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Possible hospital ban on smoking 

A smoking ban outside hospitals in Guernsey is being discussed by the Health and Social Services Department.

The current policy only permits smoking outside buildings, with the exception of staff accommodation and those in continuing care and residential homes.

Director of public health Dr Stephen Bridgman said it exposes others to second-hand smoke.

He said: "Smoking remains the major cause of premature death and ill health in the Bailiwick."

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Alderney ‘will not be the ashtray of the Channel Islands’ 

ALDERNEY’S smoking ban law has been approved in the UK - even though Guernsey’s Law Officers said it should not have been submitted.

Several other Bailiwick laws are being redrafted because of UK concerns over so-called ‘Henry VIII clauses’. These wide-ranging ordinance powers would mean laws could be revised locally without having to go back to the Privy Council - the UK legal body which must approve all local primary law.

While Alderney’s smoking legislation has these problematic clauses, it is identical to Guernsey legislation already approved.

‘The problem was the concerns that our secondary legislative powers were stronger than the Ministry of Justice’s primary powers,’ said Alderney representative Richard Willmott

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Guernsey | Tobacco displays could be banned 

Tobacco displays should be banned and cigarette vending machines limited to venues for over-18s, the Health and Social Services Department has said.

Minister Hunter Adam has submitted the proposal to the States following a three-month public consultation period.

A survey found 70% of respondents wanted the proposed changes.

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Suppliers of under-18s face fine 

People are being warned they face prosecution if they buy cigarettes or tobacco products for under-18s in a new campaign in Guernsey.

It focuses on a little known law that would see any offenders fined £500.

Police and the Health and Social Services Department are behind the campaign aimed at under-age smoking.

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Guernsey | Fag butts litter has quadrupled 

Increased cigarette litter since the introduction of a smoking ban three years ago is a major problem, States Works said.

General manager Nigel Dorey said since smoking in enclosed places was banned in July 2006 the number of cigarette butts in streets has quadrupled.

He said: "The additional littering puts pressure on our resources and detracts from our work in other areas.

"Rural zones suffer as we have to spend more time cleaning in built up areas."

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Guernsey | Island smokers march against ban 

About 65 people turned up for a protest march against Alderney's smoking ban.

They walked from the Butes to the Island Hall chanting and carrying placards and handed in a petition signed by more than 600 people.

Alderney States has already agreed to the laws needed to introduce a ban in public places, but the details have not been confirmed.

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‘Don’t rely on cigarettes to make a profit, sell something else instead’ 

IF CIGARETTES are keeping shopkeepers in business then they should change what they sell, according to Health and Social Services minister Hunter Adam.

He made the comment after being presented with a 1,200-strong petition against a ban on the display of tobacco products and a law on proxy sales.

The signatures were collected by Paperbox and Candy Shop proprietor Phillip Morgan and the Channel Island Tobacco Importers and Manufacturers’ Association.

Mr Morgan claimed that a ban on displays would force retailers out of business because of the costs associated with fitting a tobacco display below the counter.

‘If profits from cigarette sales are the main thing keeping them [shopkeepers] in business then I’d find it difficult to justify that because they pose a danger to people’s health,’ said Deputy Adam.

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Tobacco display ban meeting attracts an audience of one  

JUST one retailer attended a meeting aimed at discussing the planned changes to the law on tobacco displays.

Health promotion officer Gerry Le Roy said she was disappointed with the turnout after small retailers had voiced strong opposition to the proposed ban.

But she said it had not been a waste of time.

Tobacco policy manager from the UK Department of Health Lucy Holdstock laid out the issues Britain has faced with bringing in a ban on tobacco displays at the meeting.

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Guernsey | Voluntary smoking ban for island 

A Channel Island government has voted to introduce moves which could see it becoming fully smoke-free.

Sark's Chief Pleas is to introduce a voluntary ban on smoking in all of its public buildings.

The Chief Pleas can consider making the ban a fully binding law in two years' time if it wants.

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Guernsey | Picture law for tobacco products 

People in Guernsey are being asked to help choose images that will be printed on tobacco products to show the effects of smoking on people's health.

New laws to be introduced later in the year will ensure all such products sold on the island carry picture warnings.

Currently tobacco packs only have written warning messages.

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• Guernsey Tobacco rolls up as smoke ban bites 

Guernsey Tobacco Ltd will close its doors for the last time at the end of the year. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0495125)

The manufacturer, which is owned by Sandpiper, will cease trading at the end of the year when its lease on a property in the Braye Road Industrial Estate expires.

‘Tobacco consumption has fallen in both the UK and Guernsey because of health lobbying and duty increases,’ said Paul Luxon, managing director of Cimandis, the parent company of which is Sandpiper.

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Guernsey | Law to pave way for smoking ban 

Legislation has been passed in Alderney paving the way for a future ban on smoking in public places in the island.

The enabling law was agreed at an Alderney States meeting and could take up to a year to come into force.

The proposed ban has attracted local objections with several pub landlords launching petitions against it.

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Guernsey | Pubs petition against smoking ban 

Pubs in Alderney have launched petitions against a proposed smoking ban in the island.

The States of Alderney is discussing a ban smoking in enclosed public places next week. The proposal aims to protect workers from passive smoking.

Seven of the island's 11 pubs have started petitions to gather support against the ban.

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Delight over smoking ban 

SIX months on and the smoking ban has been hailed a success by the States.

But those who opposed the move are still resentful. Environmental Health director John Cook said the level of compliance had been tremendous and feedback had been good. ‘We’re delighted the ban seems to have been met with a positive response. From a public health viewpoint, we are clearly delighted the public self is being protected.’ He said there had been few reports of people breaking the new legislation. Those included one complaint that someone had lit up inside a pub and another report that one establishment’s outside shelter did not meet regulations. Mr Cook said the licensees in both cases dealt with the complaints immediately.

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GB follows our smoke law lead 

ALMOST a decade after Guernsey raised the cigarette buying age to 18, much of Great Britain looks set to follow suit.

Guernsey Adolescent Smoke-free Project chairman Alun Williams praised the States for having the foresight to introduce the legislation back in 1997. He said it formed part of a package of measures to reduce instances of smoking in youngsters, including Gasp’s formation and its educational schemes in schools alongside wider social awareness.

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