ENEWS:UK:Monarch stubs out tobacco warrant

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Monarch stubs out tobacco warrant
by The Independent (572) 
Date: Monday, 2/8/99

Anti-smoking campaigners yesterday applauded the Queen for withdrawing the
royal warrant from Gallaher, the largest producer of cigarettes for the UK
market. The Weybridge-based company produces Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut and
Hamlet cigars.

The royal warrant was the ultimate product endorsement and its retraction
was long overdue, said Clive Bates, director of Action on Smoking and
Health.

"We're delighted. There is nothing better than the Queen lending her coat
of arms to your product. I can't pretend that it's going to stop smoking
but it is another blow to tobacco companies." 

The move was also welcomed by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Fiona
Castle said she had written to the Queen to plead with her to withdraw
support for Britain's tobacco companies. 

"It was inappropriate in this enlightened age that she was seen to be
supporting tobacco companies by allowing them the royal warrant. This is a
great step forward,"

Ray Donnelly, the organisation's founder and medical director, said the
decision indicated the Palace had finally fallen in line with majority
opinion in the country.

"When the highest authority in the land appeared to approve of cigarettes
it left us with our hands tied . in the battle to stop young people
smoking," he said. 

Gallaher's corporate-affairs manager, Jeff Jeffery, said granting the
royal warrant was "a matter for the royal household. Beyond that we do not
want to comment." 

Smoking causes the premature deaths of 120,000 people in Britain each
year. An estimated 12 million Britons smoke, amounting to 28 per cent of
the population. At the end of the Second World War more than 80 per cent
of British men smoked, said Peter McCabe, chief executive of Quit, which
helps people to stop. 

Quitline can be contacted on 0800 002200.