Tobacco.org

Moving Homes Often in Childhood Might Affect Long-Term Health 

Children who move frequently may be at greater risk for worse health and psychological distress later on in life, according to a new study.

Researchers also found kids who changed homes frequently were more likely to drink heavily and smoke as teens and adults.

In the study, researchers followed 850 people in Scotland aged 15, 35 and 55 over 20 years.

Jump to full article »

Appeal judges reject Imperial Tobacco's cigarette display bid 

Appeal judges have rejected a bid by a major tobacco firm to challenge Scottish government plans to ban the open display of cigarettes.

They turned down the challenge by Imperial Tobacco which claimed the measures were beyond the legislative competence of Holyrood.

Lord President, Lord Hamilton, sitting with Lord Reed and Lord Brodie, ruled on the matter.

The government measure had been delayed pending the court case outcome.

Jump to full article »

Legal bid to overturn cigarette display ban rejected  

Attempts by a major tobacco firm to challenge Scottish Government plans to ban the open display of cigarettes has been rejected.

Imperial Tobacco claimed the measures, including the banning of vending machines for the sale of cigarettes, went beyond the government's legislative powers.

Three appeal judges, including Scotland's most senior judge, the Lord President, Lord Hamilton, have rejected the legal action challenging the Tobacco and Primary Medical Serivces (Scotland) Act 2010. Legal bid to overturn cigarette display ban rejected

Lord Hamilton said: "Such display is conceived to encourage the purchase of such products.

"As the consumption, particularly by smoking, of such products is believed to be adverse to health, the section is designed to inhibit, without prohibiting, their purchase."

Jump to full article »

• Appeal judges reject Imperial Tobacco's cigarette display bid 

Appeal judges have rejected a bid by a major tobacco firm to challenge Scottish government plans to ban the open display of cigarettes.

They turned down the challenge by Imperial Tobacco which claimed the measures were beyond the legislative competence of Holyrood.

Lord President, Lord Hamilton, sitting with Lord Reed and Lord Brodie, ruled on the matter.

The government measure had been delayed pending the court case outcome.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said he was "delighted" with the ruling, adding that the display ban would help, "prevent the children of today becoming tomorrow's smokers."

Jump to full article »

Teachers ‘turned blind eye to smoking and racism’  

A SPECIAL school in the Lothians has been blasted after teachers were found to be “accepting” of pupils being racist and smoking.

Burnhouse School in West Lothian, which caters for pupils with severe behaviour problems, had already been described as “weak and unsatisfactory” following an HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) assessment last year.

But a confidential report intended for senior managers has emerged that highlights serious concerns, including “a too ready acceptance by staff of smoking, spitting, swearing and use of racist language”, inappropriate use of financial rewards to persuade young people to comply with rules, and poor tracking of the progress of individuals.

The inspection team’s record of findings (RIF), which was obtained under a freedom of information request

Jump to full article »

• Fresh moves to help Scots smokers quit 

A DRIVE to get smokers to quit the habit was launched by the Scottish Government today.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson will meet people who have successfully stubbed out the habit in Glasgow.

The launch, in Partick will encourage smokers to use the national help-line - Smokeline - to get advice on giving up.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has had to delay bringing in a ban on displaying tobacco in large stores after a legal challenge from cigarette giant Imperial Tobacco.

Legislation passed by Holyrood stated big shops would be prohibited from displaying tobacco and cigarettes in April this year.

Jump to full article »

2012 Smoking Campaign Launched 

A new campaign was launched today encouraging smokers to quit with the help of Scotland's national stop smoking helpline.

Smokeline 0800 848484 offers people tips on how to kick the habit geared towards their personal circumstances and needs.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson was in Glasgow to launch the campaign alongside people who have successfully stopped smoking, including husband and wife Christopher and Gail Harvie, who quit when they realised the effect their 50-a-day habit was having on their finances.

A new Scottish Government-commissioned survey suggests four in 10 smokers are smoking at least 15 cigarettes per day, but only a quarter think that they are spending more than £1,750 a year on cigarettes - less than the average annual cost of smoking for a 15-a-day smoker of £1,916, suggesting many are underestimating the true cost of their habit.

Jump to full article »

• Scotland tobacco display ban to be delayed 

The Scottish government has been forced to further delay its ban on displaying tobacco in big supermarkets because of a legal challenge.

The measure was supposed to come into force in large stores from April, but ministers have been taken to court by Imperial Tobacco.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said the date for its introduction would be announced in due course.

He also cited other changes in the legislation as a reason for the delay.

Supermarkets would still be allowed to sell cigarettes and tobacco but they would have to be cleared from the shelves and put "under the counter" after the Scottish Parliament passed the new laws at the start of 2010.

Jump to full article »

• Tobacco display ban to be delayed 

The Scottish Government has had to delay bringing in a ban on displaying tobacco in large stores.

Legislation passed by Holyrood stated big shops would be prohibited from displaying tobacco and cigarettes in April this year.

However, ministers have now had to defer that and will announce a new date when the ban will come in force.

Public health minister Michael Matheson explained a "prudent" decision to defer the measure - aimed at preventing young people from starting smoking - had been taken because a legal challenge to the legislation by Imperial Tobacco has not yet concluded.

The Scottish Government also needs to notify the European Union (EU) of revised regulations - including one specifying how much of the area where cigarettes are stored can be seen when a sale is made.

Jump to full article »

Danger in every breath  

SHOCKING new research has revealed that smokers’ homes can have 120 times more dangerous air pollution levels than deemed safe.

Researchers have warned children are being exposed to far higher levels of dangerous particles than thought if their parents smoke – even if they open windows or smoke at the door.

The World Health Organisation’s Indoor Air Quality guidance recommends the amount of cigarette smoke particles shouldn’t exceed 25 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

Some homes measured as part of the Reducing Families’ Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke at Home (Refresh) project had concentrations as high as 3000 micrograms – 120 times higher than safe levels. . . .

Dr Sean Semple, senior lecturer at the Scottish Centre for Indoor Air at the University of Aberdeen, oversaw the BIG Lottery-funded pilot study, which was led by anti-tobacco charity ASH Scotland and the universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Scientists visited 48 families with at least one child under six.

Four home visits were made over a month, and an air quality monitor was installed for 24 hours.

Jump to full article »

Cancer patient on oxygen dies as cigarette sparks fire 

A CANCER patient has died after suffering burns when he sneaked into a toilet at the Western General Hospital to have a cigarette despite being on oxygen.

The 65-year-old suffered burns to his face after a fire broke out in a toilet in a first-floor ward, He passed away 48 hours later.

The pensioner is believed to have removed an oxygen mask attached to a small portable tank before lighting the cigarette, sparking the blaze at 4pm last Wednesday.

The man had terminal lung cancer and hospital bosses are understood to believe that his illness, rather than the injuries from the fire, caused his death.

Jump to full article »

Call to end 'loophole' in cigarette advertising  

HEALTH campaigners are calling for an "absurd loophole" on tobacco advertising to be closed by changing the law so cigarettes are sold in plain boxes.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) made the plea after research found that almost four out of five young Scots think selling cigarettes in plain packs, without colourful branding or logos on them, and with larger health warnings, would make it easier for people to smoke less or quit.

One in 10 16 to 25-year-olds who were surveyed said they considered pack design when deciding which brand of cigarettes to buy.

Jump to full article »

£2,500 cash boost from quitting cigs 

A 20-a-day smoker could save at least £2,500 a year and improve their health by quitting, anti-smoking charity Ash Scotland claimed today.

The charity's estimate coincided with a Scottish Health Survey study revealing that 69 per cent of smokers want to give up.

The survey carried out by the Scottish government covered all aspects of public health and interviewed more than 9,000 people on their physical fitness, mental health and alcohol and cigarette consumption.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson has urged smokers to make 2012 the year they quit for good.

Jump to full article »

Teenagers Stub Out Cigarette Habit 

Making an entirely surprising and promising disclosure, which may well result in reducing the frequency of various detrimental forms of cancer being faced by young adults due to smoking, it has recently been revealed that the rates of smoking are falling rapidly among teenagers in Scotland.

The statements were made by health experts after carrying out a health survey, which ended up giving indications that smoking rates among Scottish teenagers have dipped to their lowest level since the last three decades.

However, the survey further suggested that, while the consumption of alcohol has dropped significantly among teenagers, mainly 13 and 15 year olds, during the last two years, there’s a crept up seen in the number of young adults and teenagers who confess being drunk.

The Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey 2010 has made it clear that around 3% of 13 years old teens and as many as 13% of 15 years old teens smoked a minimum of one cigarette during the last year.

Jump to full article »

• Quitting smoking 'can save £2,500' 

A 20-a-day smoker could save at least £2,500 a year and improve their health by giving up cigarettes, according to an anti-smoking charity.

ASH Scotland estimated the saving as a Scottish Health Survey study revealed that 69% of smokers want to give up.

The survey carried out by the Scottish Government covered all aspects of public health, and interviewed more than 9,000 people on their physical fitness, mental health and alcohol and cigarette consumption.

Public health minister Michael Matheson has urged smokers to make 2012 the year they quit for good, and pointed to the services within the NHS which can help.

ASH Scotland said quitting can also reduce the risk of a heart attack and coronary heart disease, improve circulation and reduce the number of deaths from lung cancer.

Jump to full article »