THE leader of the council is urging the public to get behind new laws that will ban cigarette vending machines and the use of enticing multi-coloured displays in shops.
Councillor Alan Taylor started smoking when he was 15 and it took him 25 years to kick the habit.
The government's proposals for new tobacco control laws were recently supported by MPs and now go to public consultation before they are finally made law.
Since the advertising ban in 2002, evidence shows that the tobacco industry has instead invested in promotional displays of tobacco in shops.
And there is evidence these promotional activities encourage children to start smoking.
Councillor Taylor said: "I was addicted, ask my friends. Although if I can quit anyone can, it would have been much better if I hadn't been able to get hold of cigarettes in the first place. Preventing children getting addicted will produce a huge improvement in health long-term. Especially in our borough where death rates from cancer and heart disease are so high."
He added: "Our local research also shows young people can use vending machines to buy cigarettes they can't get over the counter. During test purchases in July and August, we found underage volunteers aged 15 and 16 were able to illegally buy cigarettes from vending machines in almost half the pubs they visited. So I'm right behind anything that makes it more difficult for young people to start smoking and helps smokers who are trying to quit and urge young people, parents and businesses to make their views known, and help stem the tide of new recruits to a habit that results in disease and death."
It is estimated that 28 per cent of adults in the borough still smoke, however last year 1,820 people quit.
The public can give feedback on the proposed regulations by visiting www.dh.gov.uk and looking for 'The consultation on proposed tobacco control regulations for England (under the Health Bill 2009).'
Young people who want to get involved locally can join the Anti-Tobacco Youth Campaign. Visit the website www.roycastle.org/atyc or contact 924 225.
Showing comments 1 to 5 and replies | View All
Ray Stay (11/11/2009 at 09:50)
Just so your aware, Cigarette sales generate £9.1 billion PA in taxes, Actual cost to NHS through smoking related disease £1.6 billion PA.
bigun, rochdale (11/11/2009 at 11:34)
Harrysmate, Rochdale (11/11/2009 at 22:32)
Whether we like it or not, the smoking ban is responsible for the closure of many licensed premises throughout the country, due to smokers no longer going to some pubs and clubs.
The best way forward is to licence some premises for the consumption of nicotine, in the same way that they are licensed to sell alcohol. Non-smokers could then choose which pubs to visit, and likewise, so could smokers. That way, everyone has a choice.
You will never stop everybody smoking, so let's apply some common sense and stop putting people out of business.
Ray Stay (12/11/2009 at 10:12)
selfexiled (12/11/2009 at 10:13)
I used to smoke and did so for twenty five years but I managed to stop and there is nothing worse than the smell of ashtrays and clothing affected by smoke to someone who as ceased the habit.
But I do not believe that gives me the right to go about making a song and dance over those that do smoke or put barriers up to them doing so .I also think that the smoking ban as destroyed a significant amount of the social fabric of industrial towns through the closure of Pubs and clubs which is manifesting itself in the anti-social behaviour of people with no peer outlet who get drunk at home and then cause problems in their neighbourhood.
Like all Government initiatives this one is poorly thought through and was conceived through a vote catching perogative.