Health group coalition calls for individual action in support of Bill to prevent youth smoking

Friday 19 June 2009

Speaking at the Annual Meeting of the Scottish Tobacco Control Alliance (STCA) in Dundee today, Sheila Duffy, Chair of the Scottish Coalition on Tobacco (SCOT) called on the delegates’ support for the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill to be turned into action. Asking them to join SCOT’s campaign calling on MSPs to support a strong Bill Ms Duffy told delegates:

“The Tobacco Bill, which is currently going through the Scottish Parliament, could make a real difference in reducing Scotland’s high youth smoking rates and stopping sales of tobacco to under 18s. The Bill is part of a wider agenda in combating the damage caused by smoking and we are all playing our part in implementing the Smoking Prevention Action Plan. 

“Everyone here who works in tobacco control in a variety of disciplines, will be supportive of the aims of the Tobacco Bill which seeks to remove promotional displays of tobacco, ban cigarette vending machines, register tobacco retailers, and introduce stricter sanctions against retailers that continually sell tobacco to under 18s. But we need that support turned into action.

“We must not underestimate the power of the tobacco industry which is doing all it can to delay, dilute and damage the legislation. We need to counter that by telling MSPs why it is important we take further action to prevent young people smoking and continuing to damage to our nation’s health.

“No other harmful or age-restricted product is as visible or available as tobacco through large promotional displays and self-service vending machines. Our MSPs can put an end to that by supporting the Tobacco Bill which will remove large displays which allow tobacco companies to advertise their products to young people and recruit new smokers. The Bill will also ban cigarette vending machines which are a source of cigarettes for 10% of 15 year old smokers.

 “Today, SCOT is launching its ‘Reducing Youth Smoking’ web campaign to make sure that politicians know the strength of feeling about tobacco control. It will allow people to take direct action by sending an email to their MSPs to tell them why they support the Bill. All of us involved in tobacco control, but especially many of you here today, are at the front line of the damage caused by tobacco. We must never forget that every year 13,500 deaths are caused by smoking, thousands more are affected by disease and ill health, and 15,000 young Scots start smoking every year.

 “Around two thirds of smokers start under the age of 18, and almost 40% under the age of 16. The younger someone starts, the harder it is to quit, the more heavily they are likely to smoke, and the likelihood of harm is increased. Smoking is a childhood addiction and this Bill can help prevent our future generations getting hooked on a substance that kills half of its long term users.
 
“I know that every day you work to counter tobacco in your job. Now as an individual I’m asking you to do a little more. SCOT strongly supports the measures in the Tobacco Bill and our members have been working closely together as well as informing our own members and networks. That is why we have stepped up our campaign and want you to join us.

“I am confident that if we all work together, and make our voices heard, we can achieve this next great step and cut the pipeline of new young smokers to the tobacco industry.”

SCOT’s campaign webpage will be live from Friday 19 June.

ENDS

Sheila Duffy is available for pre-recorded interview via ISDN on Thursday 18 June. For further information please contact Jeanette Campbell on 0131 220 9466 or 07776 142 299.

Notes for Editors

1. Sheila Duffy’s speech to the STCA Annual Meeting will focus on the work of coalitions and alliances in combating smoking. She will discuss the work of the Scottish Coalition on Tobacco (SCOT) a dynamic coalition of partners which campaigns on all matters related to tobacco and health and aims to further reduce the harm caused by tobacco in Scotland and to campaign for better tobacco control.. Members include ASH Scotland, British Heart Foundation, British Medical Association, Cancer Research UK, Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, Macmillan Cancer Support, Royal College of Nursing, The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland. The STCA is an affiliate member of SCOT.

2. The Scottish Tobacco Control Alliance (STCA) is a multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral body of over 120 members concerned with the impact of tobacco on Scotland and its people. It provides a forum for information exchange and a voice for those working in the tobacco field to influence policy development. The STCA’s Annual Meeting will be held in the Dundee Hilton on Friday 19 June. Representatives of the media who wish to attend should contact the ASH Scotland press office for accreditation.