UK tops EU tobacco control league table
Thursday, October 25, 2007 
Still on the subject of Europe, the UK has the most comprehensive tobacco control measures in the whole of Europe, according to a new survey released yesterday. (Makes you proud to be British.)
Countries were judged according to a scale of measures including price increases through higher taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products, bans/restrictions on smoking in public and work places, comprehensive bans on the advertising and promotion of all tobacco products, and large, direct health warning labels on cigarette packs and other tobacco products.
Despite this, ASH say that smoking is still only declining at a rate of 0.4 per cent per year, which reminds me of the old saying - you can force a horse to water, but you can't make it ... Full story HERE.
Reader Comments (13)
It's a great pity that the UK can't restrict things they SHOULD be restricting effectively such as serious crime and the rise of hospital bugs. What a great achievement!!
As my Psychiatrist said to me today, it will only get worse and for many people their only hope is to leave the country if they possibly can. He ended the consultation with "Don't let the bastards grind you down!" Easy to say, not always so easy to do. In his opinion this Nanny State is doing far more harm than good to the vast majority of the population.
I wonder if this sensible approach by Mental Health Consultants is why the Government continue to reduce the amount of funding available to this arm of the NHS?
Returned from Greece last night. Missed the banner at Gatwick that should read 'Welcome to England - home of the persecuted and land of the politically correct'
Why are we allowing this to happen, We must make a stand and educate the Government that we are capable sane British people and we can make our own minds up with regards to smoking and every other thing that is legal.
I have to wonder just how frequently (or infrequently) ASH publish the statistics on the declining rate of 0.4 percent p.a.? I suspect the latter! I consider myself to be moderate towards my fellow men/women but am just so frustrated with the frenzy of "holier than thou - lets persecute the smokers" mob who take the ban on smoking in public places as a green light to bully smokers into submission and by the tactics of government advertisements to help people quit! I now feel like a second class citizen.
I am a grown-up - I even have my own bank account - so I can make my own mind up as to when/if I quit thanks anyway.
As an afterthought - I really can't stand garlic and I feel sick when I smell garlic on someone's breath (especially on a crowded public bus or tube) - so I propose to persecute anyone who tries to make my life a misery and maybe lobby government for my right to fresh, clean air!
Okay, sorry guys - moan over!
Basically the government have taken a sledge hammer to crack a nut they will not stop the die hard smokers excuse the pun I went to Greece recently and the ex-pats out there cannot believe what is going on in this country.
I agree with you wendywoo! This wretched Government have gone too far. I feel that Many Pubs will suffer this winter and will close down France are still smoking too and spain as well !! Do they care? They will not be told. But we are all now suffering. It should be up to the Landlord to allow smokers or otherwise. What ever they feel is best to get their customers back in . Whats wrong with Good VENTILATION? Cars make far more pollution. also Drinkers are causing more fights in the streets.
This is something we should be ashamed of and certainly not proud that we top the league in the resrictions of peoples freedom to choose!
I live in the United States and we are being banned from smoking too. It is not right, a grown person should have the right to smoke if they wish to do so. We are having our rights taking away from us. Free, not any more.
Re smokin in restaurants: our regular restaurant in The Strand WC2 have had a noted drop in takings since this s*** started. The owner made a very good point......
Reasonably, there is the same proportion of chefs and waiters who smoke compared to the average population.
Therefore, I suggest they should have the option to choose to work in restaurants where smoking is permitted and who openly display "SMOKERS WELCOME" signs on their doors, leaving those bores who abstain to their clinical boring lifeless rice and sandals gaffs where the only smell is of the clients breaking wind on their vegan diets...
I'd sooner smell smoke than part digested
alfalfa and houmous thank u !
SO WHEN IS THERE A RALLY IN LONDON PLS, Bristol is a bit of a schlepp!
yours, behind a B & H
Chris and Jacqui
Pro smoking campaign should be entitled
"STRIKE A LIGHT"
PS Anthony... you nicked my points for your speech at the Savoy u (nice man) so give us credit or a publicity job this time mate!!
So we are to have a Bill of Rights- from those who have been most instrumental in taking them from us. I'm old and remember the good days when we could say "we don't have to have legislation telling us we can do things. We can do anything unless the law says we can't"
Until a judicial review is brought before the courts and is seen to succeed in speaking for a persecuted number of people whose only crime is to enjoy the pastime of smoking (legally by the way) and pay heavily in taxes for the privilege, then this incessant nightmare will continue.
Whether some pubs are doing well because of the ban, or if people believe they are breathing cleaner air in various locations including the workplace throughout the country, is neither here nor there. What is important is that whoever is responsible for these different locations should be allowed to make that choice of whether they wish to allow smoking or be smoke free…it is not and never has been the domain of any government.
Publicans always had the right to ban smoking on their premises if they so wished. Why was it necessary to bring in legislation? This spiteful and vindictive ban has been successful in one respect…it has destroyed the friendships of millions of people. Many desperately important friendships have been torn apart with many old friends unable to meet up anymore for a drink and a smoke in their favourite venue.
Let us hope that in the near future a successful judicial review will bring down the edifice of anti-smoking zealotry, which has so poisoned our lives!