100 likes | 254 Views
Stockton Borough Council Housing and Community Safety Select Committee: Review of Tobacco Control 25 th October 2012. Catherine Taylor, Fresh Richard Ferry, North East Trading Standards Association. Each year smoking causes the greatest number of preventable deaths. HIV: 529. Traffic:
E N D
Stockton Borough CouncilHousing and Community Safety Select Committee:Review of Tobacco Control25th October 2012 Catherine Taylor, Fresh Richard Ferry, North East Trading Standards Association
Each year smoking causes the greatest number of preventable deaths HIV: 529 Traffic: 2,502 Alcohol: 6,541 Drug misuse: 1,738 Suicide: 5,377 Smoking: 81,400 Obesity: 34,100 References:1. ASH Factsheet, Smoking Statistics: illness & death, October 2011 (http://ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_107.pdf) NB area represents value
The North East comprehensive tobacco control programme • Developing infrastructure, skills and capacity • Reducing exposure to secondhand smoke • Helping smokers to stop • Media, communications and education • Reducing availability and supply • Reducing tobacco promotion • Tobacco regulation • Research, monitoring and evaluation
Recent activity • Overall the latest figures show a decline in the illicit trade – however intelligence shows • Children as young as 8 – 10 are being sold cigarettes • Dealers will sell singles to children on their way to and from school • Traders are becoming more sophisticated and organised, targeting and exploiting communities • - but effective joint action is taking place-
Key regulatory issues • A lethal product: a childhood addiction, not an adult choice • High levels of public support for protecting children from tobacco • Ensuring continued compliance with current legislation e.g. • smokefree legislation • underage sales • vending machines • point of sale displays • Reducing the demand for and the supply of illicit tobacco – the North of England programme • comprehensive approach • impact
What next? Standardised packaging The problem The solution
What next? • Continued effective enforcement of existing legislation • A recognition that the job is not done: need to call for appropriate regulation for a lethal product • including - tobacco licensing / registration • smokefree playgrounds / outdoor spaces
For the Select Committee to consider: • Is there sufficient capacity to carry out tobacco control regulatory duties? • Are there intelligence protocols in place so that enforcement agencies can work together effectively? • Are there policies in place around sales of illicit tobacco on council premises/in social housing? • Is the council considering making playgrounds smokefree? • Is there a policy in place against working with the tobacco industry?
For more information • Catherine Taylor • Fresh • 0191 333 7142 • catherine.taylor@freshne.com • Richard Ferry • North East Trading Standards Association • 07946 549 613 • ferryrs@hotmail.com • www.freshne.com • www.illicittobacconorth.org • www.keep-it-out.co.uk