ASH Daily News for 26 June 2008

Smoking ban supported by majority of licensees

Despite the majority of licensees losing cash because of the smoking ban, a poll has found that more and more are supporting the measure. 

The 1,500 licensees quizzed by CGA Strategy were asked if they still supported the smoking ban. Sixty four per cent answered yes - an increase of seven per cent from the 57 per cent who said they supported the ban from the start.

Nearly half of those quizzed – 48 per cent – said they ‘strongly’ supported the ban.

Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers’ Associations, said he was not surprised by the level of support shown.

He said: “We saw the same thing in Ireland. After people got over the initial problems it was seen as the best thing that ever happened.”

The survey also revealed that 65 per cent of licensees would not overturn the ban if they had the power to do so. The other 35 per cent said licensees should have the power to make the decision and that if they did they would allow smoking.

Paul Smith, executive director of Noctis which represents late-night operators, said: “There are plenty of people who saw the ban as an opportunity as well as those who saw it as a threat."

“Like most bans it was generally seen as unpopular at first but now it is here people are working with it.”

Andy Brooks, licensee of the Laughing Fish in Isfield, East Sussex said that the ban has benefited his business.

“Because we serve good quality food there is no question that people who would not come here before the ban are now considering the pub as a place to eat."

“The ban has most definitely had a positive impact and I think to go back would be a retrograde step.”

Chris Maclean, licensee of The Railway Hotel, in Faversham, Kent, added: “We have all had to do it and the reality is that it was not as damaging as first suggested. In fact the reality is that it is much nicer to run a pub without smoking.”

Source: The Publican, 26 June 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/5oxmbu

Cancer and tobacco are growing health concerns in Africa

The health care sector gathered with tobacco control and other nongovernmental organisations in Johannesburg to discuss Africa's growing cancer and tobacco crisis.

This first ever summit was convened in order to address ways in which journalists can communicate life saving messages about cancer, and tobacco-related deaths.

Speakers included the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), the World Health Organization, the National Council Against Smoking, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, and the American Cancer Society. 

Dr Twalib Ngoma, president of AORTIC said, "Cancer and tobacco control are growing problems in Africa. They need to be firmly on the health agendas in the African continent. If we don't do something now, we will have an epidemic in 2030 that we can prevent today." He hoped the media summit would lead to journalists joining the fight against cancer by raising awareness about cancer among the public, and policy makers and health professionals.

Lillian Dube, a well-known South African actress and guest speaker at the summit addressed the media, "When I was diagnosed with cancer, I thought it was a death sentence. I soon learned that there are many myths that surround this disease and cancer is still not talked about openly. But through all the support I received, it became clear that my life was not over and that one can survive cancer."

In response to a question on the success factor regarding today's event, Greg Donaldson, national vice president, at the American Cancer Society commented, "In a part of the world where infectious disease naturally attracts an enormous amount of attention, the story of cancer remains untold. The hopeful side of the cancer story has never been more positive; however, without increased awareness of the issues we will never be able to fully address the challenges presented. We are excited by the interest that this group of Pan-African journalists has shown at the event and look forward to ongoing input from all parties."

Source: News-Medical.Net, 25 June 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/55cjpq

In-hospital offer helps lung patients quit smoking

Researchers from Denmark report that long-term smokers offered a smoking cessation programme when they were hospitalised for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease problems were more than twice as likely to be non-smokers one year later than those not offered a smoking cessation programme.

Anders Borglykke said, "Smoking cessation will slow down this process and should therefore be thought of as a treatment in the patients still smoking."

Borglykke, a PhD student from the Research Centre for Prevention and Health at Glostrup University Hospital, and colleagues assessed smoking cessation rates among 121 patients offered participation in a nurse-led smoking cessation programme. The 5 week program included behavioural modification and nicotine replacement if needed.

The investigators compared 1-year smoking abstention rates in the intervention group and in a comparison control group of 102 patients given only standard information on the benefits of not smoking.

The researchers report in The Clinical Respiratory Journal that the study participants were 66 years old on average and had smoked for an average of 48 years.

Of the patients offered the smoking cessation programme, 30 percent had stopped smoking after one year. By contrast, 13 percent of those not offered a smoking cessation programme were not smoking at the same time.

Patients in the intervention group also reported more improvement in cough, phlegm, shortness of breath and overall health and quality of life than those not offered smoking cessation, Borglykke and colleagues report.

During the subsequent 5 years, the intervention group had fewer COPD-related hospital admissions and spent fewer days hospitalised for COPD problems than patients in the control group who were not offered a cessation programme.

The researchers conclude, "This study, done in a real-life setting, shows that promising results can be obtained from a hospital-based initiative among smokers with COPD."

Source: Reuters News, 24 June 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/5cvy92

USA: Cancer warning on cigarettes

The Federal Trade Commission announced its decision to require all tobacco companies to indicate on cigarette packages and in their advertising the health hazards associated with smoking.

There is considerable doubt whether the commission has the power to impose such rules without new legislation. Several members of the House Commerce Committee clearly indicated that they too believe this to be the case.

Mr Dixon, Commission Chairman, told the committee that no tobacco company would be compelled to follow the rule since they could take the matter to court and seek a review. But the tobacco companies will bring great pressure to prevent Congress from passing any laws to legalise the rule. Mr Dixon did not indicate the precise wording of the proposed warning beyond saying that it should indicate that "cigarette smoking is dangerous to health and may cause death from cancer and other diseases."

The commission's proposal, which followed a report by the Surgeon-General's group linking certain ailments with smoking, has been strongly opposed by the US tobacco industry. Governor Sanford of North Carolina, the biggest tobacco state, has announced that the state will challenge the commission's ruling in court. Senator Everett Jordan, Democrat of North Carolina, arranged today to meet leaders of the tobacco industry.

He said: "We are going to use several approaches to get the order set aside, including the Federal Courts, Congress and the executive branch of the government."

Source: The Guardian, 25 June 2008  
Link: http://tinyurl.com/6qpzqn