tobacco vending machine supplier Duckworth, added: "We are as ready as anyone which is a regulated provider, but pubs who buy off smaller operators will be on their own and will need to be prepared."

The Publican, 26^th August 2004
Link

Irish Drinks Group report Rise in Sales despite Smoking Ban

Irish drinks group C&C reported a rise in sales despite the smoking ban, the group reported yesterday.  The firm, which makes Bulmers cider under licence and owns Ballygowan spring water, said underlying sales of Bulmers cider rose 2 per cent during the first half of the year.  The group predicted that economic conditions would remain favourable for the rest of the year although it admitted that the smoking ban "remains unpredictable."

Evening Standard, 26^th August 2004, Daily Express 27^th August 2004

F1 Team to go Tobacco Free

The BMW Williams Formula One (F1) racing team is to run a car in the forthcoming Belgium Grand Prix featuring the logo "Tobacco Free" to underline its independence from tobacco sponsorship.

The move will also stress the fact that the Belgium Grand Prix was threatened with cancellation this year after the Belgian Health Ministry banned tobacco advertising and sponsorship of F1.  However, the government relented, and introduced an amendment allowing some tobacco sponsorship, providing its activity was confined to the race area and only for the duration of the race.

The logo on the BMW Williams car has been sponsored by Glaxo-SmithKline, which owns smoking cessation product NiQuitin CQ, one of the team's main sponsors.

The European ban on tobacco sponsorship comes into effect next July.

Source: Marketing Week, 26^th August, 2004

Launch of Downmarket Cigarette upsets Fashion Label

Cigarette manufacturer Gallaher is set to re-introduce Dickens and Grant cigarettes as "DG", in a move that could trigger legal action from fashion label Dolce and Gabbana.

The product will be advertised at the point of sale and is a response to the launch of Philip Morris's low-priced cigarette, Basic.

Legal experts believe the strength of DG as a Dolce & Gabbana logo is such that the fashion house could lodge a legal claim for "passing off".

Dickens and Grant was discontinued at the end of 2001, only two years after Gallaher acquired the brand as part of a package of products from US competitors RJ Reynolds. Industry sources think Gallaher will rebrand Dickens and Grant as DG to help revive the range.

DG will cost slightly less than Basic, which was introduced to compete at the budget end of the market. One industry insider thinks that Gallaher also viewed this as an opportunity to launch a product before the ban on point-of-sale advertising is introduced at the end of year.

Source: Marketing Week, 26^th August 2004

£2m Tobacco Haul in M6 Lorry Hijack

Masked men hijacked two lorries packed with more than £2 million worth of tobacco at a busy motorway junction in South Cheshire. The unmarked heavy goods vehicles carrying tobacco from Liverpool docks to Crewe were forced to a halt, hijacked and stolen as they left the M6 at junction 17 near Sandbach.

The two drivers were forced from their cabs into a waiting van by the gang before being driven to Lancashire and dumped near Skelmersdale.

Both men were treated for minor injuries and are said to be extremely shaken and distressed by their ordeal, which happened at around 2.35am on Friday.

The Evening Sentinel, 25^th August 2004

Yacht Race rebuffs Tobacco Link

Volvo Ocean race, the round-the-world yacht competition, has declined sponsorship proposals from a number of tobacco brands.

Tobacco companies from the US and Europe have tried to exploit a legal loophole owing to the fact that the race takes place in international waters, and thereby avoids tobacco advertising laws.

The organisers rejected the proposal because of the legal uncertainty.  "It was too much of a grey area," said sponsorship head Angus Buchanan.

Source: Marketing (UK), 25^th August 2004

Young Smokers Five Times more likely to have a Heart Attack

Smokers under the age of 40 are five times more likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers, with women at an even higher risk, new research has shown. A study of almost 23,000 non-fatal heart attacks, based on data from the WHO, found that four-fifths of victims aged 35-39 were smokers.

The research published in the journal Tobacco Control puts paid to the notion that only older smokers are at risk from cardiac disease.

Experts from the National Public Health Institute in Helskinki studied a group of 132,000 men and women between the ages of 35 and 64 from 21 countries around the world.  Of the 23,000 people who had suffered non-fatal heart attacks between 1985 and 1994, 800 were under the age of 40.  Of these, 80 per cent were smokers.

Tim Bowker, associate medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said: "This should be a profound warning to younger smokers that they are putting themselves at risk of having a heart attack before they even reach middle age."

The Times, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Metro, 24^th August 2004[Current smoking and the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction in the WHO MONICA Project populations Tobacco Control 2004; 13: 244-50] NB At the time of writing, the latest issue of Tobacco Control is not yet on-line.

Quitting Smoking before 40 reduces Lung Cancer Risk

Research in four European countries shows that ME in the UK, Germany, and Sweden, who stopped smoking before the age of 40, reduced their risk of lung cancer by 91% (and those in Italy by 80%).  The reduction for men who quit before age 50 ranged from 75% in Italy to 69% in Germany.

British Journal of Cancer advance online publication 23^rd August 2004; doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6602078The cumulative risk of lung cancer among current, ex- and never-smokers in European men, http://www.bjcancer.com

Threat from Endotoxins prompts call for Curbs on Indoor Smoking

New research from Sweden has shown that smokers puff clouds of poison in to the air which can seriously affect the breathing around them. The discovery has prompted ASH to urge the government to ban indoor smoking in workplaces.

Swedish scientists found that endotoxins, which are made by bacteria and occur naturally in the air, are produced by tobacco smoke in high concentrations. Tobacco is known to contain over 4,000 chemicals, including 50 substances known to cause cancer.

Low concentrations of endotoxins are not harmful and may even play a role in protecting people against allergies. However, in high concentrations, endotoxins can cause serious inflammatory reactions in the respiratory tract, leading to bronchitis and asthma.

The researchers also concluded that tobacco endotoxins appeared to be the most aggressive among the various types that exist. ASH spokeswoman Amanda Sandford noted that the research could lead to a greater understanding of how tobacco smoke can trigger respiratory diseases such as asthma

"There are lots of sources of pollution we don't have much control over, but we can control tobacco smoke in enclosed areas," she said.

She added that the study reinforced the need for a ban on smoking ban on indoor places.

Source: Morning Star, Times, 23^rd August, 2004

Top Chefs differ over Smoking Ban

The British Hospitality and Restaurant Association (BHRA) believes changing public opinion will result in smoking being banned from most British restaurants by the end of the year. In addition, the BHRA believe eighty percent of restaurants will be smoke-free within two years.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is expected to ban smoking from all seven of his restaurants. Mr Ramsay told the Independent on Sunday that he had received a "tremendous response" from customers supporting his ban. Another high profile chef, Jamie Oliver, changed his Fifteen restaurant over to a smoke-free outfit, whilst Terrance Conran is giving serious consideration to whether he should adopt a similar policy. His eating establishments currently favour separate seating for smokers, as do Pizza Express, ASK and Bella Pasta.

However, Anthony Worrall Thompson has adopted a more sceptical approach to the issue: "In my restaurant Notting Grill, we have separate areas," he said. "It's another matter to ban smoking completely."

Raymond Blanc is a long term advocate of smoke-free restaurants. "Gordon (Ramsay) is a bit late, "he said.  "I was doing this 16 years ago. There is nothing more unpleasant than having smoke in your face when you are eating, so we have a special room or they can go to the bar."

Bob Cotton Chief Executive of BHRA said: "As a result of the ban in Ireland there has been a change in consumer views. People are more in favour of a ban now and won't stop eating and drinking because they can't smoke."

ASH spokesman Ian Willmore welcomed Mr Ramsay's decision but questioned whether the change would be as quick as the trade anticipated: "They have a tendency to exaggerate the speed of the process but it is true that there is a growing trend," he said.

Source: Independent on Sunday, 22^nd August 2004

Review of Smoke-Free London's Poll on Smoke-Free Options

PR Week analysed the strategy and effect of SmokeFree London's campaign to convince policy makers that London should have smoking restrictions in public places.

Munro & Forster (M&F) was hired to run the campaign and decided that the most effective way forward was to demonstrate the strength of support for the initiative through a consultation exercise called the Big Smoke Debate.

London Major Ken Livingstone's health advisory group, the London Health Commission was also drafted on board and it was launched under its name.

M&F began the campaign by issuing a MORI poll that indicated 71% of Londoners were concerned with smoking in enclosed places. The London Evening Standard was given the 'exclusive' story. Trade magazines were offered feature stories on the issue.

News of the Big Smoke consultation appeared in The Times, ITV News and BBC Radio 1, Five Live and Virgin radio, amongst others.

Of the survey, PR Week found that out of 34,446 people who responded to the online survey, 78 percent said they supported a smoking ban in public places. The government is now considering allowing local authorities to opt for restrictions.

Commenting on the effectiveness of the Big Smoke Debate in PR Week, Jane Curtin of Irish CancerSociety who handled the PR for workplace smoking ban lobby in Ireland said: "The most impressive aspect of the Big Smoke Debate was the ability to get over 34,000 plus Londoners to react positively to the possibility of a smoke-free city and to initiate the debate on a workplace smoking ban."

However, she also cited some of the campaigns weaknesses: "The Big Smoke Debate campaign by M&F also seemed very media-based. There was little mention of other tactical activity such as how alliances with other health and anti-smoking groups were formed and how opposition from politicians and policy makers was handled."

Source: PR Week, 20^th August, 2004

Prison for Man who Smoked on Plane

A smoker who threatened to ignite a re-fuelling aeroplane with his cigarette has been jailed for 4 months.

Mohammed Norman consumed 4 pints of larger on top of his medication, prior to boarding the Flybe flight at Southampton. He then began smoking in the lavatories and refused to come out when asked to by staff.

An air stewardess burned herself trying to wrest the cigarette from his hand. Norman was also fined £200.

Source: Evening Standard, 20^th August 2004

Tobacco Firm donates Funds to Private School

The biggest provider of private education in England has concluded an agreement with a cigarette importer to build new schools.

Liverpool's Clean Air and Healthy ProfitsThe Liverpool Echo has teamed up with the landlady of the Thomas Rigby's pub, which has agreed to ban smoking for a week.The experiment is supported by Smoke Free Liverpool, the campaign to make the city a healthier place to live and work in time for 2008.The landlady, Fiona Watkin smokes 40 a day and has worked in bars since she was 18. However, she was convinced about the benefits of smoke-free pubs and restaurants during a visit to the US: "A few months ago, if anybody had asked me to make my pub smoke-free I would have laughed at the idea. But I recently went on a honeymoon to Las Vegas and the difference was amazing. My husband and I both smoke and we really cut down on the number of cigarettes and although we haven't given up completely, it means we are both a lot healthier and closer than ever to kicking the habit."The newspaper also reports that Merseyside's first non-smoking pub has registered "record breaking-profits." The Ring O'Bells in West Kirby barred smoking in June 2003.Since then alcohol sales have risen 60 percent and food takings have doubled. The pub's kitchen had to be refitted to cater for the demand.Landlord Alan Jones said: "We lost some custom, which was a concern. But our profits have proved us right."Source: Liverpool Echo, 18^th August 2004

New Stop Smoking Ads hit the AirwaysMarketing (UK) magazine provides a column for Jim Freeman, Head of press and radio at ZenithOptimedia, to assess the latest stop smoking campaign on the radio.The ad features the voice of Anthony Hicks talking about the effects smoking has had on his health. "My attention was caught straight away", Mr Freeman admits. "The sound and tempo of the ad stood out from the banter of breakfast radio and the quiet, rasping quality of Anthony's voice meant that I had to listen closely to what had interrupted my usual routine. I learned that Anthony was dying of throat cancer and I found it so difficult to hear him because the 58 year old had had a laryngectomy."Mr Freeman goes on to explain the production that underpinned the ad.For example the 40 second ad, made by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO uses Anthony's own words - there was no script as such and it played to radio's strengths. The creative team recording the ad simply talked to Anthony in his hospital bed and recorded the conversation.The fact that Anthony's words are barely audible gives the impression you really are eavesdropping on a tragic warning, notes Jim Freeman. He also makes an acute observation about the scheduling of the radio ad:"Having heard the ad many times since, I realise that the placement of the commercials cleverly reaches listeners at key times during the day when people are most likely to be considering lighting up - first thing in the morning, during a coffee break at 11 am and just after lunch."Mr Freeman concedes that the ad is very moving. Additional poignancy comes courtesy of the voice-over commentary: "Anthony Hicks found it difficult to listen when people warned him to stop smoking. Sadly, he died of throat cancer last year."The ad had such an impact on Mr Freeman- a smoker himself- that he made a note of the helpline number at the end of the ad.Source: Marketing (UK) August 18^th 2004

Industry survey reveals Half Pubs have No-Smoke AreaOver half of all pubs now have a no-smoking area, a survey by industry magazine The Publican found.The results show even old-fashioned pubs have become health-conscious and that 52 percent were found to have a section set aside for smokers.The figure is double that of seven years ago. The annual poll, which attracted 720 replies, also revealed that one per cent of pubs are totally smoke-free. Three percent of pubs ban smoking at the bar, as pressure mounts to protect staff and non-smokers from the effects of second-hand smoke.One telling figure that emerges from the Publican poll is the significant minority of licensees who favour a complete ban on smoking (15%). Many believe it can become "self-policing", preventing the need for new laws.However, nearly two-thirds (61%) of licensees warned of "severe losses and closures" if a ban was introduced, given that more than half of pub customers smoke.Source: Evening Standard, August 17^th 2004Link

Gallaher: Don't change Gantries YetGallaher is recommending retailers not to make changes to their tobacco gantries until the completion of a joint-industry legal challenge to new point of sale regulations.The Tobacco Manufacturers Association is taking action to contest the new regulations that are due to come into force on December 21st.Retailers will not be able to use PoS material in store except for one small A5 sized advert.All existing advertising, fascias, branded graphics and shelf strips will have to be replaced on retailers' tobacco gantries.Jeremy Blackburn, trade communications manager at Gallaher said: "We are confident that in the event of the TMA legal challenge failing, we will be able to replace all Gallaher fascias in time to comply with the December 21st deadline."Source: Retail Newsagent, 13^th August 2004

London may be first UK City to ban Smoking

London council leaders are due to meet to consider seeking powers from Westminster to ban smoking in public places.

The prospect of town halls applying the measure has been hinted at by Tony Blair and a ban in the workplace is also supported by Ken Livingstone, the London mayor.

Councils are powerless to act without legislation but the smoking ban is one of a number of issues boroughs have aired with the Association of London Government, its representative body, and which will be discussed further by councils during the next few months.

If there is sufficient political will from London councils, the issue could be presented in a draft private bill deposited in the Commons in November.

The banning of smoking in public places in New York and Ireland has raised the prospect of the UK following suit, to the dismay of tobacco companies and smokers.

John Reid, the health secretary, has discussed with publicans and restaurateurs the idea of a gradual ban in public places but there is resistance among anti-smoking groups to devolving banning powers to local authorities.

The association's leadership has yet to form a position on this or any other proposals requiring legislation. "At the moment, the whole issue is in very early stages. There is a whole host of ideas coming forward from boroughs which reflects the concerns of local residents," the association said. "Nothing is ruled in and nothing is ruled out."

An advertisement in the London Evening Standard today alerts the public to all the ideas raised by boroughs for possible legislation, including the smoking ban.

Pressure for a smoking ban has increased since Ireland's ban came into force earlier this year. Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer, said last month a ban on smoking in public places would benefit the economy by up to £2.7bn a year and would not affect the profits of the leisure, catering and hospitality industry.

Source: Financial Times, Evening Standard, 13^th August 2004

Big Tobacco in the Dock as America prepares for biggest ever Law Suit

In a detailed analysis of the legal outlook, the Independent reports the tobacco industry will face its biggest legal challenge yet next month, when it will finally appear in the dock to fight a $280bn claim from the US Government for deceiving the public over the health risks of smoking for more than 50 years.

It is the largest suit ever launched by the Department of Justice and promises to reveal whether scientific research on nicotine was withheld, destroyed and ignored by a number of companies in a conspiracy designed to keep "profits above the public health", dating back to 1954.The secrets of the tobacco industry have already been the subject of an Oscar-nominated Hollywood blockbuster. When Jeffrey Wigand, who was head of research and development at Brown & Williamson, British American Tobacco's former US subsidiary, described cigarettes as the "delivery device for nicotine" to the US media, the tobacco industry was almost choked by the biggest public health lawsuit to date. His revelations that tobacco companies knew nicotine was addictive and that carcinogenic material was knowingly added to cigarettes were made public by the American investigative journalist Lowell Bergman, whose work inspired the film The Insider, starring Al Pacino and Russell Crowe. Mr Wigand's testimony helped bring about a $206bn settlement between the tobacco industry and 46 US states for the costs of treating sick smokers.

On 13 September, the sequel to that settlement will open to the public, with a federal trial set to take place in Washington DC that has taken five years to bring to court. A number of major cigarette companies, including BAT, are on trial on "fraud and deceit" charges that were originally designed to fight the mafia. Along with BAT stands Philip Morris, R J Reynolds, Lorillard and Liggett, which represent the best-known brands in cigarettes such as Marlboro, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall and Camel.

Full Article
Source: The Independent, 13^th August 2004

School gives out Nicotine Patches

The Metro reports that children as young as 13 are being given nicotine patches at a school in an attempt to help them smoking.

In a project, pupils take breath tests before morning lessons to check the levels of nicotine in their bodies. If they have smoked before they get to school they are given a nicotine replacement patch by a school nurse.

The controversial idea was brought in at Greencroft High School, before the summer break. Seven girls, aged 13 and 14 sought help because they smoked between ten and 20 cigarettes a day.

The breakthrough came when they took part in the dangers of addiction and were asked about their smoking habits. In addition to patches they were given a hotline number to call if they felt unable to resist the urge to light up.

Four girls managed to stick to the regime and remained tobacco free for two months.

Now 30 of their school mates want to join the programme when they return for the autumn term in September.

The Department of Health said it welcomed any effort to discourage under 16s from smoking.

According to most recent figures, six percent of British 13 year olds smoke regularly and 22 percent of 15 year olds. However, ASH believes many children start as young as nine.

Spokeswoman Amanda Sandford said: "If they start as young as nine or ten, then by thirteen they could be showing all the signs of addiction an adult smoker would. For those children, it is quite reasonable to be given help with nicotine patches. As long as it is done in a controlled way with a teacher or a nurse keeping an eye on them, I don't see any problem."

Source: Metro, Daily Mail, Daily Express, 13^th August 2004

Union Votes for Smoking Ban

Pub and staff members of the Transport and General Workers' Union have voted to ban smoking in pubs, clubs and restaurants.

The union said there was growing concern about the failure of existing legislation to protect staff and members of the public from the impact of passive smoking. T&G National Organiser for the food and agriculture sector Brian Revell indicated that the union expected the Government to stand firm and uphold the interests of public health. He said: "One of our delegates has suggested that passive smoking can be as bad as working on asbestos-contaminated areas."

Source: Morning Advertiser, August 12^th 2004

Greene King's Smoke-free Boss urges Colleagues to Get Real

Managing Director of Greene King Pub Partners, David Elliot urges detractors of Ireland's smoke-free policy not to rush to judgement.

On the surface it may appear that the introduction of smoke-free legislation may have hit some pubs takings. However, Mr Elliot notes that those not solely reliant on drinkers and catering for food and accommodation have reaped the rewards.

Mr Elliot notes that pubs in the UK have dramatically changed over the past 20 to 30 years. Sales of beer have fallen markedly and there has been a change in consumer spending patterns. Higher disposable incomes have been accompanied by a transformation in consumption patterns.

Alcohol is often consumed at home, with friends "rather than going to a smoke-filled pub."

"Let's get real", he urges. "Try and picture our industry a further 20 years time. Let's not assume that everyone likes to go home with their clothes stinking of smoke at the end of an evening in the pub. These people have a choice and they will make it. We don't need a Government-sponsored smoking ban to persuade us to act now before it is too late."

Mr Elliot points to the BMA's sustain argument about the effects of passive smoking, underpinned by research. "Figures are worsening every time the BMA releases a report", he warns, "most recently stating that heart disease has increased by 50 % to 60% in non-smokers from passive smoke."

Source: Morning Advertiser, August 12^th 2004

Interview with Sir Richard Doll

In an interview with the Daily Express, Professor Sir Richard Doll talks about his life, his health and outlook on life. He reveals that it was his younger brother who provoked him into taking up smoking and that he gave up after suffering from a persistent cough while working on the British doctors study, when as he notes "it became very clear to me that cigarette smoking was the principal cause of the huge increase we were seeing in lung cancer".

On the issue of passive smoking he acknowledges that in the past he did not accept the evidence but "there is now conclusive evidence that it does increase the risk of lung cancer". Sir Richard adds: "I think that makes a strong case for a ban on smoking in the workplace."

Daily Express, 10^th August 2004

Support for Smoke-free Pubs

Columnist Peter Oborne confesses that he has changed his view on the issue of a ban on smoking in public places after conducting an extensive tour of pubs in Ireland. Prior to the trip he admits to having been opposed to any smoking restriction but after spending time talking to both locals and visitors he humbly notes that the smokefree law "has been a tremendous success". Oborne concludes: "It pains me to say it, but last week has changed by mind. If John Reid banned smoking in pubs I would no longer regard the move as an outrage. And I suspect the success of the Irish experiment means that it's only a matter of time before the same thing happens here."

Evening Standard, 9^th August 2004