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** 4 July 2024
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** UK
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** Opinion: Securing the smoke-free generation (#1)
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** Keir Starmer accepted £76,000 of freebies including tickets to over 20 football games (#5)
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** International
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** Shock, out of stock and secret supplies: what we found when we tried to buy vapes in Australia (#2)
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** Beach smoking ban among options in tobacco survey (#4)
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** UK
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** Opinion: Securing the smoke-free generation

Writing in the BMJ, Greg Hartwell, clinical assistant professor, Allen WA Gallagher, research fellow, May CI van Schalkwyk, honorary research fellow and Martin McKee, professor of European Public Health discuss the smokefree generation legislation and what can be done to ensure it is quickly re-adopted by an incoming government.

The authors write that, despite the efforts of the tobacco industry and almost half of Conservative MPs voting against or abstaining from voting, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill passed second reading with an “overwhelming majority”. The authors highlight the tobacco industry’s long track record of seeking to “defeat, weaken, or delay ” any measures that threaten their profits. The calling of an early general election delayed the Bill, although the Conservatives have pledged to bring it back in the King’s speech whilst Labour have committed to “ensuring the next generation can legally never buy cigarettes”.

The authors write that the public health community needs to be aware of industry tactics and arguments. In the case of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, this included threatening legal action, attempting to lobby the government and claiming that the policy was not support by the evidence.

The authors recommend three key rationales that the health community should promote to ensure the legislation’s speedy return.

Firstly, they say supporters should emphasise that the legislation has public support. Polling reveals that 67% of the general public back the legislation, compared to just 14% opposing.

Secondly, the authors state that the health and economic toll of smoking are enormous and that an incoming government who will be facing financial challenges should be motivated to reduce the “annual £17 billion cost of smoking to the exchequer” that smoking causes.

Thirdly, the authors point to the government’s command paper which says “tobacco use is the world’s single most preventable cause of death and disease” and is a significant driver of health inequalities. Because of this, even small delays in the adopting of the Bill will have a disproportionate growth in health inequalities at a time where life expectancy has already stagnated and poor health is holding back economic growth.

Concluding, the authors write that following the election health professionals should use “any, and all, opportunities to ensure that the smoke-free generation policy is restored” and that because the bill is already drafted and is popular amongst the public it could be a quick government win.

Source: The BMJ, 28 June 2024

See also: DHSC – Stopping the start: our new plan to create a smokefree generation ([link removed])
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** Keir Starmer accepted £76,000 of freebies including tickets to over 20 football games

Sir Keir Starmer accepted £76,000 worth of entertainment, clothes and similar freebies from UK donors since the 2019 general election, more than almost any other MP, according to research by the Financial Times.

The Labour leader took “gifts, benefits and hospitality” spanning concerts, parties, sport games, hotel stays and clothing during the last parliament, including more than 20 free tickets to see football matches.

Starmer, who is on course to become prime minister after the general election on Thursday, has vowed to “return politics to public service” after what he has characterised as years of Conservative sleaze.

MPs have to declare gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources to the House of Commons register of interests. The benefits section of the register groups together gifts, such as tickets, with other categories of expense. It excludes international travel.

Asked generally about his use of freebies on Monday, Starmer said the transparency of the register meant that “everybody . . . can see who donated, what it was for, and how much it is, so you can ensure there’s no conflict of interest, as I would ensure there’s no conflict of interest.”

Steve Goodrich, head of research and investigations at Transparency International, said that “parliamentarians should ask themselves why they’re being indulged so generously, and what the hidden price tag may be, before accepting such gifts”.

The MP who came closest to Starmer in terms of entertainment benefits was Laurence Robertson, a Tory MP who received more than £40,000 in days out from the racing and betting industries since 2019.

The Betting and Gaming Council, for which Robertson has also worked, threw him a £2,300 reception to mark his birthday.

Starmer became Labour leader in April 2020. His relaxed approach to free events is in contrast to his two predecessors heading Labour in opposition since 2010.

Source: The Financial Times, 1 July 2024
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** International
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** Shock, out of stock and secret supplies: what we found when we tried to buy vapes in Australia

“No ban. We keep selling.”

That was the refrain from a cashier at a convenience store in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick West on the day the so-called world’s toughest vape laws took effect.

It was hard to see how the new law had changed anything in the shop. Multiple lists of flavoured nicotine vape products were on clear display in the middle of the store. And the cashier seemed genuinely confused by the reforms.

From 1 July all non-pharmacy retailers including tobacconists, vape shops, and convenience stores were banned from selling vaping accessories and devices. Suppliers face more rigorous enforcement and increased penalties, including jail time, for flouting the reforms.

Retailers have known about the reforms since November 2023 and were granted a transition period to run down supply and prepare for 1 July. But Guardian Australia reporters were able to easily buy vapes from convenience and tobacco stores in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide after the laws kicked in.

Some store owners said they did not sell vapes any longer, or were out of stock and unclear as to whether they would restock supply.

The president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Associate Prof Fei Sim, said some consumers were confused by the reforms. She had received reports that customers had been asking pharmacists for vapes over the counter.

This is because in order to get the support in the Senate needed to pass the reforms into law, the government reached a last-minute deal with the Greens to abandon the prescription model and make vapes available from pharmacists over the counter.

To give pharmacists enough time to prepare, the original prescription model is now in place. In October, pharmacists will switch to the over-the-counter model.

“Pharmacies are not vape shops or convenience stores,” Sim said.

“Pharmacists are healthcare professionals and people need to understand that to meet their ethical obligations, from October the pharmacist will need to have a conversation with the patient to establish a therapeutic need for a vape, just like with any other medicines.

“The pharmacist will need to assist them when it comes to their nicotine dependence management journey, and be satisfied it is clinically appropriate to supply the vape.”

She said it was important for customers to realise they “are not going to be able to access vapes in the same way” or with the same ease from pharmacists as other retailers.

Source: The Guardian, 1 July 2024
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** Beach smoking ban among options in tobacco survey

People in Guernsey are being asked for their views on how to cut smoking rates in the Bailiwick.

Smoking bans on beaches, public parks and children's playgrounds are among the ideas the public has been asked to comment on, as part of a public survey launched by the Health Improvement Commission (HIC).

Guernsey has set a short-term goal of reducing smoking rates to less than 10% by 2028, but this will need new tobacco control policies, the commission said.

The commission said the policies included in the survey were "only potential options" and none had been "proposed, planned or agreed on" by the States.

Other policies in the survey included increasing the smoking age to 21, incrementally increasing the smoking age year-on-year, and banning tobacco sales on certain parts of the islands.

The policies it selected were "already in place" or being considered in other countries, it said.

Lucy Cave, the commission's tobacco harm reduction officer, said smoking rates had "plateaued" so "bold measures" were needed to reduce them further.

The commission said the results of the survey would be fed back to Public Health "to help support evidence-based decision making about future tobacco control policy" and would be publicly reported.

Dr Nicola Brink, director of public health, said islanders' views were "so important in informing what we should be doing."

The survey, which was launched on Thursday, is open to anyone who lives in the Bailiwick and is 18 or older.

Source: The BBC, 4 July 2024
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.

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