Health Promotion Agency welcomes ban on tobacco advertising

The Health Promotion Agency has welcomed the decision by the Government to support a bill that will ban tobacco advertising.

In Northern Ireland there are almost 3,000 premature deaths from smoking related diseases each year. This new legislation will ban press, billboard and internet advertising of tobacco products and will also prohibit any form of marketing promotion on smoking through free distribution of tobacco products, coupons and mail shots. The bill will also stop tobacco companies sponsoring sporting and other events.

Rob Phipps, Senior Health Promotion Programme Manager, Health Promotion Agency said: "The Agency is delighted with this decision in particular the restrictions that will be placed on the display and promotion of tobacco products in shops. We know from research that one in three fifth form girls are smoking daily in Northern Ireland which is double the number of boys of the same age who smoke. We also know that the brands most heavily advertised are those most heavily smoked by children.

"Banning all forms of tobacco advertising will help reduce the number of young people who are taking up this habit at an early age and will also support those who wish to stop smoking. When this ban is in place it will be a major step towards creating our ultimate aim of an environment where non-smoking is seen as the norm," he said.

The Health Promotion Agency's 'Every cigarette is doing you damage' campaign is currently encouraging all smokers in Northern Ireland to stop.
A freephone helpline, 0800 858585, has been set up as part of the campaign which offers support and advice for smokers in their quest to kick the habit.

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Notes to the editor: The Government set out its targets for reducing smoking prevalence in the White Paper 'Smoking kills' published in December 1998.

Inpatient care linked to smoking in Northern Ireland costs £22 million per year and one million working days are lost each year as a result of smoking.