Tobacco.org

EU Health Prize for Journalists 2011 

The EU Health Prize for Journalists was held for the third time in 2011. In total, 358 journalists from the 27 EU countries submitted 498 eligible articles. . . .

The Special Prize on smoking cessation was awarded to Monika Cetera from Poland for her web article "I've come here to have my teeth treated, not to quit smoking [99 KB] ", published on www.jaw.pl.

Jump to full article »

• 'Unstoppable' Smoking Cessation Campaign Gains Momentum as Journalist Wins EU Special Prize 

-The winners of the third annual EU Health Prize for Journalists were announced yesterday in Brussels. For the first time in its three-year history, a special prize was awarded for entries on the subject of smoking cessation. Shortlisted from 32 entries on the topic, the winner was revealed as Monica Cetera for her web article "I've come here to have my teeth treated, not to quit smoking" which details an unpleasant but lesser known harmful effect of smoking - poor oral health. The article also illustrates the financial costs associated with smoking.

“Journalists play an essential role in transmitting health information messages and empowering people to take control of their health”, said John Dalli, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy. “This special prize has been created to recognise those journalists who stand out from the crowd in their approach to tackling such a critical health issue as smoking cessation.” . . .

Commenting on the winning entry of the special prize, Dalli said, “I would like to congratulate the winner in this Smoking Cessation Health Prize. Journalists play a key role in reaching out to citizens and informing them on smoking prevention and tobacco use. This special prize has stimulated awareness and debate on smoking cessation messages across Europe”.

Jump to full article »

Tobacco giant JTI quizzed over shipment to Syrian tycoon 'bankrolling Assad's terror' 

A tobacco giant behind three of the UK's leading brands is under investigation after millions of its cigarettes were shipped to a firm linked to a billionaire accused of playing a key part in suppressing the popular uprising in Syria.

The development has revived concerns about the ability of "big tobacco" to police its distribution networks – third party agents who move its product around the world.

Japan Tobacco International (JTI), which owns the Silk Cut, Mayfair and Benson & Hedges brands, faces questions over its relationship with a firm associated with Rami Makhlouf, who is subject to European Union and US sanctions.

Documents obtained by the Observer show that on 27 May 2011, JTI's Middle Eastern distributor, IBCS Trading, dispatched 90 million cigarettes to Syria Duty Free Shops (SDF) Ltd.

Makhlouf, a cousin of the country's president, Bashar al-Assad, was the main shareholder in SDF on 9 May 2011, the day the EU subjected him to sanctions for providing "funding to the regime allowing violence against demonstrators" and for being "an associate of Maher al-Assad", the feared commander of Syria's Republican Guard.

He has become the target of anti-Assad demonstrators in recent weeks as the UN attempts to agree a resolution on imposing further sanctions – strongly opposed by Russia and China.

Jump to full article »

How online sales and promotion of snus contravenes current European Union legislation  

Results

The majority of online vendors operate from Sweden and target non-Swedish EU citizens. Test purchases were successfully made in all 10 EU Member States; of 43 orders placed, only two failed. Age verification relied only on self-report. The majority of sales applied Swedish taxes, contrary to EU requirements. Copious sales promotion activities, many price based, are incorporated in these websites contravening the EU regulation, and three test purchases were delivered with gifts.

Conclusions

Snus is currently being sold on the single market via the internet in contravention of Swedish legislation and three EU Directives. The apparent willingness of the tobacco industry to contravene EU and Swedish legislation and profit from unlawful sales raises questions about their status as stakeholders in consultations on future policy developments. The findings highlight how national and regional tobacco control legislation can be undermined in an increasingly globalised world.

Jump to full article »

• Smokeless tobacco sold illegally online, UK researchers find 

Researchers from the University of Bath Tobacco Control Research Group have found that the tobacco product snus can still be purchased on the internet in the EU despite sales being illegal.

Snus is a smokeless tobacco product that originates from Scandinavia, which comes in loose form or in tiny pouches similar to teabags. It is consumed by placing it under the lip for extended periods of time.

It was one of the smokeless tobacco products of which sales were made illegal in the European Union (EU) in 1992 due to health concerns linked to the product.

Only Sweden, where snus is considered a 'traditional' product, was given an exemption to this ban, provided it ensured that snus would not be placed for sale on the markets of other EU countries.

This sales ban was reaffirmed in the 2001 EU Tobacco Products Directive which is currently under review.

Jump to full article »

• Greece seizes 20 million contraband cigarettes from Malaysia  

Greek authorities said Monday they have seized some 20 million contraband cigarettes from containers coming from Malaysia at the port of Piraeus.

The seizure took place on Friday thanks to information from British authorities, and a probe was underway to determine the recipient as the name on the transport documents was false, Greek authorities said in a statement. . . .

Greece is often the entry point for contraband cigarettes to Europe

Jump to full article »

• How online sales and promotion of snus contravenes current European Union legislation  

The European Union (EU) Tobacco Products Directive that bans sales of snus (a form of oral tobacco) in EU countries other than Sweden is currently under review. Major tobacco companies favour the ban being overturned. This study aims to explore compliance with the current ban on snus sales and examines the conduct of online snus vendors, including their compliance with two other EU Directives on excise and tobacco advertising and Swedish legislation banning sales of snus outside Sweden. . . .

Conclusions

Snus is currently being sold on the single market via the internet in contravention of Swedish legislation and three EU Directives. The apparent willingness of the tobacco industry to contravene EU and Swedish legislation and profit from unlawful sales raises questions about their status as stakeholders in consultations on future policy developments. The findings highlight how national and regional tobacco control legislation can be undermined in an increasingly globalised world.

Jump to full article »

EDITORIAL: Roo a poor ruse for cigarette sales  

BAT is in the middle of a legal challenge in Australia over the proposed introduction of plain packaging laws on tobacco products, but this is hardly going to help its cause.

Using our national icon, a favourite with children, to promote cigarettes is just not on. As Skippy might say: "Tsk, tsk, tsk".

Jump to full article »

Big tobacco hits back at Labor over 'cancer kangaroo' ads ($$) 

TOBACCO giant BAT has questioned the timing of a Labor attack on the use of a kangaroo logo on its cigarette packets in Europe, saying the image had been used for about a decade.

Amid a bitter row between the industry and the Gillard government over its plain packaging laws, British American Tobacco said the kangaroo had long been associated with its Winfield brand sold in France.

Jump to full article »

Tobacco brand attacked for using kangaroo image to sell cigarettes  

The Gillard Government has attacked British American Tobacco as "sneaky" for using a kangaroo and a map of Australia to brand cigarettes in Europe.

The Winfield packets feature a picture of a kangaroo on the front, with a map of Australia and the words "An Australian Favourite".

The use of the images on Winfield packets has been criticised as misleading and a possible payback for Australia's fierce anti-tobacco campaign.

Australia is set to introduce new plain-packaging measues - believed to be the world's toughest anti-tobacco laws - which will ban logos and branding on cigarette packets from later this year. BAT and several other tobacco firms have launched legal action against the laws.

The Winfield packets feature a picture of a kangaroo on the front, with a map of Australia and the words "An Australian Favourite".

Jump to full article »

Australia Fumes Over Kangaroo Cigarette Packs 

Australia's government has lambasted British and American Tobacco for using the image of a kangaroo on packets of cigarettes sold in Europe, ramping up hostilities ahead of a legal battle over plain-packaging laws.

The image of a kangaroo, similar that on road signs warning of the animals in Australia, with the phrase "An Australian Favourite" appears on packets of Winfield cigarettes sold in France.

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon, who as health minister led the drive to introduce laws forcing tobacco products to be sold in plain, olive green packs, said on Friday the use of the most famous Australian symbol to sell cigarettes was outrageous.

The image of a kangaroo, similar that on road signs warning of the animals in Australia, with the phrase "An Australian Favorite" appears on packets of Winfield cigarettes sold in France.

"This kind of weaselly marketing tactic will soon have no place here in Australia when all cigarettes will be in plain packaging from December," Roxon said.

Jump to full article »

• Australia's national symbol used to sell cigarettes in Europe 

BIG tobacco is exploiting one of Australia's national symbols so it can sell more cigarettes in Europe.

British American Tobacco is using an image of a kangaroo on some European Winfield packets with the phrase "An Australian Favourite".

The product has even been sold in the European Parliament shop in France, as BAT cashes in on our international reputation.

One anti-smoking advocate dubbed the kangaroo symbol, almost identical to that on road signs, the "cancer kangaroo".

The new branding comes as the global tobacco giant prepares a legal battle against the Gillard Government's plain-packaging laws in Australia.

The Government said BAT's "sneaky" branding showed why plain packaging of cigarettes was needed.

Jump to full article »

• European Commission Inspires Europeans to Achieve New Year Resolution: Quitting Smoking for Good -- BRUSSELS, January 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 

2012 looks set to be the best year yet as the European Commission offers new thinking and support to quit smoking with their innovative campaign "Ex-Smokers are Unstoppable". A New Year is a new start - and the European Commission is dedicated to helping smokers across the European Union to become Unstoppable; finally stopping smoking and enjoying a better life. According to a recent survey, nearly 80% of people who make New Year's resolutions will fail to stick to them, as many lose motivation and focus instead on the downside of not achieving their goals.[1]

Uniquely, "Ex-smokers are Unstoppable" offers an inspiring and motivating approach to quitting smoking, inviting smokers to think again about the benefits of giving up cigarettes, which include better health, better social interaction, more money and of course a better quality of life. In less than half a year over 150,000 smokers in European Union have registered with the European Commission's innovative digital tool iCoach, launched in June 2011. This step-by-step personalised support tool has already helped thousands of smokers across the EU to quit and aims to support thousands more to achieve their New Year's resolutions and become unstoppable ex-smokers in 2012.

Jump to full article »

• The emotional impact of European tobacco-warning images  

Objective The emotional impact of the tobacco-warning images proposed by the European Commission to reduce tobacco consumption is evaluated in the context of the International Affective Picture System, a well-established procedure for investigating appetitive (approach) and defensive (avoidance) motivational tendencies evoked by images. . . .

Findings

The results of the study indicate that the majority of the tobacco-warning images (83%) were distributed within the unpleasant space and ranged from moderately unpleasant to very unpleasant. However, a small but significant number of images (17%) were also distributed within the pleasant space, ranging from moderately pleasant to very pleasant. Only four unpleasant pictures were rated as highly arousing (11.4%). Women, the older age groups (over 17 years old), and occasional smokers evaluated these images as significantly more arousing than the other groups.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that the capability of the European tobacco-warning images to prompt negative attitudes to reduce tobacco consumption might not extend to the general population but would be limited to specific target groups.

Jump to full article »

'Ex Smokers are Unstoppable' flash mob dance - Dublin 

Dublin's Grafton Street saw an impromptu flash mob dance this evening by the "Ex-smokers are unstoppable" campaign group. A large open space was created amongst the throngs of shoppers on Grafton Street and many bemused passers by stopped to watch the ensuing swing style dances.

The "Ex-smokers are unstoppable" campaign is an initiative of the European Commission and its stated aim is to promote those who have stopped smoking and help others to give up the habit. Those who do quit smoking become role models for those who still smoke and therefore the Ex-smokers campaign "is a celebration of the ex-smoker, as a proud and unstoppable role model for those who have yet to quit".

Jump to full article »