Welcome As Tobacco Consultation Extended to NI

A public consultation exercise on the future of tobacco control, launched by the Department of Health In London, has been extended to Northern Ireland.

The consultation addresses the need to protect children and young people and the importance of helping smokers to quit.

It will seek views on a range of issues, including the need for further controls on advertising at point of sale and tobacco vending machines.

The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) has already welcomed the development with Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention, commenting: "UCF calls on the Northern Ireland Executive to develop and implement a new comprehensive, long-term tobacco control strategy to help reduce smoking related illness and deaths in Northern Ireland.

"Smoking accounts for a third of all cancers and kills 2,300 local people annually and smokers are 25 times more likely to get lung cancer, two to three times more likely to have a heart attack and half will die prematurely due to smoking," he said.

Making the announcement, the NI Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey also underlined that smoking is the single greatest preventable cause of premature death and avoidable illness and said: "Later in the year my officials will begin the process of rolling forward our Five Year Tobacco Action Plan (2003-2008) and responses from Northern Ireland to this consultation will undoubtedly provide useful information on the development of the plan."

He added that the introduction of smoke-free legislation last year has enabled everyone to enjoy a healthier work and social environment: "This, together with the fact that people are seeking professional help from smoking cessation services in increasing numbers, will undoubtedly help us make progress towards our long-term aim of a tobacco-free society.

"However," he continued, "I recognise that this is not enough. A key factor in reducing prevalence is to discourage adoption of the smoking habit.

"Evidence shows that, in Northern Ireland, 79% of adult smokers took up the habit in their teens and that 11% of children aged 11-15 years are regular smokers.

"That is why it is important that we seek views on the need for further controls on the display of tobacco products in retail environments and on sales from vending machines," he concluded.

The consultation is available on the Department of Health website at: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_085120

(BMcC)