[Intl-tobacco] UK: Blair considers public smoking ban + industry response

[robert.weissman@essentialinformation.org]

2 items:
1. BBC News: PM considers public smoking ban
2. Industry press release in response


BBC News

PM considers public smoking ban
Tony Blair has said the government is considering introducing a ban on
smoking in public places and will come to a view in the "next few months".

But the prime minister stressed it was "a difficult balance" protecting the
public's health on the one hand and not being overly interfering on the
other.

Mr Blair is a former smoker who quit the day he got married to wife Cherie.

He told BBC Breakfast: "You have got to have some balanced decision making
in this, and it's a difficult balance."

He added: "On the one hand it's something that does damage your health -
you've got to be careful you don't end up with a [nanny state]."

During an interview timed ahead of next Thursday's local, European and
London mayoral elections, he said that various consultations on a ban were
underway.

And he hinted the decision might ultimately be left to local authorities.

"In the end, though, you have also got to have some local decision-making in
this," he said.


'Damage'



There's no doubt about the damage that smoking does.
Tony Blair
New York, Ireland and now Norway have introduced smoking bans.

Mr Blair said: "There's no doubt about the damage that smoking does and also
I think for a lot of people who aren't smokers they would actually prefer to
be in an environment where there's not smoking taking place."

The government has already announced it is assessing the public's feelings
about a ban as part of a major consultation on health that will form part of
the Public Health White Paper, to be published later this year.

Last month a survey suggested that a majority of Britons favoured a ban.

The poll of more than 1,500 people by market analysts Mintel found 52%
support for a ban, including two-thirds of non-smokers.

Around one in three smokers also backed the idea but 25% said they would
avoid places where a ban was in force.

Deborah Arnott, director of the anti-smoking charity ASH, welcomed the prime
minister's comments.



Any attempt to ban smoking in all public places will be fiercely resisted.
Simon Clark
She said: "Secondhand smoke in the workplace causes about 700 premature
deaths every year.

"And we know that ending smoking in workplaces and enclosed public places is
the single simplest and most effective thing the government could do to
encourage more smokers to quit.

"We would like to see an end to workplace smoking across the country. But
new powers for local councils to act in their own areas would be an
important and very welcome step in the right direction."

Jean King, Director of Tobacco Control at Cancer Research UK, said: "There
is abundant evidence that breathing in other people's tobacco smoke carries
serious heath risks, especially for children or those who are chronically
exposed, such as at the workplace.

"A ban on smoking in public places - such as is in effect in Ireland and
Norway - would safeguard employees and encourage more smokers to quit."

Voluntary code

Tim Lord, chief executive of the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association, called
on Mr Blair to continue supporting voluntary self-regulation instead of
imposing an official ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants.

He said: "The voluntary approach is working in the UK. Self-regulation is
already providing more smoke-free places and the choice that the public
wants.

"We believe that legislation is unnecessary and would replace successful,
voluntarily adopted policies with oppressive and costly bureaucracy,
criminalizing smokers and landlords."

Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group FOREST, said: "Any attempt
to ban smoking in all public places will be fiercely resisted.

"People are sick and tired of being told how to live their lives. There are
13 million smokers in Britain, some of whom want to quit, but a great many
enjoy smoking and have no intention of giving up just because Nanny Blair
says they should."


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk_politics/3775729.stm

Published: 2004/06/04 08:20:40 GMT


----------------
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=124219
News Release
Friday 4 June 2004, 12:30 GMT


Tobacco Manufacturers' Association Urges Government to Maintain Voluntary
Regulation for Public Places Smoking



LONDON, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Tim Lord, Chief Executive of the Tobacco
Manufacturers' Association, today called on Tony Blair to continue
supporting voluntary self-regulation instead of imposing an official ban on
smoking in pubs and restaurants.

Responding to the Prime Minister's comments on BBC Breakfast where he said
he was considering a ban , Tim Lord said, " We urge the Government to listen
to public opinion and maintain the current public policy of a voluntary
approach to regulating smoking in work and other public places.

"The voluntary approach is working in the UK. Self-regulation is already
providing more smoke-free places and the choice that the public wants. We
believe that legislation is unnecessary and would replace successful,
voluntarily adopted policies with oppressive and costly bureaucracy,
criminalizing smokers and landlords.

"It is clear from a recent nationwide Populus poll(1), one of the largest of
its kind undertaken, that the majority of people, including non-smokers, do
not want a ban, particularly in pubs, clubs and bars. They believe it's
better to have a choice of smoking or non-smoking facilities and that there
should be greater provision of non-smoking facilities. This choice is
increasing every day, as more and more premises introduce no smoking areas,
which shows the voluntary approach is working.

We urge people who are in favour of moderation, freedom of choice and common
sense, whether smokers or non-smokers, to speak up and influence the
debate."

(1) Populus, Attitudes to Smoking in Pubs, Clubs and Bars, May 2004. 10,000
adults 18+. Available from www.forestonline.org.uk



Distributed by PR Newswire on behalf of Tobacco Manufacturers' Association