Tobacco Free Futures newsletter

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February 2014

TFF welcomes Lords’ support to protect children and young people

Hundreds of thousands of children including many in the North West could be protected from glitzy cigarette packaging and secondhand smoke in cars thanks to support from Peers in the House of Lords.

A review of the evidence of standardised packaging will be produced by spring and the Government will then make a decision on whether to introduce this measure, following the outcomes of the report. Support in the North West is strong with 63,000 people responding to a consultation in favour of legislation.

We were delighted that Peers backed a Labour amendment to ban smoking in cars carrying children last Wednesday. The government has tabled a revised and strengthened amendment on smoking in cars which Labour has also put its name to, which will be debated at third reading today. Luciana Berger MP, Shadow Minister for Public Health released a press release yesterday.

We expect Peers to reach the tobacco amendments at about 5-5.30pm (this will also include standardised packaging, age of sale and proxy purchasing). You can watch live at:
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Live.aspx

The free vote on smokefree cars is due to take place in the House of Commons on Monday 10th February, and we are writing to all North West MPs this week asking them to vote in support.

Please continue to help by asking your MP to vote in favour of smokefree cars when carrying children. You can read Andrea's blog talking about smokefree cars here.

Act NOW to support smokefree cars - you have four days left to tell your MP

Smoking in cars carrying children will now go to a vote in the House of Commons, due to take place Monday 10th February. Please share the video link on Twitter, Facebook, your intranet and with colleagues asking them to vote and write to their MP at the end of the film. Showing your support is vital to encourage MPs to vote for smokefree cars, please ACT NOW.

Government plans to ban e-cigarettes for under 18s

The Government has announced plans to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to under 18s. TFF have welcomed this decision along with plans to make purchasing tobacco products on behalf of under 18s illegal. This is due to be debated this month in the House of Commons. Read more here.

E-shisha bar opens in Manchester

A new vapour lounge is believed to be Greater Manchester's first fully electronic shisha bar and is using devices similar to electronic cigarettes. Read more here.

Cigarettes more dangerous than ever, US report warns

A major US government report has been released stating smoking cigarettes can cause even more health problems than previously known. This includes liver and colon cancer, blindness, diabetes and erectile dysfunction. Read more here.

Social smokers 'in denial' over their habit

Almost a quarter of smokers believe they only have a social habit despite the fact many smoke six to 20 cigarettes a day, new research reveals. Read more here.

E-cigs ban for majority of Scotland's hospitals, schools and council buildings

The majority of Scotland’s health boards and councils now prohibit the use of e-cigarettes. Out of 27 councils who responded, 16 said they have banned e-cigarettes from their buildings, schools and sports centres. Read more here. This comes as the WHO also raise their concerns.

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/article1355705.ece

Ex-Marlboro man actor dies from lung disease

A US actor who portrayed the rugged Marlboro man in cigarette adverts during the late 1970s and early 1980s has died from lung disease. The actor had smoked since he was 14 years old. Read more here.

Match.com survey shows nine out of ten prefer not to date a smoker

A match.com survey revealed nine out of ten respondents said they prefer not to date someone who smokes and fifty seven percent said they would never date a smoker. Read more here.

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Editor's note

Hi and welcome to your February eNews.

We have been working hard to raise awareness for smokefree cars carrying children over the last six months. I am delighted that we now have Peers and Labour support for this measure too.

We will be working hard to gain further MP support over the next five days ahead of the vote in the House of Commons and we hope that all North West MPs will support the introduction of this much needed legislation.

It has been fantastic to get the opportunity to appear on radio stations across Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria to discuss the measure.

Thank you to all our partners who have been helping us to raise awareness for smokefree cars. If you haven't done so yet please write to your MP showing your support and share the link with your colleagues and partners.

I am happy to say we also have Lords support for standardised packaging. I hope that the Government will now look at the evidence and vote in support of this legislation.

Ian White, Project Manager: Communications and Marketing