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More than 1m illegal cigarettes were found in the North East last year - and trading standards want you to help them find more
At least one million illegal cigarettes were seized across the North East last year, according to new figures from trading standards.
In response, health campaigners across the region have joined forces with trading standards and the police to renew a campaign urging more to be done to tackle the issue. Illegal tobacco constitutes 11% of the market in the North East region.
Campaign group Fresh have highlighted how "cheap, illegal" tobacco contributes to health inequalities.
The renewed Keep It Out campaign is asking members of the public to report illegal tobacco to the authorities and help get it off the streets.
Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh, said: "We know that two thirds of long term smokers will die from smoking, regardless of where they buy their tobacco, how much they pay for it or whether they smoke cigarettes or roll-ups. But cheap, illegal tobacco keeps smokers smoking, gets kids hooked and makes health inequalities even worse, which is the last thing we need right now. Dealers in illegal tobacco are linked to all kinds of criminal activity and really don’t care if local children buy it."
Ms Rutter has called for measures such as the introduction of tobacco licensing - like alcohol licensing - to be brought in, so that anyone found selling illegal goods could have their license removed.
"No-one wants local criminals profiting from addiction or kids getting hooked which is why so many people are choosing to report where illegal sales are taking place. Increasing tobacco prices is the most effective way of preventing children starting to smoke and to encourage smokers to quit", Ms Rutter concluded.
Source: Chronicle Live, 4 August 2022
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London Underground: TfL junk food ad restrictions "lead to fewer obesity cases"
Transport for London's (TfL) junk food advertising restrictions have prevented almost 100,000 obesity cases, research suggests. The policy, which has been in place since 2019, restricts the advertisement of foods that are high in calories from sugar and fat or high in salt.
Researchers estimate the TfL policy has directly led to 94,867 fewer cases of obesity than expected (a 4.8% decrease), 2,857 fewer cases of diabetes, and 1,915 fewer cases of cardiovascular disease. The analysis from the University of Sheffield and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) estimated the policy would save the NHS £218 million over the lifetime of the current population.
Academics assessed the effect of the policy by observing what consumers purchased in their weekly food shops via surveys and comparing trends in London to a control group of households outside of London where there were no restrictions on advertising in place.
The researchers said their findings show the policy has had the biggest impacts on people from deprived areas in preventing health conditions.
Dr Chloe Thomas, first author of the study from the University of Sheffield’s School of Health and Related Research, said: “We all know how persuasive and powerful advertising can be in influencing what we buy – especially the food we eat.”
“Our study has shown what an important tool advertising restrictions can be in order to help people lead healthier lives without costing them more money.”
“We hope that demonstrating the policy’s significant benefits in preventing obesity and the diseases exacerbated by obesity will lead to it being rolled out on a national scale.”
Source: My London, 2 August 2022
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Doctors slam Liz Truss plan to scrap ban on junk food "buy one get one free" offers as childhood obesity soars
Doctors have heavily criticised Liz Truss over her pledge to scrap a ban on junk food promotions in England, labelling the prime ministerial candidate’s comments “unbelievable” and “hugely disappointing”.
Ms Truss, currently the frontrunner in the Tory leadership contest, promised to abolish plans to ban “buy one, get one free” offers on food and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt in an interview with the Daily Mail on Monday, 1 August.
Almost one in four state school pupils now leave primary school obese or severely obese according to NHS Digital figures.
The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents UK doctors, said “lives are at risk”, adding it was worried the next government would continue “to place business profits before the health of our children”.
Professor Graham MacGregor, chair of Queen Mary University’s Action on Sugar and Action on Salt campaign groups, said policies such as the ban on junk food offers were needed to “prevent unnecessary death and suffering” and save the NHS millions of pounds.
In 2018, the Government launched a plan to halve childhood obesity by the year 2030.
NHS Digital data shows one in five (20.1%) pupils were obese or severely obese during their last year of primary school in the 2017/18 school year, just before the Government set out its ambition. That number subsequently rose for three consecutive years, jumping to one in four (25.5%) in 2020/21, during the Covid pandemic. It fell to 23.5% in 2021/22, according to provisional figures, still the second highest proportion since records began in 2006/07.
Dr David Strain, chair of the board of science at the BMA, said it is “crucial” that the next prime minister tackles obesity with the urgent attention it needs: “As doctors we see first-hand every day how obesity is denying children and young people a healthy start in life. Obesity increases the risk of developing serious illnesses including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.” “The significant risk factor that obesity posed for becoming seriously ill or dying from Covid-19 shows we have ignored this issue for too long, at our peril. It is therefore hugely disappointing to hear plans from one of the candidates for prime minister to axe the new laws.”
Dr Strain concluded: “Lives are at risk here, and there is a real danger the next government continues to place business profits before the health of our children.”
Source: National World, 4 August 2022
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Tobacco giant’s cash for vapes scheme paused after backlash from Australian health experts
A controversial program that would have led to Australian pharmacists receiving $275 from Philip Morris when they order its VEEV vapes has been paused, amid growing concern about the ethics of the tobacco giant incentivising the sale and promotion of its products.
The scheme, first reported by News Corp, would have seen pharmacists receive $5 every time they dispense a new VEEV script, $10 for educating a new patient about the device, and $5 for referring patients to a doctor to obtain a prescription. Pharmacists would also receive a $275 payment for placing an initial stock order.
Following a backlash from doctors and health experts, the IT platform responsible for rolling out the scheme, PharmaPrograms, said the launch had been paused.
A Pharmaceutical Society of Australia spokesperson said pharmacists do not receive personal incentives to sell medicines: “Big tobacco’s attempt at financial kickbacks shows absolute contempt for pharmacists. Contempt for their integrity. Contempt for pharmacist’s professional and ethical obligation to put the health and wellbeing of their patients first. Multinational tobacco companies have no place in health care”.
The Medicines Australia chief executive, Elizabeth de Somer, said the organisation was a strong advocate for ethical behaviour and would not condone anything that inappropriately influenced patients.
“Prescription medicines are prohibited from being advertised directly to consumers and, in addition, our code also ensures pharmaceutical companies do not offer or provide any incentives that could inappropriately influence the prescribing of a particular product,” she said.
However, because Philip Morris is not a pharmacy company, it is not subject to the code.
“In addition to our code, any activity which involves patients to influence the prescribing and supply decisions of our healthcare professionals runs a high risk of contravening the Therapeutic Goods Act, which prohibits promotion of prescription medicines to consumers,” de Somer continued.
Source: The Guardian, 4 August 2022
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Western Australia targets vapes with misleading labels
Thousands of illegal vapes have been seized in Western Australia amid concerns young people are becoming addicted to nicotine.
More than 15,000 e-cigarettes, valued at more than $500,000, were confiscated from 32 retailers during a six-week WA Health crackdown.
Of the devices tested at Perth's ChemCentre, two thirds were found to contain nicotine, despite being otherwise labelled.
It is illegal in Australia to sell or purchase e-cigarettes containing nicotine unless they are obtained under a doctor's prescription.
Western Australia’s chief pharmacist Meeghan Clay says disposable vapes are often targeted at children and misleadingly labelled as containing zero nicotine.
Source: Daily Mail, 5 August 2022
See also: ASH - Use of e-cigarettes (vapes) among young people in Great Britain
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Parliamentary questions
PQ1 - Health: Males
Asked by Baroness Eaton, Conservative, Life peer
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to (1) ensuring men's health is made a ministerial priority, and (2) making improvements to men's health a specific strand of work within the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.
Answered by Lord Kamall, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences (Department of Health and Social Care)
Improving the health of both men and women is a ministerial priority for the Department. Evidence suggests that men are disproportionately affected by certain conditions, such as ischemic heart disease, are more likely to smoke or engage in other health harming behaviours and are more likely to die by suicide. We have committed to reduce stroke and heart attacks and the forthcoming publication of the new Tobacco Control Plan will target groups where smoking rates are not decreasing, including men. We are also investing in measures to prevent suicide.
While there are no current plans to make men\'s health a specific strand of work, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities aims to improve the health of the population regardless of socio-economic background or gender.
Source: Hansard, 1 August 2022
PQ2 - Health Services: Males
Asked by Lord Farmer, Conservative, Life peer.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made on the development of a Men\'s Health Strategy.
Answered by Lord Kamall, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences (Department of Health and Social Care)
Although the Department does not have any current plans to develop a men\'s health strategy, we have measures in place to address specific health issues which disproportionately affect men. This includes commitments in the NHS Long Term Plan to reduce stroke and heart attacks and the forthcoming new Tobacco Control Plan and significant investment in suicide prevention.
Source: Hansard, 4 August 2022
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University of Bristol - call for participants
The Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group at the University of Bristol are looking for 11–17-year-olds to complete a 20-minute online survey. Participants will be asked to look at pictures of e-liquids and answer some questions. This research is funded by Public Health England. As a thank you, participants can enter a prize draw for a 1 in 10 chance of winning a £20 or £50 shopping voucher.
Further information:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/psychology/research/brain/targ/participants/e_liquid_packaging/
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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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