In the UK news today.
'De-glamorise' smoking, say doctors
pa.press.net
Tougher controls are needed to "de-glamorise and de-normalise" smoking among young people, doctors' leaders said.
Laws should be introduced to make it compulsory for anti-smoking adverts to be shown before films or TV programmes featuring people lighting up, they said. Film censors should take into account whether a film portrays smoking when classifying it.
In a new report, experts from the British Medical Association (BMA) argued for tighter regulations to make smoking less attractive to young people.
Most smokers start before the age of 18 and almost all do so by the time they are 25, they said. Evidence suggests young people are influenced by images of people smoking in films, TV shows and magazines.
The BMA is calling for UK legislation to introduce anti-smoking adverts before any film or TV programme portraying "positive images" of smoking.
It wants action to educate people in the entertainment industry about the potential damage done by portrayals of smoking and retailers to be required to carry a licence to sell cigarettes.
The group advocates the introduction of a "minimum price" for cigarettes and other products to stop tobacco firms attracting young people to cheaper brands, along with plain packaging, showing only the brand, health warning and any other mandatory information for the consumer.
It seeks a ban on sales from vending machines and cigarettes to be removed from display in shops as well as Government action to develop a comprehensive strategy aiming to make the UK "tobacco-free" by 2035.
'De-glamorise' smoking, say doctors
pa.press.net
Tougher controls are needed to "de-glamorise and de-normalise" smoking among young people, doctors' leaders said.
Laws should be introduced to make it compulsory for anti-smoking adverts to be shown before films or TV programmes featuring people lighting up, they said. Film censors should take into account whether a film portrays smoking when classifying it.
In a new report, experts from the British Medical Association (BMA) argued for tighter regulations to make smoking less attractive to young people.
Most smokers start before the age of 18 and almost all do so by the time they are 25, they said. Evidence suggests young people are influenced by images of people smoking in films, TV shows and magazines.
The BMA is calling for UK legislation to introduce anti-smoking adverts before any film or TV programme portraying "positive images" of smoking.
It wants action to educate people in the entertainment industry about the potential damage done by portrayals of smoking and retailers to be required to carry a licence to sell cigarettes.
The group advocates the introduction of a "minimum price" for cigarettes and other products to stop tobacco firms attracting young people to cheaper brands, along with plain packaging, showing only the brand, health warning and any other mandatory information for the consumer.
It seeks a ban on sales from vending machines and cigarettes to be removed from display in shops as well as Government action to develop a comprehensive strategy aiming to make the UK "tobacco-free" by 2035.
