European Bulletin 19th October 1998

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

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  EUROPEAN NEWS BULLETIN - EU9838 19TH OCTOBER 1998
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CONTENTS:

EUROPE

NORWAY: Violations of tobacco act.
UK: Blair hires Clarke to boost trade links. 
UK: Christmas crackdown on smuggling.

INTERNATIONAL:

CHINA: FIA samples the Far East market.
INDIA: India's welcome to foreign tobacco giants prompts criticism. 
USA: Poll shows Americans avoid smoky bars, lounges. 
USA: Tobacco companies secret attack on President Clinton.

EUROPE - SPECIFIC COUNTRIES

NORWAY: Violations of tobacco act.
The  new  tobacco  act,  that  came  into  force in Norway nine months ago,
suffers from repeated violations across the whole country. Many restaurants
ignore the act, which calls for the owners to provide non-smoking zones and
make sure that guests do not smoke in these zones.  Pubs and night clubs in
larger cities are the worst in this respect. The main reason why the law is
being ignored is the requirement to install costly ventilation equipment.
Municipalities that are responsible for ensuring that restaurants abide by
the rules, often lack capacity to carry out the controls.  A number of pubs
and night clubs complain that many of their younger guests just ignore the
no-smoking rules.
Source: Information Access Company 04/10/98

UK: Blair hires Clarke to boost trade links.
Tony Blair has given a job to former Tory Chancellor Kenneth Clarke, to help
promote trade with Mexico. Mr Clarke will act as co-ordinator of the
British-Mexican Business Network. Mr Clarke is deputy chairman of British
American Tobacco which has investments worth $1.7 billion in Mexico. The
trade initiative was announced on the 15th October by Mr Blair and Mexico's
President Zedillo, who is on a four day state visit to the UK.
Source: Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Times, The Sun 16/10/98

UK: Christmas crackdown on smuggling.
In the run up to Christmas Customs & Excise officers will launch a major
crackdown on retailers who sell smuggled tobacco and alcohol.  Operation
"Mistletoe" will involve repeated raids against retail outlets as well as
the gangs of smugglers.
Source: The Independent 12/10/98

INTERNATIONAL

CHINA: FIA samples the Far East market.
China and Malaysia are set to stage Formula One Grand Prix races next year,
according to a provisional calendar released yesterday by the FIA, the
international governing body for motor sport. China will host the second
race of the season at Zhuhai on March 21 while a Malaysian Grand Prix is
scheduled for October 17. The move to establish Grand Prix races in the Far
East is in response to restrictions to tobacco sponsorship in Europe.
Source: Daily Telegraph,  The Times 16/10/98

INDIA: India's welcome to foreign tobacco giants prompts criticism.
Concern is growing over India's decision to allow foreign investors to have
full ownership of cigarette-manufacturing subsidiaries created in India.
India is the world's third largest producer of tobacco, and this makes the
Indian market highly attractive to the cigarette companies.
Source: The Lancet 10/10/98

USA: Poll shows Americans avoid smoky bars, lounges.
A recent survey revealed that more than half of Americans regularly avoid
places where the smell of cigarette smoke lingers. Over seventy percent of
those who avoid smoke-filled places said they stay away from bars and
lounges, and fifty nine percent said they avoid night-clubs and homes of
smokers.
Source: SCARC Bulletin 13/10/98

USA: Tobacco companies secret attack on President Clinton.
An investigation by The Observer claims that the campaign to impeach
President Clinton has been orchestrated by the big tobacco companies,
pointing out that most of the key political and judicial actions have been
initiated by their Republicans from North Carolina, the major tobacco state.
Source: The Observer 11/10/98

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