http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/org/forest.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.forestonline.org/news/headlines/parents-invited-to-pledge-to-make-their-cars-smoke-free-for-kids/ http://tobacco.org/news/333247.html The British Lung Foundation has launched an online pledge to encourage adults to commit to keeping their cars smoke-free when children are passengers. Any adult, whether they are a smoker, ex-smoker or non smoker can make the pledge by visiting the BLF website and entering their details. Clare Cox, Director of Communications at the British Lung Foundation, said: "Children have sent a strong message to their parents that they no longer want to endure a smoky car ride. Parents can listen to their children's concerns and take this pledge to protect young lungs from the damage caused by cigarette fumes in the car." FOREST UK Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9506916.__210m___the_cost_of_smoking_in_the_North_East/r/?ref=rss http://tobacco.org/news/333102.html SHOCKING new figures show that smoking costs the North-East £210m a year. The statistics from Fresh – in partnership with Brunel University – reveal for the first time the toll smoking inflicts in terms of lives lost, illness and the resulting cost to the NHS, local authorities and private business. Despite the North-East seeing the biggest fall in smoking in England over the past few years, smoking- related diseases still cost the NHS in the region about £105m every year. This includes £53m spent on more than 27,000 smoking-related hospital admissions each year alone. The remainder is the cost of outpatient appointments, GP consultations, prescription costs and nurse consultations. Smoking is also estimated to cost employers in the North-East about £70m a year, with 335,000 days lost each year to absenteeism due to smoking, plus the cost of smoking breaks. Passive smoking also costs the North-East about £35.9m a year . . . The research is disputed by smokers’ group Forest, which instead points to the contribution they make to the economy through taxes. However, experts have calculated that if smoking rates remain at the current level, more than 94,000 people in the North-East a year will develop related illnesses. Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh, the UK’s first dedicated regional programme for tobacco control, said: “These are very stark figures that really help to demonstrate the scale of the problem that smoking causes. The North-East has had the highest drop in smoking nationwide, but we still need to do more when smoking causes such incredible damage to families and communities.” Northern Echo UK Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-16823954 http://tobacco.org/news/332998.html A ban on cigarette vending machine sales has come into force in Wales. It prompted a lively debate chaired by Felicity Evans on Good Morning Wales involving Carole Morgan-Jones, of Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) in Wales, and Simon Clark, director of the smoking group Forest. BBC Online UK-Wales Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.handsoffourpacks.com/ http://tobacco.org/news/332719.html FOREST contact@handsoffourpacks.com UK Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://taking-liberties.squarespace.com/blog/2012/1/18/selling-cigarettes-to-the-ladies.html http://tobacco.org/news/332406.html Slick video. I am told that it was funded by an ASH-affiliated 'charity'. Click on the YouTube logo (bottom right) if you wish to comment. CutFilms and T4 presenter Will Best are also responsible for this video. Sample: Hey there, fellow talented, charming, awesome people. This delightful little mini-film is about smoking and how, well, if you've got a brain you probably want to avoid it because, I'm being honest, it's pretty bad s**t. Taking Liberties UK Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.forestonline.org/news/headlines/friend-of-forest-acclaimed-for-her-straight-talking-columns/ http://tobacco.org/news/331665.html Colleagues of Sue Carroll have been paying tribute to the Daily Mirror columnist who died of pancreatic cancer on Christmas Day aged 58. Editor Richard Wallace described her as "the heart and soul of the Daily Mirror". "Sue had faced her long and painful illness with enviable fortitude," he said. "Until the final few days she was still doing what she loved the most: reading the papers and giving her inimitable thoughts on the world around us - with, of course, the odd no-nonsense rant thrown in. . . . 'Her favourite targets,' the paper added, 'included political correctness, yobbish behaviour and the "health police". A militant advocate for the right to smoke in public, she appeared on platforms at meetings organised by Forest, the tobacco industry's lobby group [sic], in their failed attempt to head off the Labour government's ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants.' Paying tribute to Carroll on his blog Taking Liberties, Forest director Simon Clark wrote: "Of all national newspaper columnists, it was Sue who was most likely to rail against the smoking ban and other laws designed to bully and denormalise ordinary men and women who choose to smoke. . . . Writing about her inoperable illness in the Mirror in March 2011, Carroll said: "No one has blamed my lifestyle, so I don't regret a single cigarette or cocktail," she wrote. "I'd love my old life back but I was as determined then, as I am now, not to whinge about life being unfair." "The absence of self-pity," said Clark, "is one of many reasons to mourn Sue Carroll's death. Others include her outspoken support for personal choice and her empathy for ordinary people, especially those who choose to smoke and drink. FOREST UK Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.forestonline.org/news/headlines/imperial-tobacco-launches-new-campaign-to-support-adult-smokers/ http://tobacco.org/news/329848.html Imperial Tobacco has launched 'Smoking Allowed', a new campaign to support adult smokers in the UK. The company's UK communications manager, Iain Watkins, said: "'Smoking Allowed' is a new campaign demonstrating our huge commitment to supporting those 12 million UK adults who choose to smoke. Recent research highlighted areas of their daily lives and routines where they feel they lack adequate facilities. "Feeling comfortable when they travel was continually emphasised as being particularly important to smokers so one of the first outputs in the 'Smoking Allowed' campaign will be the provision of high-quality smoking pavilions being built and installed at key points across the UK. The first opened at Bristol Airport last week providing heating, lighting, shelter, ventilation, hand-gel and litter solutions." Imperial Tobacco's UK General Manager, Amal Pramanik, said: "It is important and appropriate for us to initially work with our hometown airport - Bristol Airport - as over one million passengers, who use the airport each year, are adult smokers. Going forward Imperial Tobacco is committed to working with many locations to provide high-quality facilities for smokers." FOREST UK Sat, 12 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.forestonline.org/about/faq/ http://tobacco.org/news/329847.html Who funds you? Most of our money is donated by UK-based tobacco companies. A smaller sum comes from Friends of Forest (ordinary smokers and the occasional wealthy benefactor). In 2010 donations from individuals ranged from £10 to £2,000. OK, but aren't you still just a mouthpiece for the tobacco industry? No. We speak our mind as we see fit and we guard our independence jealously – whatever the cost. In 2001, for example, our decision to pursue a successful campaign against Customs and Excise cost us dearly when one tobacco company decided to withdraw funding because of our work in this area. C'est la vie. We represent the consumer, not the tobacco industry. How many members do you have? Forest is not a membership organisation and we are not run by committee. People can register their support for our work and make donations, but we are a political and media lobby group. Do you have any well-known supporters? The late great Auberon Waugh, editor of the Literary Review, was a member of our Supporters' Council. Today our most outspoken supporter – he's also our patron – is TV chef and restaurateur Antony Worrall Thompson. Another active supporter (and our fiercest critic!) is musician and writer Joe Jackson. Our Supporters Council also includes artist David Hockney, inventor Trevor Baylis and Oscar-winning playwright Ronald Harwood. Other supporters include Felix Dennis, whose transatlantic publishing empire includes Maxim and The Week, artist Maggie Hambling, and businessman Ranald Macdonald, proprietor of the Boisdale Restaurant Group. . . . Surely health considerations are paramount? Good health is very important, but it's not the only factor in the pursuit of happiness. . . . You've lost the battle on public smoking, what next for Forest? We may have lost the battle but the war against intolerance and excessive government intervention in our daily lives is there to be won and Forest has no intention of giving up. We will never stop arguing for exemptions to the smoking ban to bring the UK into line with most European countries where there is greater tolerance of smokers, but currently our principal aims and objectives are to stop the smoking ban being extended to outdoor areas such as parks and beaches and to fight the 'denormalisation' of smoking, the use of junk science by the tobacco control industry, and any form of discrimination against the consumers of tobacco, especially in areas such as employment. FOREST contact@forestonline.org ([item undated]) UK Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://taking-liberties.squarespace.com/blog/2011/9/2/independent-youre-having-a-laugh.html http://tobacco.org/news/329838.html Philip Morris International (PMI) took a bit of a kicking in yesterday's Independent. And so, by insinuation, did Forest, Taking Liberties and the rest of the "pro-smoking" blogosphere. The story, billed as an "exclusive", concerned PMI's perfectly legitimate request for Stirling University to reveal "full details of its research involving confidential interviews with thousands of children aged between 11 and 16 about their attitudes towards smoking and cigarette packaging". I say 'perfectly legitimate' for one simple reason. Stirling University, as the Independent explained, is part of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, a network of nine publicly-funded universities. However, while the paper admitted that Stirling University's Institute for Social Marketing "receives funding from the Department of Health" it didn't say how much, or that the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies will receive £3,694,498 of public money over five years, commencing June 2008. It was also awarded a £1.2 million grant to develop and pilot several projects to implement smoking cessation services. (See Forest report, Government Lobbying Government, October 2010, revised January 2011.) That, dear reader, is money that was picked from the pockets of taxpayers like you and me . . . Under the separate heading, 'Academics find that research into smoking can seriously damage their peace of mind', the paper reported that: bq. University researchers have been sent hate emails and some have even received anonymous phone calls, which usually come after a series of blogs posted on pro-smoking websites, including at least one which is linked to the tobacco industry. I'm not sure how I feel about being smeared like this. Perhaps I should ask for some evidence, using the Freedom of Information Act. Then again, I'm not sure that evidence is tobacco control's strong point. There is more (much more) I could write about this. For the moment though I shall simply direct you to Dick Puddlecote where you can read his take on this story. I suggest too that you read Linda Bauld's publicly-funded report for the Department of Health (The Impact of Smokefree Legislation in England) followed by Imperial Tobacco's equally interesting response, The Bauld Truth (seemingly dismissed by the Independent because it "took just a few weeks to write"). Read them both – and make up your own mind. Taking Liberties UK Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.galwaynews.ie/23024-smokers-champion-criticises-ban-outside-galway-hospitals http://tobacco.org/news/329777.html A smokers campaigner has hit out at a plan by the HSE West to ban smoking outside UHG and Merlin Park hospitals. Forest Eireann founder John Mallon has branded the move as "lacking empathy" for smokers. GalwayNews.ie sales@ctribune.ie (Enda Cunningham) Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://taking-liberties.squarespace.com/blog/2011/8/8/labour-mp-i-voted-for-smoking-ban-but-i-wouldnt-vote-for-it.html http://tobacco.org/news/324566.html Interesting article in The Times today by Natascha Engel, Labour MP for North East Derbyshire who chairs the Backbench Business Committee. . . . When I was canvassing during the general election, an ex-miner opened the door and shouted at me about immigration, MPs' expenses and the smoking ban. He asked why I wouldn't come down to the miners' welfare and hear what people had to say there. Before I could respond, he shouted: "Because you're scared, that's why." I arranged to meet him there that night. . . . When we stood outside, smoking in the rain, he told me about his father-in-law, who used to come to the welfare every night and spend all evening drinking one pint of Guinness. He was a chain smoker. Since the smoking ban he's never been back. "He can't stand outside in the rain like this. He's an old man." He told me about how his father-in-law never goes out any more. "He's lonely and miserable. And he still chain smokes." I voted for the smoking ban because I was convinced that smoking, even secondary smoking, is bad for you. If I had a second chance I wouldn't vote for the ban again. I wonder how many other MPs – Labour MPs especially – think the same? . . . Still no sign of our petition about the smoking ban. I was going to say "Watch this space" but I'm not sure I can be bothered. Taking Liberties UK Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.independent.ie/national-news/smokers-fume-at-plan-to-ban-tobacco-in-cars-2833269.html http://tobacco.org/news/324242.html A BAN on smoking in cars carrying children under 16 could be introduced early next year. The Department of Health is preparing proposals for the new laws, which are also being mooted in other countries. The move has been welcomed by anti-smoking groups but they warned that legislation will have to be accompanied by a public education campaign. However, the plans were criticised by a smokers' lobby group, which said it unnecessarily impinged on private space. . . . Smokers' lobby group Forest Eireann said smokers were being characterised as "dangerous sick addicts" and the planned legislation was a "joke". Irish Independent Ireland Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14142992 http://tobacco.org/news/323662.html Such a move would bring Wales into line with a number of other jurisdictions around the world. But is passive smoking a danger to passengers? Anti-smoking campaigners point to a University of Aberdeen study which suggested that it exposes children to levels of smoke comparable to those in a smoke-filled pub. But the smokers' rights lobby questions the research, saying another study indicates the vast majority of people would never light up with a child travelling alongside them anyway. BBC Online Wed, 13 Jul 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/91038 http://tobacco.org/news/323073.html A new report which claims smokers are increasingly discriminated against has been welcomed by a pro-smoking campaigner Simon Clark. According to the report by Simon Davies of Privacy International, legislation introduced for the protection of public health is being exploited to create a range of measures that was never intended, even by the most ardent supporters of tobacco regulation. The report highlights seven key areas of concern: an increase in non-statutory penalties and controls; an extensive widening of the scope for restrictions; a shift toward “people’s policing” of smoking; a shift from an evidence-based approach to a morality-based approach; an increase in the surveillance of smokers; a sharp increase in cases of discrimination; and a drift from public health protection to the demonisation of smokers. Davies wrote: “This report provides clear evidence that a trend is emerging toward discriminatory action being taken not only by national government but also by individuals, family, employers, businesses and local authorities. Morning Advertiser.co.uk Tue, 05 Jul 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2011/07/04/report-documents-persecution-of-smokers http://tobacco.org/news/322820.html Smokers are a new persecuted minority, according to a new report by privacy campaigners. Legislation designed for public health has been used to intrude into smokers' private lives by local authorities, health bodies and housing associations, according to the report. It claims smokers' right to act freely in their own homes or vehicles has also been severely curtailed. "Without care the future for many smokers will be characterised by discrimination and persecution, even when their actions have the minimum impact on the lives of other people," said Privacy International director Simon Davies, who compiled the report for smokers' rights group Forest. "In future smokers may face a choice between secrecy and social exclusion. Social organisations, landlords, service providers and employers may themselves be deemed irresponsible if they fail to pursue an exclusion policy." The report highlights the use of non-statutory fines and controls, increased surveillance, allegedly discriminatory practices and a shift from a 'public health' approach to smoking to a 'demonisation' approach. "This is a tobacco industry funded report, which says exactly what you would expect a tobacco industry funded report to say," Martin Dockrell, head of policy and research at Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), told politics.co.uk. Politics.co.uk UK Mon, 04 Jul 2011 04:00:00 GMT