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| Issue 111 | 18 March 2009 |
Having trouble viewing this newsletter? Try the online version. FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK
Shortly you will be receiving (or you might already have received) an email from my assistant, Chantelle, asking you to confirm or update your details as published in the Aotearoa/New Zealand Tupeka Kore/Tobaccofree Directory. Please attend to this at your earliest convenience. Also, it would be good if managers could look over the current Directory and let us know if anyone from their organisation has left during the year and/or if any new workers have started. This way we can ask them to forward their details for the Directory too. I have had one person ask in the last couple of days whether it is possible to sign up or amend listings online. You can, by clicking here and filling out the form. This information will be included in the updated hard copy of the Directory. We ask for your cooperation in this task as we like to publish and post the Directory out to you all before World Smokefree Day which is 31 May. During the last fortnight I have finally had a response from the Commerce Commission to our request for the information they relied on in deciding about the action it was appropriate to take against the tobacco industry's use of 'light and mild' descriptors. They have refused to release details of their discussions with the tobacco industry. On first flush this looks to be outrageous and I will be seeking advice about grounds for an appeal to the Ombudsman in an attempt to obtain the information. You will learn more about this as matters develop. The other item of note was the recent World Conference on Tobacco and Health. I have not seen a lot coming out about the conference so far, but I am sure some of the New Zealand delegates will be keen to share their experiences upon their return. Have a good fortnight. Mark Peck Director IN THIS ISSUE:
First Term MP INTRODUCES TOBACCO BAN BILL
A report to Parliament's Health Select Committee recommended cigarettes and tobacco be kept out of sight. Health Minister, Tony Ryall, says the Government would not ban tobacco displays. However, he says the Government is committed to reducing smoking and is prepared to consider any new and effective initiatives. Now, Labour's Associate Health Spokesperson, Iain Lees-Galloway, says if the Government is serious about reducing smoking rates it must take any measures available to de-normalise cigarette smoking. "The fact is cigarettes kill, not when they are misused or abused, but when they are used as intended. That's not the sort of thing that should be on display next to bread and milk." Health organisations across the spectrum have urged the Government to reconsider. The NZMA, the Paediatric Society, Plunket, Barnardos and Parents Centre, the NZ Nurses Organisation and the Dental Association have all expressed hope the Government will examine the issue again. But the Stay Displays Coalition – a group of retailers opposed to the ban – says the Government has taken a "common sense approach." Stuff, 4 March 2009 Outlawing tobacco displays is sensible
Mr Lees-Galloway has submitted a Private Member's Bill that would outlaw tobacco displays in stores. When the bill is drawn from the ballot and put on Parliament's agenda is anyone's guess but, if the letters to the editor of this newspaper are any indicator, it is sure to spark strong public discussion. Those opposed to the bill will characterise it as yet another attack on an individual's freedom of choice, while those backing a ban on tobacco displays will say it's a helpful tool in preventing young people taking up smoking, and will assist those trying to quit. Like previous debates on regulatory restrictions on smoking, the discourse will be heated and divisive. That's disappointing, because the desired outcomes of the opposing sides are by no means mutually exclusive. It's difficult to see how Mr Lees-Galloway's proposal would impinge on a smoker's right to purchase tobacco if they so chose. While chairman of the Association of Convenience Stores, Roger Bull, contends there is "no evidence" to demonstrate moving the displays out of sight will make any difference, common sense suggests otherwise. Why does Mr Bull think tobacco companies demand their products be displayed so prominently in the first place? Is it because the tobacco companies have gathered plenty of their own evidence telling them the more prominently they are displayed, the more they will sell, perhaps? Mr Bull says the costs to retailers in moving the displays will see more smokers buying tobacco at supermarkets and put small corner shops out of business. What his rationale for such a dramatic prediction is isn't entirely clear, but it sounds strikingly similar to fears expressed that banning smoking in bars would put small pubs and clubs out of business. Did that happen? Of course not. An individual's right to smoke should never be usurped by the state, however demonstrably unwise that choice is. At the same time, however, individuals who choose to smoke must accept that the social cost of smoking is massive and borne by everyone. The Government is right to discourage people from taking up the habit, and assist those trying to kick it, however it can. Mr Lees-Galloway's plan is a reasonable measure to take to help reduce the harm caused by tobacco products, while preserving one's freedom to choose to light up if they so desire. And what's so contentious about that? Manawatu Standard, 12 March 2009 MOST SMOKERS SUPPORT SMOKEFREE COUNCIL-OWNED PLAYGROUNDS: NATIONAL SURVEY DATA
From an international perspective, New Zealand has been one of the world leaders in passing smokefree environment laws to protect the health of non-smokers and advance tobacco control. It passed a major law in 1990 and the updated 2003 legislation (implemented during 2004) extended smokefree areas to all restaurants, bars and additional indoor workplaces that were not covered by the 1990 law. There has also been progress in terms of outdoor smokefree areas. Smoking in outdoor settings is prohibited in the grounds of all schools by the 2003 legislation. "Educative" smokefree parks policies have currently been adopted by 29 percent (21/73) of the city and district councils in New Zealand. These are policies which rely on signposts, media coverage and public pressure to limit smoking, rather than on legal enforcement. The grounds of some hospitals, some stadiums, and the campuses of at least one university (Massey) are also covered by smokefree policies. A 2007 survey in Upper Hutt found that 83 percent of adult park users thought that having a smokefree parks policy was a good idea. There was even majority support (73 percent) by smokers for the Upper Hutt smokefree park policy. A 2007 national survey gave options of agreeing that smoking in various settings was acceptable anywhere, in set areas, or not at all. Over a third (38 percent) said that it was not at all acceptable in local parks or reserves, and 76 percent said it was not at all acceptable in outdoor children's playgrounds. Nevertheless, there has been no national survey data on what smokers think about smokefree parks – an issue we address in the results below. Between March 2007 and February 2008 we surveyed a national sample of 1376 New Zealand adult (18+ years) smokers. One question asked: "Do you think smoking should be allowed at council-owned playgrounds?" Further detail on the survey methods is available elsewhere. Results weighted to reflect the national population of smokers showed that 65.7 percent disagreed (95 percent confidence interval = 62.3 percent to 69.1 percent) and only 31.9 percent agreed with this question. That is, there appears to be substantial majority support by smokers themselves for not allowing smoking in council-owned playgrounds. New Zealand advocates and local government policymakers now have additional evidence of public support to continue to further progress smokefree parks. This evidence for support can be combined with the evidence that children tend to copy what they observe, and are influenced by the normality and extent of smoking around them. Outdoor smokefree policies may also reduce second-hand smoke-related health impacts, and also reduce ratepayer and taxpayer costs associated with smoking-related fires and litter. Overall we suggest there are strong arguments for these type of smokefree outdoor places. Click here for a PDF version of this article including footnotes and acknowledgements. Click here to visit the Smokefree Councils website. THROUGH THE SMOKESo why do we still smoke?
In this Independent on Sunday article (10 March 2009) Jane Feinmann argues the picture is more complex, with a mix of the factors keeping this minority puffing. She says the factors include addiction, undiagnosed depression, lack of support, the desire to be cool, denial, habit and social situation, and provides a few paragraphs exploring each one. SMOKEFREE SHORTS
New ZealandSmokefree – no butts about it
A year after the small eastern Bay of Plenty town started its smokefree outdoor spaces policy, there has been a 60 percent drop in the number of cigarette butts collected from public areas. Toi Te Ora Public Health staff counted 450 cigarette butts in five parks – Memorial Park, Rose Garden, Princess St Reserve, John Burdett Park and Skate Park – in January compared with 1200 last year. NZ Herald, 4 March 2009 Fined for selling tobacco to minors Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is repeating calls for tobacco retailers to be licensed after a Whangarei dairy owner was fined for selling tobacco to minors. The dairy, located opposite Whangarei Intermediate School, received a $500 fine after appearing in the Whangarei District Court on charges of selling tobacco to a person under 18. Northern Advocate, 3 March 2009 Research adds to need for tobacco display ban – Greens The Green Party says research showing an increase in cigarette sales shows the Government should move to ban tobacco displays from shops. YahooXtra News, 27 February 2009 InternationalBritish cabinet split over cigarette display ban
An email from the lobbyist to Lord Mandelson's special adviser reads: "The New Zealand prime minister announced they would NOT be going ahead with a display ban after all. He said the lack of supportive evidence does not justify the burden this would place on small business. My members hope this U-turn has ramifications for the health bill currently in the Lords. Could you please make Lord Mandelson aware of this news?" She said, "We are hoping that peers take account of this development in the debate as the New Zealand Government has looked at this closely." The Guardian, 5 March 2009 Recession leads one in three smokers to cut down or quit New research released to mark No Smoking Day in Britain (11 March) shows more than one in three (36 percent) of the nine million smokers in Great Britain are thinking about or planning to cut down or quit as a direct result of the economic downturn. The poll also shows that one in ten will be taking the first step and were likely to have made a quit attempt on No Smoking Day. PR-USA 12 March 2009 Smoking prevention groups go after tobacco ads targeting gays Wooed for years by tobacco companies – who lavish free merchandise on their bars and clubs, sponsor their events and advertise heavily in their publications – gays, lesbians and bisexuals remain hooked on cigarettes, even as the general population smokes less. The Oregonian (US), 3 March 2009 Tobacco Atlas catalogues catastrophic toll of tobacco worldwide The World Lung Foundation and the American Cancer Society have published the Third Edition of The Tobacco Atlas and released an online version of the document at www.tobaccoatlas.org. This comprehensive volume of research and its accompanying website graphically display how tobacco is devastating both global health and economies. According to The Tobacco Atlas, tobacco's estimated $500 billion drain on the world economy exceeds the total combined annual expenditure on health in all low-and middle-income countries. The economic costs come as a result of lost productivity, misused resources, ineffective taxation and premature death. EurekAlert, 6 March 2009 China, India world's biggest smokers: study
Statistics compiled by the American Cancer Society and the World Lung Foundation for the third edition of their Tobacco Atlas, found that some 311 million men in China and 229 million men in India use tobacco in some form. Yahoo Health, 10 March 2009 Persistent anti-smoking warnings may force smokers to kick the butt From now on, don't think twice before nagging your friends to quit smoking, for they might just take you seriously and really think about kicking the butt, according to a new study. The study has found that the more a smoker worries about health risks, the more he/she will contemplate quitting. The researchers claimed that warning messages created worry that could nudge smokers to put the burning stick down. New Karala, 4 March 2009 Gross images inspire more smokers to call QuitSA's Quitline Those graphic pictures of diseased lungs and rotting teeth on cigarette packets actually work, and have inspired tens of thousands of people to quit smoking. Calls to QuitSA's (South Australia) Quitline have doubled since the introduction of the warnings, with almost 165,000 calls recorded. Adelaide Now, 3 March 2009 Teenagers do listen to their parents when it comes to smoking Parents can help their teenagers to never start smoking. A Swedish study published in the open access journal BMC Public Health has found that adolescents respond positively to their parents' attitudes towards smoking. The study found that teenagers are more positive today towards their parents' attempts to discourage them from smoking, regardless of whether or not they smoked, than in the past. The most effective actions parents could take include dissuading their children from smoking, not smoking themselves and not allowing their children to smoke at home. Science Daily, 3 March 2009 New front line against smoking
The campaign will encourage those who want to quit smoking to see their local pharmacist. Pharmaceutical Society President, Shane Jackson, says more than 300 people who work in Tasmanian pharmacies have been trained to help. "Pharmacists are one of the most accessible health professionals and people come into the pharmacy on average about 14 times a year," he said. ABC News, 6 March 2009 Push for total ban on smoking in Australia Cigarettes and other tobacco products would be illegal within 10-15 years under a radical proposal being pushed by the former Health Minister, Jim McGinty. Mr McGinty told Parliament that tobacco retailers should brace themselves for the "inevitable" move because it was no longer acceptable to "sell this poison that kills people and destroys families". The West Australian, 13 March 2009 Tobacco displays given more time Small retailers are to be given an extra two years to remove tobacco displays from their shops, the Scottish Government has announced. Public Health Minister Shona Robison said the move was designed to minimise the impact on smaller businesses. BBC News, 15 March 2009 Professors urge food industry to avoid tobacco playbook Two of the America's top public-health specialists are issuing a call to arms in a new journal article, urging the food industry not to follow the same playbook as cigarette companies did starting in the 1950s. The food industry of today and the tobacco industry share strategies such as tarring opponents as 'fascists', distorting science and insisting that they do not promote overuse of their products, argue Kelly Brownell, Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, and Kenneth Warner, Dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Newswise, 10 March 2009 MILESTONESLook who has had a birthday recently... Willow McKay, Anna Cossey, Stefan Lindsay, Dawn Acker, Kate Matthews, Belinda Keenan and Sharon Ponniah! QUOTABLE QUOTES"Everything, from the gayest comedy to the most sinister tragedy can be expressed by a cigarette, in the hands or mouth of a skilful actor." 1950s public relations pioneer, Edward Bernays, in a memo to film producers, "It's difficult to see how Mr Lees-Galloway's proposal would impinge on a smoker's right to purchase tobacco if they so chose. While Chairman of Association of Convenience Stores, Roger Bull, contends there is "no evidence" to demonstrate moving the displays out of sight will make any difference, common sense suggests otherwise. Why does Mr Bull think tobacco companies demand their products be displayed so prominently in the first place? Is it because the tobacco companies have gathered plenty of their own evidence telling them the more prominently they are displayed, the more they will sell perhaps?" Michael Cummings, Deputy Editor,
"Outlawing tobacco displays is sensible", "The industry can't have it both ways. They can't simultaneously claim that removing tobacco displays will have no impact on tobacco consumption levels, while claiming that profits will drastically fall." Michael Colhoun, ASH NZ Communications Manager |
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A
first term MP will try to introduce legislation aimed at banning tobacco displays in shops after the Government said it would not impose a ban.
Palmerston North's new Member of Parliament, Iain Lees-Galloway, is set to take centre stage in the country's great smoking debate.
George Thomson, Nick Wilson, Deepa Weerasekera, Richard Edwards
"One in four people in the UK still smoke, even though they know it will reduce their quality of life and raise the risk of premature death. The figure is only a fraction of the one in two of the population who inhaled regularly when smoking reached its peak popularity in the 1950s. But while seven out of 10 of today's smokers want to stop, the rate of decline has flattened in the past decade, revealing a core of hardened smokers who cannot or will not quit. Are they just plain stupid?"
Where
possible, links are provided below the stories. Please click these to read the
story in full.
Opotiki residents are either smoking less or taking their cigarettes in private, a recent clean-up of public parks suggests.
Amid stories of a split in the British cabinet over plans to ban tobacco displays in retail outlets,
The Guardian reports that a tobacco industry spokesperson has been using the decision by the New Zealand government not to ban displays, to try to influence Peter Mandelson, the British business secretary.
China and India are the world's biggest tobacco users, according to new research which highlights concerns about increasing death rates in developing countries and smoking by women.
The Tasmanian government has taken a new tack with an anti-smoking advertising campaign.