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"Buy one get one free" deals on unhealthy food will be banned as part of the government's bid to tackle obesity in England. The plan also includes restrictions on where foods high in fat and sugar can be promoted in-store and new rules for displaying calories on menus.
A ban on junk food adverts before 21:00 has been confirmed - for the whole UK. The prime minister has unveiled the strategy amid growing evidence of a link between obesity and an increased risk from COVID-19. Labelling of calories on menus will apply to any restaurant, café, or takeaway chain with more than 250 employees, and another new consultation will be launched around plans to provide the same information for alcoholic drinks.
Boris Johnson said the plans would help "reduce our health risks and protect ourselves against coronavirus". The prime minister has unveiled the strategy amid growing evidence of a link between obesity and an increased risk from Covid-19. Government statistics showed nearly 8% of critically ill patients in intensive care units with the virus have been morbidly obese, compared with 2.9% of the general population.
The other measures being taken are:
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A national campaign to help people lose weight and eat more healthily after the "wake-up call" of coronavirus
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A consultation on whether to stop fast food adverts online altogether
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A review of traffic light labelling on food and drinks sold in shops
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A consultation on making calories labelling on alcohol drinks mandatory
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Greater incentives for GPs to tackle excess weight, including the use of apps and exercise-on-referral
The move marks a change in stance by the prime minister, who has previously criticised levies on foods high in salt, fat, and sugar - and described his views on tackling obesity as "libertarian". But Mr Johnson's experience in intensive care during his treatment for COVID-19 is thought to have contributed to his changing position.
Most of the proposals were first set out in a policy paper in 2018 and put out to consultation before getting stalled. The key is how businesses react this time, having previously been against the measures. The Food and Drink Federation has again given a hostile response. In contrast, a doyen of the advertising industry Sir John Hegarty has come out in favour of a ban on TV ads of unhealthy food before the 9 pm watershed. He said there was a growing health crisis.
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Crime gangs are making millions by smuggling menthol cigarettes to undermine an EU ban which came into effect on 20 May 2020. The ban was introduced as a measure to deter young people from taking up smoking. But these menthol cigarettes can be produced legally by firms outside the EU.
Test purchases reveal shopkeepers in the UK are selling eastern European brands like Fest, NZ, Minsk, and Queen under the counter. Packs sell for around £3.50, but they cost as little as 17p where they are made in Belarus, just over the border from Poland.
Border officials in neighbouring Lithuania seized nine million menthols on their way to the UK in the first six months of this year alone. The figure is three times more than they confiscated in the same period of each of the three preceding years. They are smuggled in lorries purportedly containing timber, furniture, sunflower seeds and even sliced bread and garden bark chippings.
Former Scotland Yard detective Will O’Reilly, a consultant on the illegal cigarette trade, said: “Historically we know that the organized criminal groups will try to exploit any ban. There have been a number of seizures of illicit white menthols since the ban.”
Mr O’Reilly test purchase found it was easy to buy them in shops in Peterborough and from the internet.
Source: Mirror.co.uk, 25 July 2020
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People with chronic coughs feel stigmatised because they fear others are worried, they have or may transmit coronavirus, experts suggest. Since late March, researchers at the University of Swansea have conducted monthly repeat focus groups to gauge how social behaviours have changed since the lockdown began.
According to the study, which involves 57 volunteers from across the U, Smokers with long-term coughs and hay fever sufferers reported feeling anxious when coughing or sneezing while out shopping, as members of the public “looked concerned”.
This fear of judgement resulted in some people staying at home or suppressing coughs in large crowds.
Dr Simon Williams, a co-author of the study, said: “One of the themes of the research is how innocuous behaviours like sneezing and coughing have taken on new meanings. We focused on stigma and how people in public spaces were quite fearful of others’ reactions. It would lead to verbal exchanges about keeping social distancing on many occasions.”
This follows a YouGov survey for charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), which suggests more than one million people have given up smoking since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Of which 41% saying it was in direct response to coronavirus. A public health campaign - Today is the Day- is now being launched to encourage more people to quit.
Hazel Cheeseman, Director of Policy at ASH, said: “The cough smokers might be perceived by others as a potential source of contagion for a deadly disease, but in reality, it’s more likely to be a sign of a debilitating illness affecting the smoker. What is called a ‘smokers cough’ is generally a sign of COPD or other illnesses such as lung cancer.”
Source: The Telegraph, 25 July 2020
See also: Today is the day
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The pub sector has welcomed the passage of the Business and Planning Bill, which has introduced measures to make it easier for businesses to use outside spaces. The process of applying for pavement licences will be sped up by the Bill, which enables local authorities to delegate decisions to subcommittees and council officials. It has now passed through Parliament after an amendment to adjust smoking guidance for venues, and it will cost no more than £100.
Gareth Hughes licensing and planning barrister at Keystone Law said the Bill commits local authorities to take into consideration the needs of disabled people when considering whether to issue a pavement license. Hughes added: Non-smoking areas will also need to be provided by businesses that are granted pavement licenses. Whether this makes any difference to non-smokers remains to be seen.”
The Bill also implements an off-sales curfew of 11 pm which means any new permissions will not allow the sale of alcohol for consumption in outdoor areas of the premises that are already restricted by the premises licence. Kate Nicholls, UK Hospitality chief executive said the body looked forward to working with local authorities to ensure businesses could use these new permissions successfully.
Source: Morning Advertiser, 24 July 2020
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How some of the world's most powerful interests made us doubt the connection between smoking and cancer, and then how the same tactics were used to make us doubt climate change.
Ten 15-minute programmes on radio 4 at 13.45 each day starting today (27 July 2020). Two omnibus editions available on Friday 31 July and Friday 7 August at 21.00.
Source: BBC Radio 4, 2020
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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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