[Intl-tobacco] Ireland: Martin planning to impose new anti-tobacco laws (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Martin planning to impose new anti-tobacco laws
Miche=E1l Martin hopes to cut the number of people smoking by a third, writ=
es=20
Alison O'Connor
by Alison O'Connor=20
Source: Irish Times, Thursday, 9/21/00

The new legislation on cigarette sales proposed by the Minister for Health
and Children represents a significant victory for anti-tobacco
campaigners.

The state of California has long been held up as the near perfect example
of everything that is anti-smoking. However, Californian legislators only
recently did away with billboard advertising for tobacco and it still
allows advertising in the print media. Point-of-sale advertising, and
cigarettes in shops deliberately placed at the eye level of young
children, is still legal.

While there is a greater social stigma attached to the dreaded weed in the
US, the regulations and controls promised by the Minister would put
Ireland to the "head of the class" internationally once they had passed
into law.

According to the Minister, Irish health statistics dictate a strict regime
is necessary. Each year 7,000 people die from smoking-related
complications and 2,000 die from lung cancer. The quality of life of
thousands more is affected through illness.  Mr Martin's aim is to reduce
the level of smoking from 31 per cent to 20 per cent in a 10-year period.
Smokers have the right to know what is in a tobacco product and the harm
it can do to them, he says.

The object of the legislation is to make cigarettes invisible, although
without interfering with their distribution. If the laws were passed,
customers would see a sign on entering a shop, which would inform them
that cigarettes are on sale and of the price.  However, packs of
cigarettes would not be on display where children could see them. The
traditional newsagent's backdrop of branded display units would end.

Self-service access to cigarette vending machines would be banned.
Machines such as those in pubs would have to be placed behind the counter,
to ensure children did not have access to them.

A system of registration for retailers will be introduced. It will feature
a form of licensing, with strict penalties for those selling cigarettes to
people under 18 (the age limit will be extended from 16 to 18). Retail
outlets could be removed from the register and tobacco firms could be
precluded from supplying that retailer.

The aim, according to the Minister, is to stop retailers selling
cigarettes to children. Surveys have shown 12-year-old children are
frequently sold cigarettes by shopkeepers. Introducing specific times of
the day when cigarettes may not be sold, such as the hours when local
schools finish for the day, are also being examined.

A ban on tobacco advertising in the media has been in place for some time
and from the beginning of this month foreign newspapers and publications
will be subject to a similar ban.  According to the Minister, a complete
ban on all forms of advertising is necessary because research indicates if
only a 50 per cent ban is imposed a 50 per cent reduction in sales is not
realised. The tobacco industry simply moves its campaigns to other media. =
=20
It also uses indirect advertising and devices such as branded lighters,
clothes or sponsorship. A ban on such methods is contemplated.

There is concern at the multimillion-pound sponsorship by the tobacco
industry of Formula One racing which is shown on RT=C9. The Minister was no=
t
pleased with the response from the RT=C9 Authority to his suggestion RT=C9
should use the technology available to block out the tobacco logos and
that the races should be shown late at night.

The Minister believes that as part of its responsibilities as a public
service broadcaster the station should not show tobacco advertisements.
The station's legal advice is supportive of its stance.  The Minister
intends to pursue the matter vigorously with the authority.  The chairman
of ASH Ireland, Dr Fenton Howell, said Ireland has always been progressive
in terms of anti-tobacco legislation, but enforcement has traditionally
been lax. Few resources have been allocated to public health departments
to educate people about the dangers of smoking - in California =A3300
million has been spent in the past decade compared to around =A3500,000
here.

The laws would be overseen by an office of tobacco control which would
ensure tighter control on existing and new laws.

"In the past even when we have had decent legislation we have singularly
failed to implement it and put in place the regulations to implement it.
Unless the Minister does that and puts in place the manpower the situation
will remain the same. However he has given us the commitment and we would
have to give him the benefit of the doubt," said Dr Howell.