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** 3 April 2024
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** UK
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** Vaping increases risk of heart failure, researchers find (#1)
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** ITV News Tynes Tees segment on vaping (#0)
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** Sunderland Council considers introducing minimum alcohol price (#2)
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** Readers reply: why are Britain’s rules around advertising alcohol and tobacco so different? (#3)
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** UK
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** Vaping increases risk of heart failure, researchers find
Vaping can increase the risk of developing heart failure, a study has suggested.
Researchers tracked 175,000 adults in the United States, finding that those who use e-cigarettes were 19 per cent more likely to develop heart failure over a four-year period.
This increased risk was calculated after adjusting for other factors that can cause the condition, such as whether the participants smoked tobacco or were obese.
The new research is observational, and therefore cannot prove cause and effect. It involved 175,667 US adults, who had an average age of 52, and 3,242 of them developed heart failure over the four-year follow-up period.
Dr Yakubu Bene-Alhasan, lead author of the new study, from MedStar Health in Baltimore, said: “More and more studies are linking e-cigarettes to harmful effects and finding that it might not be as safe as previously thought.
The study, presented on Tuesday at an American College of Cardiology meeting, provides the most conclusive evidence yet that vaping may cause heart failure — an incurable condition when the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly.
Source: The Times, 2 April 2024
Editorial Comment: Despite the body of the article stating clearly that “The new research is observational, and therefore cannot prove cause and effect.”, the headline used by the Times implies causality “Vaping increases risk of heart failure, researchers find”. Furthermore this is news coverage of a press release for a conference paper not a peer reviewed publication which is not due to be presented by Dr Yakubu Bene-Alhasan until Sunday 7th April and so is not available for scrutiny.
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** ITV News Tynes Tees segment on vaping
Ex smoker Claire Oldfield and ASH CEO Deborah Arnott are interviewed on ITV Tynes Tees News about the potential tax on e-liquids in vaping products. Claire tells the program how vaping was central to her quitting smoking and feels it is important vapes remain accessible. Deborah Arnott highlights the problem of cheap vapes available at pocket money prices and argues that prices need to be sufficient to discourage children and that more needs to be done to ensure vapes are recycled.
Timestamp for segment 0:12:23
Source: ITV News, 2 April 2024
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** Sunderland Council considers introducing minimum alcohol price
Health experts say minimum price policies, such as those already in place in Scotland and Wales, can help to tackle the impact of alcohol-related issues.
Sunderland City Council has launched a public consultation after being urged by its public health team to look at implementing a minimum price locally.
If introduced, a baseline price at which a unit of alcohol can be sold would be set under the terms of the Licensing Act.
Similar policies have already been adopted by some English cities, including Durham.
Sunderland's principal licensing officer Dawn Howley said evidence from Scotland, where the policy was introduced in 2018, showed a minimum price can help with alcohol-related problems.
The council also agreed to consult the public on proposals to implement a "cumulative impact assessment", which could limit the number of licensed premises in an area.
If introduced, the measure could be used where the density of licensed businesses has a negative affect on licensing objectives, such as the prevention of crime and public nuisance and child protection.
Council reports, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, said the proposals were put forward "to minimise the adverse impact of alcohol on the health of local people and the resulting demand for health services."
Source: BBC News, 2 April 2024
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** Readers reply: why are Britain’s rules around advertising alcohol and tobacco so different?
Why is alcohol advertised openly in the UK, without pictures on the packaging highlighting the medical effects, for example, when tobacco is treated so differently? This question was posed to readers of the Guardian, below are some of their responses.
Karris said: “Alcohol is a mood-altering drug, tobacco is not. How much Saturday night violence is caused by intoxication? How much does it cost to police the thousands of drunken incidents? How many NHS staff have to put up with drunks every night in A&E? How many people are killed by drunk drivers?”
Ledicko said: “World Health Organization advice now states that even one alcoholic drink a week increases your risk of seven types of cancer. There are risks in many things we choose to do, but we must stop believing that any level of alcohol consumption is risk-free much less beneficial.
EBGB said: “Alcohol in moderation can be lovely, but it’s never good for you biologically. I work in the wine industry and I’d cheerfully see paid advertising for it banned.”
Socialismnow said: “I only watch television when I’m stuck in a hotel with nothing better to do, so what to other people may seem a gradual change is for me accelerated: the shift of TV advertising from tobacco to gambling. There isn’t even tobacco advertising at Formula One or in football stadiums, but gambling advertising is ubiquitous, during sports programmes and between them.”
RevGreen said: Yet again, like gambling, pretty much every comment about alcohol focuses on people who overdo it. What about the vast majority, who enjoy a few relaxing or convivial drinks? Should car adverts be banned because some people drive recklessly?”
LorLala said: I’d say it’s cultural. Alcohol causes endless suffering for many, including (or maybe especially) those who don’t drink. People often minimise the harm it does, but it’s a damaging drug, far more harmful than some illegal drugs. It’s totally illogical.
Source: The Guardian, 31 March 2024
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