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Final in-terminal smoking area in Northern Ireland closes at Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport has shut down its airside smoking area, citing persistent vandalism, making it the last airport in Northern Ireland to remove such facilities. Smoking will now only be permitted in designated outdoor areas at the airport. Cancer Focus NI commended the decision, calling it a positive step towards safeguarding workers' health and encouraging smokers to consider alternatives like nicotine replacement products.
Source: BBC News, 22 January 2025
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New Hartlepool service aims to boost support for smokers wanting to quit
A new community-based stop smoking service has launched in Hartlepool, offering personalised support for residents and workers aiming to quit. Commissioned by Hartlepool Borough Council, the service is delivered by the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust alongside local GP federation Hartlepool and Stockton Health. The programme includes tailored 12-week plans with options for nicotine replacement therapy, e-cigarettes, face-to-face clinics, phone consultations, workplace support, and home visits for housebound individuals.
Source: Hartlepool Mail, 24 January 2025
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Shop fined for illegal cigarette sales after hidden stash discovered
A shop owner has been fined £12,000 after Trading Standards uncovered nearly 5,000 counterfeit cigarettes and over a kilogram of illegal hand-rolling tobacco hidden in a concealed compartment within the store. The sophisticated storage system, revealed using a detection dog during a raid, was operated by an electromagnetic device under the shop counter. Despite an earlier raid in 2021, the owner continued selling illicit tobacco, which was confirmed through test purchases in 2021 and 2022.
Source: BBC News, 23 January 2025
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Israel's smoking epidemic claims 8,000 lives annually
The Israeli Health Ministry has raised alarm over the rising smoking epidemic, which is responsible for around 8,000 deaths every year, including 10% caused by second-hand smoke exposure. With 23% of the adult population smoking daily, the country’s smoking rate surpasses the OECD average. The ministry is pushing for stronger regulations on smoking products and public awareness, particularly targeting the accessibility of nicotine and tobacco products to teenagers. Efforts are underway to offer support to those looking to quit smoking.
Source: Times of Israel, 22 January 2025
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Written Questions
Asked by Tristan Osborne, Labour, Chatham and Aylesford
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities will be resuming the annual evidence reviews on tobacco-based products previously undertaken by Public Health England.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Gorton and Denton
Public Health England did not previously publish annual evidence reviews on tobacco-based products. However, Public Health England did publish a series of reports on nicotine vaping products over 10 years. They are available at the following link.
These reports aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool. Heated tobacco products were also assessed in two of the reports. The final report in the commission was published in 2022, and is available at the following link.
The Department continues to monitor emerging data, and we are working closely with stakeholders and experts, including internationally, to ensure we are researching the long-term health impacts of vaping. We are exploring additional research and will set out plans in due course.
Source: Hansard, 23 January 2025
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Webpage update: The economic impact of smoking
The Action on Smoking and Health webpage on the economic impact of smoking has been updated. This page sets out the key costs of smoking to society and provides a short explanation of how these are assessed. All of these figures are taken from our latest economic modelling published earlier this month and cited in the new Ready Reckoner. The webpage covers the following key figures and topics:
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Total cost to society in England (£43.7bn)
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Cost to the public finances in England (£16.5bn)
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Benefits to public finances when smoking rates fall (£799m)
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Cost of early deaths due to smoking (£34.6bn)
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Cost to people who smoke and their families
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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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