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Isle of Man | Jail hunger strike protest ends 

A Manx prisoner who went on hunger strike in protest over a smoking ban at the island's jail has ended his action.

The inmate was one of a number of prisoners who took part in the dispute by refusing prison meals.

He was the final prisoner to end the protest, which lasted for 10 days.

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Today's Vote / Should smoking be allowed in prison? 

Today's Vote

Should smoking be allowed in prison?

69% Yes, in all areas

17% No, it poses a threat to the health of staff

14% Only in designated areas

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Hunger strike at prison over ban on tobacco 

Prisoners have launched a protest at the first jail in the British Isles to go smoke-free. A workplace smoking ban came into effect last month on the Isle of Man, and covers cells in the island's tiny 90-man prison.

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Five inmates continue Isle of Man hunger strike  

FIVE prisoners refused to eat their evening meal yesterday (Thursday) in protest against the smoking ban.

Friends and relatives of inmates claimed up to 16 of 32 prisoners on A wing of the Victoria Road jail were on hunger strike.

Prison officials initially said 'a very small number' of inmates were refusing to eat.

In a statement issued this morning, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that nine prisoners refused their lunchtime meals yesterday and five refused their evening meal.

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Hunger strike continues 

The Department of Home Affairs says a total of nine prisoners at Victoria Road jail refused their meals yesterday lunchtime.

Five prisoners then refused their evening meal.

The prisoners are protesting at the smoking ban which came into force at the prison in March.

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Prisoners on hunger strike 

Some inmates of Isle of Man Prison have gone on hunger strike because they can't smoke.

The Department of Home Affairs says 'a very small number' of prisoners refused to eat their meals yesterday afternoon and this morning.

While no official protest has been lodged with prison staff, the department says it's believed their actions are connected to the no-smoking policy at the Island's jail, which was introduced in March.

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Isle of Man | 'No concern' over smoke free laws 

Businesses in the Isle of Man should not be unduly concerned about the imminent smoking ban, a hospitality industry leader says.

The ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces and workplaces comes into force in the early hours of Sunday.

Anyone flouting the ban could face a fine of up to �5,000.

But Theo Fleurbaay, chairman of the Manx Hospitality Partnership, said smoking bans in some countries had not had a poor effect on trade.

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Isle of Man | Time running out for pub smokers 

There are just a few days left before it becomes illegal for smokers to light up in enclosed working environments and public spaces in the Isle of Man.

The smoking ban comes into force on the island on Sunday.

To help facilitate the ban, bars and clubs are constructing smoking shelters outside premises as well as providing extra litter bins for cigarette butts.

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Isle of Man | Quitting help for young smokers 

A scheme to help young people to stop smoking is being set up on the Isle of Man, ahead of the island's ban.

Smoking will not be allowed in some public places from March this year.

The Department of Health and Social Security is starting the new service in secondary schools to help support young people who want to give up.

It will offer confidential advice and nicotine replacement therapy. Figures show the average age for children on the island to try smoking is 11.

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• Tobacco importers' poll bolsters anti-smoking movement 

An Israeli cigarette importer has financed a public survey, released on Monday, that unintentionally backs up the arguments of antismoking activists.

The Mutagim polling company, commissioned by the Globrands tobacco company, found that only 20 percent of Israeli adults smoke, and only 14% of the smokers light up at least six cigarettes a day.

The poll, paid for by the importer of Camel, Winston, Kent and Pall Mall brands, also found that only 28% of smokers would go out to enjoy themselves less frequently because of the new law that vigorously enforces no-smoking laws.

That figure constitutes just 6% of Israeli adults, making their declaration that they wouldn't visit pubs and restaurants without smoking rooms no threat to these establishments.

However, the poll did not ask non-smokers whether they would go out to enjoy themselves more because of the increased possibility of clean air that the law affords . . .

In addition, the survey found that 79% of smokers obey the new law, while just 21% continue to smoke in public places until others ask them to stop or threaten to call a municipal inspector to hand out fines. Most of those who said they refused to obey the law were young people aged 18 to 24.

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• Africa-Israel disputes mall's responsibility for smoking 

Africa-Israel Investments Ltd. (TASE:AFIL; Pink Sheets:AFIVY) says in a statement of defense that its Ramat Aviv Mall is not responsible for enforcements of anti-smoking laws within stores. The company was responding to a NIS 15 million lawsuit, which claims that the mall does not enforce anti-smoking laws.

Africa-Israel says that the sole authority to enforce anti-smoking laws lies with specific agencies, usually Israel Police or the agencies authorized by the local authority for this purpose. The company says that the Ramat Aviv Mall has contacted these agencies and even proposed bearing the cost of their activity, but that the response has only been partial.

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Isle of Man | Prisoners helped to quit smoking 

Prison staff on the Isle of Man are carrying out training courses so they will be able to offer stop-smoking counselling to prisoners on the island.

The courses are planned to help inmates who want to quit ahead of next March's smoking ban in the Isle of Man.

The decision to bring in the ban at the prison, and not seek legislative exemption, came after surveys of staff and prisoners.

Prisoners will be offered counselling and nicotine replacement therapy.

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Isle of Man | Smoke ban for new island prison 

Smoking could be banned in an Isle of Man prison if plans put before Tynwald this week get the go ahead.

Proposed rules banning smoking in public places on the island are similar to those adopted in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

But unlike their regulations, the Isle of Man is not planning to seek an exemption for prisoners when the ban comes in on 30 March 2008.

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Isle of Man | Woman 'slept through smoke alarm' 

A quick-thinking neighbour may have saved the life of a woman who slept through a smoke alarm during a flat fire in the Isle of Man.

The woman called the emergency services after hearing the alarm next door at Lheannag Park in Douglas.

Her neighbour, a woman in her 40s, was given oxygen after suffering from the effects of breathing in smoke, but declined hospital treatment. . . .

Fire crews found a discarded cigarette had fallen into a box of tissues and began to smoulder, causing the fire.

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• TOBACCO ADVERTISING BAN IMMINENT 

IT will become an offence to advertise tobacco in the Isle of Man from March 1.

The ban on tobacco advertising and promotion, including sponsorship, will be enshrined under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act appointed day order due to come before Tynwald next week.

Anyone breaching the regulations could be fined up to £5,000 and even serve a maximum prison sentence of two years.

The ban is unlikely to have a huge impact as there are very few instances where tobacco is promoted explicitly in the Island.

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