Tobacco Free Futures newsletter

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February 2015

Smokefree cars for children from October 1 2015

A historic Parliamentary vote took place yesterday which means that from October 1 2015, anyone lighting up in a car with a child under 18 present, will be breaking the law and could be fined. The final vote was 342 for and 74 against. This is brilliant news and will help protect children from toxins that can be up to 11 times the levels you would find in a smoky room.

We have worked hard with partners over the last five years to raise awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke. Tobacco Free Futures and North West local authorities launched an online video in 2013 calling for legislation to make all cars carrying children smokefree. The video which was produced jointly with the British Lung Foundation included stars from Peep Show and Hollyoaks and attracted almost 7,000 views on YouTube.

We have produced a new briefing around smokefree cars and why it's needed which you can read here. You can also find out more in our latest press release by clicking here.

Following the announcement Public Health England launched a campaign this week to highlight the hidden dangers that secondhand smoke in homes and cars can cause to children’s health.

Who's got their eye on the next generation of children?

The tobacco industry always has its eye on the next generation to replace those smokers who either quit or die as a result of smoking. To highlight and draw attention to this tobacco industry tactic we have joined forces with partners Fresh North East, ASH, British Lung Foundation and Cancer Focus to launch a short viral. The timing for launching the viral is critical as we know that standard packs will make cigarettes and tobacco less attractive to children and make health warnings stand out more. Watch the viral here.

UK to vote on standard packs before next election

The Government has announced that it will put regulations on the standardised packs of cigarettes and other tobacco products to a vote in Parliament before the General Election. Taking us a step closer to achieving legislation. Read more here.

TFF event, Feb 25: Smoking still kills... in the North West

With changes ahead such as a new Government, and public health policy decisions we believe you will find our event an invaluable opportunity to support your work in tackling inequalities – to which smoking and tobacco harm are central. Find out more information by clicking here.

NICE support to help local authorities tackle tobacco use

NICE has produced a briefing to help local authorities and partners tackle tobacco. The briefing summarises its new recommendations on effective actions to reduce harm from smoking, helping people in South Asian communities to stop using smokeless tobacco and smoking cessation help for people attending/working in hospitals. Read the briefing here.

Electronic cigarette use dips in England

According to data from the Smoking in England survey the use of electronic cigarettes in England fell last year. In the last quarter of 2014, usage fell from 22 to 18.6 per cent, the lowest since the second quarter of 2013. Read more here.

Financial incentives for smoking cessation in pregnancy

The results of the professors David Tappin and Linda Bauld’s trial, Financial Incentives for Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy, were published in January. The outcomes are positive demonstrating that incentives more than double the chances of quitting compared with the control group. Read more here.

Anti-smoking protest outside Imperial Tobacco AGM

ASH organised a youth noise making event outside the British American Tobacco AGM on Wednesday January 28 in Bristol. Imperial is one of the largest and most profitable tobacco companies in the world with a 44% share of the UK cigarette market. Read more here.

Editor's note

Hi , welcome to your February eNews.

We are delighted that from October 2015 legislation will be in place to prevent children from the harms of secondhand smoke in the confined space of a car.

This is excellent news and is testament to all of the hard work that the public health community and partners have done over the last few years. Thank you for your hard work and effort which will protect millions of children in the future.

We hope to see MPs also supporting standardised tobacco packaging during the Parliamentary vote in March. Together, these important pieces of legislation will take us one step closer to protecting children from the damage of tobacco and another step closer to making smoking history.

This month we are holding an event called 'Smoking still kills... in the North West'. Please find the details to the event here and consider attending, as well as encouraging your colleagues and locally elected Councillor to attend.

We are also looking forward to rolling out yet another Smoke & Mirrors event on February 18 for young people from across the North West. We will share the photos from the day with you in next months edition.

Ian White, Project Manager: Communications and Marketing

Local News

Greater Manchester

Trafford mum urges others to quit smoking this month

Illicit cigarettes worth nearly half a million pounds seized in Salford

Cheshire & Merseyside

Warrington Council welcomes anti-smoking moves

Four-legged friends help uncover illicit tobacco haul in Cheshire West

Lancashire

Council chiefs back move to ban smoking at mental health centres

Plain cigarette packaging triggers East Lancashire newsagents’ trip to Westminster

Cumbria

44,000 Cumbrian smokers may die early from habit

Cumbria health experts back campaign for plain cigarette packs

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