 FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK
There is quite a bit in this Update about the Smokefree Symposium which was held just over a week ago in Wellington.
This was a great opportunity for the networks to meet and consider what progress is being made in the battle for tobacco control.
I believe one of the strongest messages came from Health Sponsorship Council CEO Iain Potter. In his presentation he spoke
about the need for people and systems, and made a strong pitch for a dedicated smokefree workforce. In his view a 0.2 worker
equalled a 0.2 commitment from the organisation, if not less. It wasn't that he was being critical of the workers, many of whom
are very dedicated. It was more the belief that 0.2 was enough of a contribution.
With tobacco control needing to make the best use of its resources, this is an important message. Too many agencies feel
they have met their obligation as long as they designate someone with a more general public health remit to spend a percentage
of their job time dedicated to tobacco control.
We should not be under any illusions about the tobacco industry making the same mistake. During the Symposium, one presenter
made the point that the level of service provided by the industry to its retailers was clear for all to see. Reps from British
American Tobacco, for example, are frequently onsite advising sellers about the best way to deal with regulations and
restrictions. They make sure that our efforts are countered by their presence in the marketplace.
We will be featuring more over the next couple of Updates on some of the presentations at the Symposium, but one
thing we do highlight in this Update is the blatant disregard with which much of the law is treated. Thank you to the
Wellington School of Medicine students for their research which informed issues around the 'point of sale' debate.
We have a long way to go in New Zealand to catch up with other jurisdictions. Part time commitment will not cut the mustard.
While we face this challenge we also face the reality of change. Our workforce is continually turning over, and one of our
best advocates, ASH NZ Director Becky Freeman, is off to Australia to work with Simon Chapman and complete her PhD. I am sure
we all wish Becky and John the very best for their new challenges. Her going will leave a big hole in our capacity which
will challenge us all.
Have a good fortnight.
Mark Peck
Director
Smokefree Coalition
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Symposium highlights
- Cigarettes and candy
- Cancer Society launches news and information portal
- New party formed to help smokers
- The Quit Group update - September 2006
- Health groups applaud Maryan Street's Ethical Investments Bill
- Policymakers' ignorance of New Zealand Government investment in tobacco
companies
- Regulations should ban the sale of pack covers
- Auckland dairy owner convicted of selling chewing tobacco
- Are safer cigarettes just a pipedream?
- Study: Scottish bar workers' health improves
- Blast from the past
- Quotable quotes
- Media themes
SYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS
The Smokefree Symposium was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Wellington on 16-17 October. The theme was
Facing the
Challenges with Fresh Thinking. It featured a wide range of topics covered by many different speakers and presenters.
Some of the highlights of the symposium are briefly covered below, and the following article presents fuller coverage of the
Cigarettes and Candy presentation by Drs George Thomson and Richard Edwards. We hope to feature more comprehensive coverage of
one or two of the other presentations over the next couple of Updates.
 In We've Been Thinking, Health Sponsorship Council (HSC) Chief Executive Iain Potter spoke about the need for
systems and infrastructure in the battle to rid New Zealand of tobacco. "The hard work and dedication of the tobacco
control community cannot be as effective without them," he said. "We need to have the courage to answer honestly the
question of whether we are working as well together as we could be. We have cessation activities that are unrivalled
anywhere in the world and a $30 million annual spend, yet very slow decline in youth and adult smoking rates."
He went on to speak of the need to be consumer focused and to work collectively to create the sort of environment
where all individuals (and everyone is different) can find the support they need to quit.
Tobacco control workers also need to be trained. "People selling burgers get more training and support than
most of us and we are supposed to be saving lives!" They need also to be dedicated to tobacco
control in terms of the scope of
their jobs. "0.2 positions get 0.2 training, 0.2 experience and 0.2 opportunities - this is an inhibitor for tobacco control."
He concluded by sharing his vision for the future: a well-co-ordinated, well-oiled machine that works together like the
Silver Ferns. "...that is how we got smokefree workplaces including bars - so in a few years I see us being better than the
enemy, way better."
 For the theme Future Directions for Tobacco
Control Shane Bradbrook of Te Reo Marama spoke on a Māori
perspective of tobacco use and the future. He proposed the idea of replacing "Auahi Kore" (Smokefree) with "Tupeka Kore"
(Tobacco free). This would include snus and spit tobacco as well as cigarettes, and help focus on the new vision of Te Ao Māori -
Te Ao Tupeka Kore (Traditionally Māori - Traditionally Tobacco-Free).
The Vision of Tupeka Kore struck a chord with Māori media (and TV1 News). The general comment from the media has been
that Tupeka clearly highlights the real culprit as opposed to Auahi Kore, as "Auahi" can mean things other than smoke to Māori,
including fire.
Shane also spoke on Māori leadership, the need to elevate the debate within leadership circles to place tobacco and
health on the agenda, and a plan for the phase out of tobacco within Māori communities. He also covered some of the
challenges faced for Māori tobacco control in the future including workforce capacity, equitable funding, reducing disparities
and specific Māori programmes.
Anaru Waa presented on the third theme: Implementing the Reducing Smoking Initiation (RSI) Framework. "The key goal of
RSI, and what we should all be thinking about is reducing youth uptake of smoking," he said. "Our attention to the issue needs
to be widened to include public awareness through education and information. We need messages that will resonate with different
audiences."
He spoke of the need for collective planning and use of resources, and emphasised that we should know what others are doing
and build relationships in order to achieve the best 'bang for buck' for events such as World Smokefree Day.
He made the point that reducing smoking initiation is as crucial as cessation to reducing smoking prevalence, and went on to
detail the history of the development of the RSI model in New Zealand from 2004 to the present.
CIGARETTES AND CANDY
A Study of Retailer Compliance with the Point of Sale Tobacco Display Regulations in the 2003 Smoke-free Environments
Amendment Act
Key Findings of the presentation to the Smokefree Symposium by Drs George Thomson and Richard Edwards, Wellington School of
Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago
Research was sponsored by the Cancer Society of New Zealand.
 BACKGROUND: Cigarettes are toxic and addictive, and are a significant cause of death in New Zealand. As a result, the New
Zealand government has taken several steps to reduce smoking rates, including largely outlawing the marketing of tobacco
products. The main exception to this is the continued existence of point-of-sale display of tobacco products, though this
too is the subject of restrictions introduced in the 2003 Amendment to the Smoke-free Environments Act.
THE SURVEY: To find the compliance by retailers with point of sale display laws, medical students from the University
of Otago surveyed 288 tobacco retailers (dairies, convenience stores, service stations and supermarkets) located in the
lower North Island.
RESULTS: All but eight of the 296 eligible stores identified were included in the survey. One hundred and eighty five
(64 percent) of the stores did not comply with one or more, and thirty-nine (13.5 percent) did not comply with three or more,
of the point of sale regulations. The three most common violations were: having a 'smoking kills' sign more than 2m from the
point of sale (30 percent of stores); having tobacco products that were visible from outside the store (25 percent); and
having tobacco products closer than one metre to children's products (24 percent).
Non-compliance was much commoner among diaries (76 percent any non-compliance) and convenience stores (82 percent any
non-compliance). Lack of compliance was greatest in stores situated in areas with the highest proportion of children. This
finding was confined to dairies and convenience stores. Comparing dairies and convenience stores in areas with the highest
vs lowest proportions of children, we found the following:
- 39 percent vs 11 percent were non-compliant with more than 3 criteria
- 55 percent vs 23 percent displayed tobacco products within a metre of children's products
- 38 percent vs 16 percent displayed more than 100 tobacco packs per point of sale.
We also found some evidence of increased non-compliance in stores situated in areas with higher proportions of Pacific
Islanders in the population and in more deprived areas. Loopholes and inadequacies of the current regulations were identified.
For example, there was evidence that some storeowners get around the current regulations, through the use of multiple points of
sale, sometimes using dummy tills, thus allowing larger displays of tobacco products.
CANCER SOCIETY LAUNCHES NEWS AND INFORMATION PORTAL
 The Cancer Society of New Zealand has launched a new website at
www.smokefreecouncils.org.nz to provide a portal for news and
information relating to smokefree councils initiatives.
The website builds on the Smokefree for a Cleaner and Healthier Community resource which was produced in June 2005.
Associated with the website is the Smokefree Councils listserv which has been established to facilitate the sharing of news
and information between people who are working to promote smoke-free outdoor areas with their local councils.
You can join the listserv by visiting the website or emailing Belinda Hughes directly (belinda.hughes@cancer.org.nz).
NEW PARTY FORMED TO HELP SMOKERS
The man behind Dunedin's Smoking Club is forming a political party.
Anti-smoking education and reducing cigarette taxes were the Smokers' Club Party's main goals, club president and founder
Graham Murphy said. "The focus is to make enough public comment to force the Government to cap taxes on cigarettes. It costs a
family smoking a pack of 30 a day about $190 a week. Forming a party is really digging my toes in on the principle."
The former smoker formed the club in August after speaking to smokers who had "had a gutsful" of New Zealand's tough
anti-smoking legislation. "I'm personally against smoking. It's unhealthy and it will kill you but it's a lawful choice."
The club has struck opposition since its inception with vandalism to signs erected around the city.
Advertising for party members was also proving a challenge, with one radio station refusing to run advertisements about
joining the party, which was yet to be registered but had more than 700 members.
Although the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990 prohibited actively promoting smoking, it was unclear whether promoting the
party was lawful, Mr Murphy said.
The WIN Party, set up following the law banning smoking in pubs and bars by
Christchurch publican John van Buren the first publican to be prosecuted under
that law was recently deregistered. WIN Party press secretary David Clarke said Mr
Murphy's party would have to be cautious about receiving donations and advertising methods. "They may not tread on as many
toes as we did but we got the publicity we were seeking from it."
Although the party had 10,000 members on its books, the number of active members had dropped to 1000 following the
"disappointing" election result. This, in part, influenced its decision to deregister but it would re-register before the next
election, Mr Clarke said.
Otago Daily Times, 10 October 2006
THE QUIT GROUP UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 2006
A total of 2,325 callers were registered with the Quitline in September 2006. Nearly 56 percent of these callers were female (1295)
and just over 42 percent were male (989). Registered caller numbers dropped in September when Video Diaries advertising finished,
and a flu-like illness also affected the Quitline's ability to answer all incoming calls.
23.6 percent of registered callers in September were Māori (549), 74 percent were New Zealand European (1735) and five percent
(116)of the callers identified themselves as Pacific peoples.
The highest proportion of callers was in the 30-34 years age bracket, followed by the 35-39 and 25-29 years age groups.
Numbers of callers registered with the Quitline by month (registered callers are those
who receive a quit pack and are offered advice and support)
HEALTH GROUPS APPLAUD MARYAN STREET'S ETHICAL INVESTMENTS BILL
 Leading health groups and experts are welcoming MP Maryan Street's Private Member's Bill that would stop Crown investment
in tobacco companies.
Ms Street announced recently that she would be putting an Ethical Investments Bill, aimed at requiring Crown Financial
Institutions to take social and environmental considerations into account, into the Ballot.
Groups supportive of the Bill include the Public Health Association, Smokefree Coalition, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH),
National Heart Foundation, Cancer Society of New Zealand, Te Hotu Manawa Māori, Te Reo Marama and the National Māori SIDS Unit.
A large number of health professionals, clinicians, academics and researchers also support discontinuing investment in the
tobacco industry.
In December 2005, the Council for Socially Responsible Investment revealed that all five of New Zealand's Crown Financial
Institutions invested in tobacco companies. They were the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, the Government Superannuation Fund,
the National Provident Fund, the Accident Compensation Corporation and the Earthquake Commission.
Recently the New Zealand Superannuation Fund has adopted the United Nations Ethical Investment Principles and the Global
Compact, and ACC has indicated that it will disinvest from tobacco.
"Investment of Government funds in the tobacco industry is abhorrent," says Public Health Association Director Dr Gay
Keating.
"Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of death in New Zealand
- more deaths occur each year because of
smoking than from HIV, tuberculosis, motor vehicle crashes, suicide and homicide combined."
She questions why a Private Member's Bill was necessary. "We'd like to see the Government put forward a bill so this issue is
not subject to the uncertainties of the Private Member's ballot."
Health groups and experts believe investment in tobacco companies not only runs counter to the Government's health priority to
reduce tobacco use, it is also unacceptable to the majority of New Zealanders.
"This is the only industry that sells a product that when used exactly as the manufacturer intends will likely kill you,"
says Smokefree Coalition Director Mark Peck.
"Adopting a policy to exclude tobacco companies from all public investment funds is a simple and acceptable solution. The New
Zealand Government must show leadership on ethical investing and refuse to profiteer from addiction, disease, and death."
Cancer Society of New Zealand spokesperson Belinda Hughes says the NZ Government should never have permitted investment in the
tobacco industry in the first place.
"It doesn't get more serious than 5000 deaths a year. No government should ever help to increase the profits of an industry whose
products kill people.
"It is hypocritical of the Government to support international agreements on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, while
lining its pockets with tobacco industry profits."
Those in support:
Groups supportive of Maryan Street's Bill include Te Hotu Manawa Māori, Te Reo Marama, the National Māori SIDS Unit, Te
Kaunihera o nga Neehi Māori (National Council of Māori Nurses), Nga Ngaru Hauora O Aotearoa (national collective Hauora Māori
Providers), Hapai Te Hauora Tapui, Public Health Association, Smokefree Coalition, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), National
Heart Foundation, and Cancer Society of New Zealand.
Overwhelming support for the Bill comes from all universities concerned with health, New Zealand medical schools, and health
academics and researchers. Those in support include: Professor Peter Joyce, Dean of the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health
Sciences, Otago University; Dr Charlotte Paul, Professor of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago Medical School;
Professor Julian Crane, Professor Peter Crampton, Dr George Thomson and Dr Nick Wilson of the Wellington School of Medicine and
Health Sciences, Otago University; Professor Les Toop and Professor Ann Richardson, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health
Sciences, Otago University; Professor Alistair Woodward, Head of the University of Auckland School of Population Health; Professor
Neil Pearce of the Centre for Public Health Research at Massey University; Papaarangi Reid, Professor of Māori Health at Auckland
University; and Dr John F. Smith, Head of Health Promotion at AUT University.
Public Health Association Press Release, 20 October 2006
POLICYMAKERS' IGNORANCE OF NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN TOBACCO COMPANIES
A PDF version of this article, which includes footnotes, is available on request from Nick Wilson (nwilson@actrix.gen.nz).
In a recent study, we explored the knowledge and attitudes amongst a small sample of policymakers about the
tobacco-related policies. The aim of the study was to pilot the use of in-depth interviews of key informants for tobacco
policy in the New Zealand setting.
Methods - 10 interviewees were selected from:
- politicians who currently had, or had previously had some role in tobacco policy in the past 10 years, or had commented
publicly on tobacco policy in that period; and
- senior government officials who were in a position to affect or comment on tobacco-related policies.
A politician from each of five political parties was interviewed; some holding or having held relevant ministerial
portfolios, or holding shadow portfolios. The other five participants were managers or senior advisors from the Ministries of
Health, Education and Social Development, whose roles involved or had involved them in legislation, advice to ministers, or
policy implementation related to tobacco.
The audio-recorded interviews were on the basis of anonymity, and involved a semi-structured questionnaire format.
They were conducted during May-August 2006.
Results - The interviewees' comments indicated that they knew the general directions of tobacco company activities.
They were sceptical of the motives of the tobacco companies' attempts to be community or health minded, and believed that
these companies were engaged in successfully selling a product that was harmful to health.
All but one of the participants were clear in their opinion that promotion of tobacco to under 16 year olds still
occurs in New Zealand.
However, all 10 interviewees appeared ignorant of the investment by the five Crown Financial Institutes (New Zealand
Superannuation Fund, the Government Superannuation Fund, the National Provident Fund, the Accident Compensation
Corporation [ACC], and the Earthquake Commission) in tobacco companies. They did not appear to have heard of, or have
remembered, the media reporting of research that in December 2005 revealed the extent of this investment. This was despite
this media coverage detailing the New Zealand Government involvement in the announcement of the research, including the
presence of the Minister of Finance as a speaker at the release of the report on this investment.
Discussion - While the Minister of Finance has stated that Government has 'clear
and transparent policies for the holding and management of Crown financial assets', it appears that there is still a considerable
need for him to inform Members of Parliament and government officials about investments which may prejudice New Zealand's
reputation. Since December 2005, there appears to have been no change in government policy on investment in tobacco companies
(except for a statement of intent to change by ACC).
As the level of knowledge about such investment is so low, even amongst those closely concerned with tobacco-control
policymaking, perhaps even wider action is needed. If the Minister of Finance wishes to be seen to have clarity and transparency
about Crown investments, the New Zealand Government may also need to be much more proactive about informing the public about
government investments. This is particularly so for investments such as these, which may prejudice New Zealand's reputation,
and which definitely endanger New Zealand and international public health.
Acknowledgment: The Heart Foundation funded this study.
Sheena Hudson - Research Fellow, George Thomson - Research Fellow,
Nick Wilson - Senior Lecturer,
Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington
New Zealand Medical Journal, 13 October 2006
REGULATIONS SHOULD BAN THE SALE OF PACK COVERS
A PDF version of this article, which includes footnotes, is available on request from Nick Wilson (nwilson@actrix.gen.nz).
For New Zealand to meet its obligations under the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, further modifications of health
warnings on cigarette packets are required. The Ministry of Health has already begun this process and a likely outcome is the
adoption of graphic health warnings. This outcome is logical, given the strong scientific evidence base for such graphic
health warnings.
In a 2003 article, two Australian authors described plans from the tobacco industry's own internal documents suggesting
that the provision of covers for packs bearing warnings may be used in the future to counter the impact of warnings on smokers.
This "future" has arrived overseas with one tobacco company even having marketing on these pack sleeves (i.e. the Marlboro
man on sleeves in Hong Kong). Closer to home, we recently purchased two cigarette-pack sized cardboard sleeves in Australia.
These can be used by smokers to cover the graphic health warnings that are now legally required on Australian cigarette packs.
There now appear to be moves to stop the use of these sleeves by the Federal Government legislation in Australia. However, to
avoid this additional step in the future, New Zealand should ban all sleeves and other similar measures (such as stickers or
other containers sold for this purpose) when the new graphic warnings are introduced. Ultimately, the best cure for
chronically irresponsible tobacco industry behaviour in New Zealand is to adopt a new regulatory Framework that removes
the tobacco industry out of the driving seat.
A cigarette packet 'sleeve' marketed in Australia that can be used to cover the graphic warnings on a cigarette pack
(version apparently more popular with females) |
Another cigarette packet 'sleeve' marketed in Australia that can be used to
cover the graphic warnings on a cigarette pack (version
apparently more popular with males)
|
Images supplied courtesy of the NZ Medical Journal.
Nick Wilson, George Thomson, Philippa Howden-Chapman, Louise Signal,
Department of Public Health,
Wellington School of Medicine & Health Sciences
New Zealand Medical Journal, 13 October 2006
AUCKLAND DAIRY OWNER CONVICTED OF SELLING CHEWING TOBACCO
The Ministry of Health has successfully prosecuted an Auckland dairy owner for illegally selling chewing tobacco.
The dairy owner from Avondale, Auckland was convicted and ordered to appear for sentence within 12 months, if required.
The Ministry has been awarded $1,130 in costs.
The conviction follows a Ministry-led Controlled Purchase Operation for chewing tobacco in June last year. The purpose
of the operation was to find out if some Auckland retail outlets were selling chewing tobacco under the counter.
The Ministry of Health's Graeme Gillespie, Group Manager of Environmental Health Policy, says since 1999, the Ministry and
Auckland Regional Public Health Service has been aware that chewing tobacco has been illegally imported from India and sold in
grocery stores and dairies.
"The Ministry and Auckland Regional Public Health undertook an educational campaign to ensure retailers knew their legal
responsibilities and the associated health risks like oral cancer, which come from consuming chewing tobacco."
Graeme Gillespie says, "last year however, we were made aware that chewing tobacco was still being imported and sold under
the counter, which is why we undertook more active enforcement."
Mr Gillespie says oral cancer is significantly higher amongst chewing tobacco users. "We hope this sends a clear message to
other retailers that the illegal sale of chewing tobacco will not be tolerated and we will continue to take strong action for
identified breaches of the legislation. The Ministry will also continue working with border agencies to stop the importing of
chewing tobacco."
Scoop, 18 October 2006
ARE SAFER CIGARETTES JUST A PIPE DREAM?
For the world's tobacco companies, the harmless cigarette would be a dream come true. Instead of facing relentless pressure
to quit, smokers would be able to light up happy in the knowledge that their smoke was doing neither themselves - nor those around
them - any damage.
The tobacco giants think safe cigarettes would fly off the shelves faster than the most frenzied New Year's sale on the High
Street, and their profits would shoot still higher. Unfortunately for the cigarette-makers, this seems to be little more than a
pipe dream.
Yet despite the disdain of anti-smoking groups - who argue that inhaling any kind of smoke is harmful - the tobacco giants
are continuing to quietly spend millions on trying to develop safer cigarettes.
And while a completely safe cigarette may be impossible, the tobacco firms hope that cutting out the toxins in cigarette
smoke would at least reduce the health risk substantially.
UK firm British American Tobacco (BAT), the world's second largest cigarette-maker, hopes tobacco firms can get cigarettes
with reduced toxicants on the market within five to 10 years. It has 150 scientists working towards that aim at two sites in
Southampton and Cambridge.
At the centre of their hi-tech work, they use cell cultures to grow lung tissue which they then cover with different blends
of cigarette smoke to see how the tissue reacts over varying time periods. "There are between 3,000 and 4,000 different substances
in tobacco smoke, with some 100 toxicants," says BAT's harm reduction programme manager David O'Reilly. "Our aim is to reduce that
number."
Yet Mr O'Reilly claims that the search for safer cigarettes is being held back by political pressure and the ongoing
demonisation of cigarette firms. Help from the world's top medical research bodies would be appreciated, he says - but he
blames pressure from governments and the health lobby for their refusal to offer such assistance.
"The problem we face is that the whole health argument regarding smoking is 'quit or die'," he says - an impractical choice,
since cigarettes seem unlikely to disappear any time soon. "Smokers are either choosing not to give up, or are else not able to
quit."
Unsurprisingly, anti-smoking groups strongly disagree. "The hunt for a so-called safer cigarette is a farcical activity,"
says spokesman Ian Willmore from ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) UK. "Trying to extract the toxins from the smoke is an
idle project. You simply can't inhale any smoke into your lungs and think that it is not going to do you harm."
BBC News, 11 October 2006
STUDY: SCOTTISH BAR WORKERS' HEALTH IMPROVES
A new study published in the October 11 issue of the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
finds that bar workers in Scotland showed significant improvements in respiratory health and lung function within one month after
that country's smokefree workplace law took effect on 26 March 2006.
Health advocates said the study is important new evidence that smokefree workplace laws provide significant and immediate
health benefits.
The new JAMA study measured the respiratory health of bar workers in Tayside, Scotland, before and after the country's
smokefree law took effect. The researchers found that bar workers experienced improvements in both respiratory symptoms,
which include cough, wheezing and shortness of breath, and sensory irritation symptoms, which include eye, nose and throat
irritation. There was a 26 percent decline in the number of workers experiencing respiratory or sensory symptoms after one
month, increasing to a 32.4 percent decline after two months. Bar workers also experienced improvements in lung function,
and asthmatic bar workers had less airway inflammation and an increase in quality of life scores.
The international tobacco control treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), calls on governments to
protect all persons from exposure to tobacco smoke, rather than just specific populations such as children or pregnant women.
According to the treaty, smokefree places should include "indoor workplaces, public transport, indoor public places and other
public places." The treaty became international law on February 27, 2005 and has been ratified by many countries, including
New Zealand.
The unacceptability of exposure to second-hand smoke is underscored by the growing number of countries, states and cities
that have enacted smokefree laws, including countries where public smoking has long been considered part of the culture.
The latest example is France, which this week announced plans to phase in smokefree regulations that will extend to
restaurants and bars on January 1, 2008. France will join a growing number of countries that have implemented or
enacted smokefree laws, including Ireland, Italy, England (effective 2007), Scotland, Bermuda, Bhutan, New Zealand,
Northern Ireland (effective 2007), Norway, Sweden and Uruguay. Now that France's bistros will be joining Ireland's
pubs and Italy's cafes in going smokefree, the message is clear that smokefree laws can and should be enacted everywhere.
Media Release: Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids, 11 October 2006
BLAST FROM THE PAST
 Slim 'n Sassy (1994)
Brand: Misty; American Tobacco Co.
And what young girl doesn't want to be slim 'n sassy?
Retrieved from: 20th Century Tobacco Ad Collection Collected by Richard Pollay, catalogued by Roswell Park Cancer Institute
http://roswell.tobaccodocuments.org/pollay/dirdet.cfm.
QUOTABLE QUOTES
"If you are really and truly not going to sell to children, you are going to be out of business in 30 years."
Bennett LeBow, Liggett/Brooke Group, Ltd
"The tobacco industry pays thousands of dollars to retain the best shelf space to attract and addict our kids.
This has to stop. The current display regulations are not protecting our children."
Becky Freeman, Director ASH NZ
"...with tobacco there is terrible withdrawal, it is almost impossible for a lot of people. I did, I went cold turkey,
they never had any patches in those days but grass was not difficult, alcohol not difficult, but tobacco - oh my god!"
Larry Hagman, American actor.
"It costs a family smoking a pack of 30 a day about $190 a week.
Forming a party is really digging my toes in on the principle."
Smoker's Club Party founder Graham Murphy
MEDIA THEMES
Teens half as likely to smoke if they are wise to subliminal messages
Today alone, more than 4,400 US teenagers will start smoking, according to statistics from the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Administration. Many of these adolescents will be lured to cigarettes by advertisements and movies that feature sophisticated
models and actors, suggesting that smoking is a glamorous, grown-up activity. However, teens who are savvier about the motives and
methods of advertisers may be less inclined to take to cigarettes, a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study indicates.
Teens with above-average smoking media literacy (SML) are nearly half as likely to smoke as their less media-literate peers.
The results not only suggest that SML training could be an effective intervention to decrease teen smoking, but they also provide
some of the first quantitative evidence linking SML to smoking.
"Many factors that influence a teen's decision to smoke - like peer influence, parental smoking and risk-seeking tendency -
are difficult to change," said the study's lead author, Brian Primack, M.D., Ed.M., assistant professor in the School of Medicine's
division of general internal medicine. "However, media literacy, which can be taught, may be a valuable tool in efforts to discourage
teens from smoking."
Earlier research by Dr. Primack and his colleagues established the reliability and validity of the scale used to measure SML.
In that work, more than 1,200 suburban Pittsburgh high school students were assigned SML scores of 1 to 10 based on their responses
to an 18-item survey in which they agreed or disagreed with statements such as, "Advertisements usually leave out a lot of important
information" and "Movie scenes with smoking in them are made very carefully." The higher their scores, the higher their SML.
In the current study, Dr. Primack and his colleagues conducted further analysis, more completely quantifying the relationship
between SML and smoking behavior. They found that the median SML score of all of the survey participants was 6.8, and students
with scores above the median were half as likely to smoke or to be susceptible to future smoking than those below the median,
even after controlling for over a dozen demographic, environmental and intrinsic risk factors for smoking.
The analysis suggests that even minor intervention may be able to influence behaviour. According to survey data, decrease
in an SML score of just one point corresponded with a 30 percent increase in a student's likelihood to smoke or be susceptible
to smoking.
These results may encourage research into the relationship between media literacy and other harmful health behaviors, Dr
Primack said. "Research has linked media exposure to eating behaviors, alcohol abuse, social violence and sexual behaviour. Perhaps
media literacy will turn out to be valuable in addressing these health-related areas as well," he said.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 9 October 2006
New York City Considers Raising Tobacco Age to 21
The New York City Council is considering two bills that would raise the legal age for buying cigarettes. One would raise
the age to 19. The other would raise the age to 21. Currently, the age is 18.
Queens Councilman James Gennaro, who sponsored the version putting the legal age at 19, said he wrote his bill based on laws
passed in Alabama, Alaska and Utah, as well as in Suffolk and Nassau counties in New York.
Bronx Councilman Joel Rivera, the Health committee chairman, wants to make it illegal for anyone under 21 to buy cigarettes.
Gennaro said he would sign on to Rivera's version if it prevails in committee.
"The legal age to buy cigarettes and alcohol should be the same," says Joe Cherner, president of SmokeFree Educational
Services, Inc. "I don't know what that age should be, but it should be the same."
JoeCherner-announce@smokefree.net,
17 October 2006
Launch of campaign to help pregnant smokers
Scotland: Health officials have unveiled a television advert designed to help pregnant women give up smoking. The campaign
was developed after shocking statistics showed that one in five mothers-to-be in Scotland are ignoring warnings and continuing
to light up.
The Scottish Executive has pledged to reduce the number of women smoking in pregnancy from 29 percent in 1995 to 20 percent in
2010. Figures for 2005 show that 22.7 percent of women were still smoking when they were three months pregnant.
Carol Butler is a smoking cessation midwife who advises pregnant women on ways to quit smoking. "Women who smoke during
pregnancy are much more likely to have a baby born prematurely, who might be quite sick and need special care," she said.
"They're much more likely to have hospital admissions themselves and there is also a risk of miscarriage.
"The good news is that there is help and support available for mums who want to quit smoking, and nobody's going to judge
them or make them feel bad about themselves." The adverts, which will run until November and then again in the new year,
feature the story of one young mother who managed to give up smoking while pregnant.
Michelle Murphy, 23, from Paisley, has smoked since she was at school and continued when she fell pregnant with her son
Finlay, who is now six. Despite advice, she carried on smoking when she became pregnant a second time, and even when she
miscarried she could not stop smoking. She smoked again when she was expecting her daughter, Brieze, now four, and it was
only when she was pregnant with her six-month-old daughter Neve that she decided to seek help.
Ms Murphy, who is now 11 weeks pregnant with her fourth child, enlisted the help of Ms Butler and eventually managed to
give up. She has not smoked since. "I always felt guilty every time I lit up when pregnant, but I still did it, even although
the midwives told me about the risks," she said.
"I began to cut down but was still smoking until I was 28 weeks pregnant. At that time, Neve's kidneys were dilated and I
knew that if I stopped she would get better, so one day I threw my cigarettes at my partner and said: 'You have them.' That was it.
"It's been fantastic, the whole family has been healthier. Brieze used to get bad ear and chest infections, but she's
been fine since I gave up.
The Glasgow Herald, 16 October 2006
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