|
|
|
UCF Welcomes Landmark Tobacco Advertising Ban
By Eilish Martin, 3/29/2004 10:42:03 AM
|
The Ulster Cancer Foundation has welcomed the UK ban on tobacco advertising in newspapers / magazines and on billboards which came into effect recently.
The charity has been campaigning for the ban for more than 20 years and describes it as a landmark initiative.
At a news conference in Belfast today, UCF staff showed their delight by tearing up posters advertising cigarettes.
Gerry McElwee, UCF head of cancer prevention, said: The ban will not, of course, stop everyone smoking, but it will definitely help reduce the number of young people taking up the habit.
It has been proved that young people are strongly influenced by advertising
that they will smoke the most heavily advertised brands, which usually make smoking look glamorous and stylish.
Educating people about the dangers of smoking has been one of our key initiatives for many years. Our work has undoubtedly been hindered by tobacco advertising and we are delighted that, at last, the ban has been imposed.
Its a crazy situation. Tobacco can kill yet up to now it has been freely advertised. The ban is long overdue.
This advertising ban will support the measures included in the Tobacco Action Plan (NI) which is currently being finalised.
In Northern Ireland, smoking causes around 2,800 deaths from cancer and other illnesses every year.
Smoking is on the decrease among men in the province, but on the increase among women. Now, 26% of men smoke: 28% of women.
In 1993 lung cancer caused 540 deaths among men, but the figure fell to 456 in 2000.
Among women, however, the number of deaths rose from 268 to 329.
Mr McElwee added: Lung cancer now causes more deaths among women in Northern Ireland than breast cancer. In 2000, 285 women died from breast cancer, compared with the lung cancer figure of 329.
We are particularly concerned that more young women and schoolgirls are now smoking.
The ban on advertising in newspapers/magazines and on billboards is the main measure in the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act.
The Ulster Cancer Foundation provides several services to help people stop smoking. They include a helpline (028 9066 3281), a stop smoking group at its headquarters at 40/42 Eglantine Avenue in south Belfast, a counselling service at its offices at 14/16 The Diamond in LDerry, nurse counsellors and support leaflets.
There are also training programmes for health professionals such as doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists who want to help smokers to quit.
For further information please contact UCFs Gerry McElwee on 028 9066 3281.
|
|
|
