PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM TOBACCO: aims and endorsing  organisations

A standard excuse by governments for weak tobacco laws is not wanting to be a "Nanny State."  But young people - including children - are still the tobacco industry's prime targets. 

At least 80% of smokers start before they turn 18, half before 16. They often copy young adults, and are influenced by smoking associated with films, TV, music, fashion or sport. Tobacco companies know this. Their own documents show their many strategies for recruiting "new smokers" - a euphemism for children. Look at the Tobacco Industry's record  on targeting children  - and some of their  marketing ploys  aimed at youth.

Tobacco companies often claim "We don't want children to smoke" - but they lobby aggressively against evidence-based measures to reduce smoking among both adults and young people.   
Overseas: see Philip Morris opposes proven measures to reduce child smoking:  Tobacco-Free Kids release 15/7/05   ... and in Australia: see (2008)  Philip Morris scares retailers - and the truth about their arguments 

Words are cheap. 

Protecting Children from Tobacco, a national coalition of health, medical, child welfare, educational, church, social equity, community and research organisations, wants effective  action  to protect children from tobacco - and no "but(t)s". 

AIMS  of Protecting Children from Tobacco partners
NEWS - new moves, research and developments on protecting kids
RESEARCH EVIDENCE  for measures to protect children
RESOURCES - including ASH factsheets and video
STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION - national / world scoresheet
ILLEGAL SUPPLY TO CHILDREN

 

In and out of kids' faces: NSW convenience store 2006.... and supermarket 2010

See Tobacco in and out of sight in retail outlets:  more pics

NSW: Seen a possible breach of the new out-of-sight laws? 
Call the Tobacco Info line to report it:  1800 357 412   or email  tobacco@doh.health.nsw.gov.au

 

Exposure to retail displays encourages children to smoke:  see  RESEARCH EVIDENCE

AIMS

The aims below are endorsed by  PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM TOBACCO :
over 40 children's, parents', teachers', health, welfare, church, social equity and research organisations.  ASH is among these.  We want legislation to ensure that:

- All tobacco products are out of sight in all retail outlets.
See tobacco displays in full view - and how many are being put OUT OF SIGHT!  
Why tobacco displays should be banned  with  No messy exceptions & exemptions

- No staff under 18 are allowed to be involved with selling tobacco.  
See  Why children should not sell tobacco

- There is comprehensive  licensing/registration of tobacco sellers. See  The case for licensing tobacco sellers      See  Licensing of tobacco retailers & wholesalers: Desirability and Best Practice Arrangements  (2002 report to Commonwealth Health Dept)    

- Cars carrying children are smokefree.  See background and factsheet on  smokefree cars

- Public places highly frequented by children, such as playgrounds, public swimming pools and food service areas, are smokefree.  See smokefree public places  

- There is a total ban on the sale of tobacco products targeted at youth.

- There is a total ban on the sale of tobacco from temporary outlets including music events and vending machines.  see pics and  ASH media release 4/8/07  

- Laws against sale of tobacco to children are strengthened, with increasing penalties for breaking them.

ASH Australia would also like to see... 

• Better funding of campaigns to reduce smoking
  Especially among children; but note that reducing smoking among young adults will help to achieve this, since teenagers emulate what they see young adults do or what they think young adults do. 
  
• Stronger action against tobacco promotion in films 
  Young people seeing smoking in films tend  to smoke more. Most top Australian movies show smoking. We want to reduce this impact by mandating "counter-ads" before any film with smoking. 
  See Cancer Council NSW page on  Smoking in movies
  
• An end to devious tobacco promotion under different names. 
  See some of Big Tobacco's latest dubious marketing ploys  

NEWS

... FROM AUSTRALIA

Hobart malls go smokefree
August 2010:  Three major pedestrian malls in Hobart are smokefree from August 1,  thanks to Hobart City Council.  See  Hobart City Council media release 1/8/10   The move was backed by very strong community and business support.    See  ABC news report 2/12/09 

Smokefree Parramatta alfrescoes will be healthy, popular, good for trade
July 2010: Parramatta City Council has adopted a 100% smokefree alfresco dining licences policy - the 19th NSW council to do so. SmokeFree Australia has welcomed the decision as a victory for safe workplaces and protection of staff and patrons, including children.  See  SmokeFree Australia media release 27/7/10 

Governments urged to end shop displays as new study shows child impact
July 2010: the 41-member Protecting Children from Tobacco coalition has called on all governments to push ahead with retail tobacco display bans and make them more comprehensive, as a new Stanford University study confirms shop ads raise child smoking uptake.  See  PCT media release 23/7/10  with link to study and factsheet

Brisbane mall to go smokefree
July 2010: Brisbane City Council will introduce a local law to either make the city's Queen Street pedestrian mall 100% smokefree or to limit smoking to designated outdoor smoking areas. Strong public support, including from shopkeepers, prompted the move - with smokers also reportedly comfortable with it.  See  Brisbane Times report 15/7/10 

Tobacco goes out of sight in all general NSW shops - but not tobacconists

July 2010: All tobacco products must be out of sight in all NSW shops - but not approved specialist tobacconists, who must comply with new display limits. Tobacco vending machines in NSW are now limited to licensed venues by token with proof of age.  Breaches can be reported on toll-free infoline 1800-357-412.   See details at  NSWhealth   and  the  regulations  with tobacconist provisions at pp. 19-20

Specialist tobacconists can still display tobacco products until July 2013 - and some of the displays are shockers. Look at this tobacconist in Coffs Harbour NSW - its massive tobacco display (photographed 3/7/10) facing straight onto a crowded shopping mall. Tobacco is still in children's faces here, and very inconsistent with other retailers.

South Australia will ban retail tobacco display by 2012
May 2010: South Australia has announced it will end retail tobacco displays (possibly excepting tobacconists) by January 2012. All Australian jurisdictions have now committed to this (except some have exemptions/delays for specialist tobacconists).  See  SA Health Minister's release 31/5/10

Tasmania considers smokefree reforms

May 2010: Tasmanian government consultation out in August will propose: 100% smokefree al fresco dining (currently 50%); smokefree pedestrian malls, transport shelters, children's playgrounds and sports events, outdoor sport stadium seating, public swimming pools, all indoor prison areas; banning tobacco vending machines; ending tobacconist display exemptions; removing tobacco products from reward schemes; banning tobacco sales at temporary music and youth events.  See  Tas Health Minister's media release 31/5/10 

NT moves to end tobacco retail display and make dining areas smokefree
May 2010: Northern Territory Health Minister Kon Vatskalis has introduced a bill to make all public eating areas smokefree, end retail display of tobacco products and license tobacco retailers by Jan 2011. NT is also considering banning smoking at youth events and in cars carrying children; and prohibiting under-18s selling tobacco.    See  the bill at 2nd reading stage 

Queensland to put tobacco out of sight in shops
April 2010: The Queensland Government has committed to legislate to put tobacco out of sight in both general retailers and tobacconists by mid-2011.  See  Health Minister's release 29/4/10  and  Cancer Council Qld media release 29/4/10

Call to protect pregnant women from secondhand smoke after studies show foetal  harm
Feb. 2010: Health and child welfare groups have stepped up the call for dining and drinking areas and other workplaces to be made smokefree after a major international review of 76 studies on impact of passive smoking on pregnancy confirmed it causes lower birthweight and increased birth abnormalities. See   ASH / Protecting Children from tobacco media release 12/2/10   and  review abstract    

Tobacco out of sight in ACT shops
Jan. 2010: Tobacco products have gone out of sight in all retail outlets except tobacconists in the ACT.  ACT laws also ban tobacco vending machines, flavoured/scented cigarettes, and tobacco in shopper reward schemes. ACT still considering protecting children from smoke in cars - most submissions supportive. See  ACT Tobacco Act  and  Information on the changes from 28/2/09  See  Canberra Times report 1/3/09   Minister's earlier release on cars 2/2/09   ASH submission    Protecting Children from Tobacco coalition submission  

Victorian children safe from smoke in cars
Jan. 2010:  Cars carrying children under 18 must now be smokefree in Victoria - as already in force in SA, Tasmania and NSW. The new law will also put all tobacco out of sight in general shops from Jan 2011; end cigarette sales from temporary outlets; and ban tobacco products targeting young people.   See  the bill at introduction    See  Victorian government strategy

Queensland protects children from smoke in cars
Jan. 2010: Cars carrying children under 16 are smokefree by law from Jan. 2010 - and the state government will support local councils making shopping centres and bus stops smokefree.  See  Brisbane Times report 30/10/09     See  Queensland tobacco laws

ACT dining and drinking areas to be smokefree
2009: The ACT has passed laws making all public eating and drinking areas 100% smokefree, enclosed or otherwise, by the end of 2010. Children's events also to be smokefree.  See  ABC News report 8/12/09  and  ACT government media release 15/10/09   

Study of smoke harm for children shows urgency of smokefree public places 
2009: Study showing secondhand smoke harm to toddlers' blood vessels shows need for public places, especially outdoor dining, to be 100% smokefree. Protecting Children from Tobacco urges all jurisdictions to follow Queensland example.  See  Protecting Children from Tobacco media release 24/11/09 

WA tobacco act becomes law       See  WA bill and explanation  under T:  "Tobacco...2008"

2009:  Reform of Western Australia's tobacco laws will take effect Sept. 2010. Children, employees and public health protected by ending tobacco display in shops; smokefree cars carrying children, children's playgrounds, patrolled beaches, unlicensed al fresco dining areas and 50% of licensed.

Tobacco's new discount and promotion push
2009: Tobacco companies push new discount offers and induce retailers to promote them. Health groups call for overdue tax increase and closing loopholes to stop the new drive to hook 'em young.  See  ASH media release 4/7/09  

Wagga beats BAT to protect children, workers 

2009: Wagga City Council (NSW) applauded for pushing ahead with smokefree playgrounds and al fresco dining areas in the face of aggressive tobacco industry interference. See  ASH media release 31/3/09    ASH wrote to Councillors answering misleading scare campaign by tobacco giant BAT.  See   ASH media release 27/11/08       See   excerpts from BATA letter and ASH response 

Meanwhile community support continues to soar for smokefree dining.  See NSW survey findings in  Aust & NZ Journal of Public Health article

Tobacco industry's tricky fashion ploy
2008: Cigarettes sold in upmarket fashion and hair outlets in Imperial Tobacco campaign to lure young people into smoking. Promotion later withdrawn after public protests. See SA Sunday Mail 14/12/08 

QANTAS stops pushing tobacco
2008: After campaign by ASH and other concerned groups and individuals, QANTAS stopped trial promotion of duty-free cigarettes on in-flight trolleys in view of children. QANTAS congratulated for its responsible decision. See earlier  ASH media release

.... FROM OVERSEAS

Finland legislates to put tobacco out of sight in shops
22/8/10: Finland has become the fourth country to ban tobacco product displays in shops by national law.   See  Medical News Today report 22/8/10    
Many smaller jurisdictions, e.g. in Australia and Canada, have also done it - see  STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

UK health experts propose making cars and child-accessible public areas smokefree
March 2010: Private cars and outdoor places where children gather should be smokefree by law, says Royal College of Physicians' report endorsed by UK Chief Medical Officer and presented to government as it reviews tobacco laws. Secondhand smoke a "major threat" to children's health and they should be fully protected from it. See  UK Telegraph report 24/3/10   See  RCP report 2010

Ireland puts tobacco out of sight in shops     
2009: Irish Republic puts tobacco out of sight in shops along with other measures to protect children including: introduction of a closed container / dispenser provision; tighter controls on location and operation of vending machines; and introduction of a retail register. Details at  ASH Ireland  

BAT accused of targeting African children
2008: Check this BBC documentary on British American Tobacco targeting African children with tobacco promotion. Is this a socially responsible corporate citizen?  "We don't want children to smoke" (now where have we heard that before?) - see  BAT response

UK doctors urge governments to protect children
2008: British Medical Association urged UK governments to reduce promotion of tobacco to children in retail, films and other entertainment; call for a total out-of-sight policy for tobacco in shops and proactive measures to counter positive smoking images.     See  BMA release 6/7/08 with link to full report 

Scotland plans smokefree future including protecting children
2008: Shop displays of cigarettes to end as part of Scottish Government's continuing drive to stop smoking and tobacco promotion to children. See  Scottish government plan   

Retail tobacco display raises child smoking uptake risk
July 2010: A study of smoking behaviour over time in over 1600 children aged 11-14 shows exposure to retail tobacco displays "is a risk factor for smoking initiation", raising the risk by around 60%. Authors of the study in Pediatrics support policies "that limit adolescents' exposure to retail cigarette advertising."  See  abstract         This confirms previous research:

• NZ study 2009 showing impact on 14-15 year olds:   full study pdf 

• Australian research 2007 on likely impact:  ASH media release 2/6/06  with link to study      

Mothers' secondhand exposure raises babies' lifelong cancer risk
July 2010: Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke give birth to babies with increased lifelong cancer susceptibility, says study in Open Paediatric Medicine.  See  abstract with full study link 

Smokefree laws can cut child smoke exposure by 40%
June 2010: Smokefree laws cut exposure of children from smokefree homes by 40%, says Pediatrics  review of over 11,000 non-smoking children and youths 3-19yrs. Finds "smoke-free laws are an effective strategy for reducing [exposure]..."  See  abstract  and  escience news 6/6/10

Passive smoking harm to children's health
May 2010: UK report in Practitioner shows child smoke exposure causes around 300,000 GP consultations a year in the UK, mostly for middle ear disease and asthma; about 5,000 miscarriages, 300 perinatal deaths and 2,200 premature births; more than doubles SIDS death risk.   See  report

UK health experts propose making cars and child-accessible public areas smokefree
March 2010: Private cars and outdoor places where children gather should be smokefree by law, says Royal College of Physicians' report to UK government. Secondhand smoke a "major threat" to children's health; they should be fully protected. See  UK Telegraph report 24/3/10   See  RCP report 2010

Even low smoke exposure may harden teen arteries
March 2010: Study of young teenagers shows even low-level exposure to tobacco smoke may lead to atherosclerosis (hardening arteries). Study of almost 500 13-year-olds in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, called for children to be protected from all exposure.  See  abstract

Protection of pregnant women from secondhand smoke call after studies show foetal  harm
Feb 2010: Health and child welfare groups step up call for smokefree dining/drinking areas after major international review of 76 studies on impact of passive smoking on pregnancy confirms it causes lower birthweight and abnormalities. See   ASH / PCT media release 12/2/10   and  review abstract    

Study confirms unsafe exposure in smoky alfrescoes
2009:  A study of air quality in outdoor dining areas of 12 Perth cafes and 16 pubs has confirmed smoke particles at average levels double recommended exposure limits. The study, by health group ACOSH, found exposure levels caused by just two people smoking are a health risk - especially to children and people with heart or respiratory conditions.   See  full study

Babies' exposure boosts adult emphysema risk
2009: Prenatal and postnatal exposure of babies to secondhand smoke increases their risk of emphysema as adults, says a study of 1700 non-smokers in the American Journal of Epidemiology.  See  study abstract 

Secondhand exposure doubles children's lung cancer risk
2009:  Secondhand smoke exposure during childhood associated with a more than doubled lung cancer risk among never smokers, says study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.  See  study abstract

Secondhand smoke doubles and worsens chronic rhinosinusitis
2009: Childhood or current exposure to secondhand smoke more than doubles risk of chronic rhinosinusitis, suggests Johns Hopkins University study in American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy. Severity of the disease may also be worsened.  See  study abstract

Study of smoke harm for children shows urgency of smokefree public places 
2009: A study showing secondhand smoke harm to blood vessels of toddlers shows why we need public places - especially outdoor dining areas - 100% smokefree.  See 
Protecting Children from Tobacco media release 24/11/09  

Secondhand smoke exposure increases preschoolers' behaviour problems
2009: Survey of parents of over 5000 pre-schoolers in Bavaria shows exposure to secondhand smoke at home increases reported incidence of hyperactivity/inattentiveness behaviour problems - more than doubling incidence in children most exposed. Twardella et al (2009) in Acta Paediatrica - see study abstract  

Next steps in regulating tobacco retail: review
2009: Tobacco retailing still largely unregulated, FCTC treaty only partly addressing - contrasts with pharmaceuticals and other restricted goods and services. International review asks why and renews debate on retail outlet limits, price controls, purchase caps and licensing restrictions. See abstract   

Children's passive smoking may clog their arteries at an early age
2009:  Not just older arteries are clogged by secondhand smoke, says European Heart Journal study - children can suffer this. Australian health and child welfare groups call for all child-accessible areas to be smokefree. See  Protecting Children from Tobacco release 24/7/09  with link to study abstract

Watching smoky movies can double teen uptake
2009: Exposure to high levels of smoking scenes in movies can double smoking uptake between early teens and young adulthood, says a US study in Pediatrics journal. 1,790 non-smoking children aged 10-14, tracked for seven years.  See  study     

Retailer arguments defending tobacco displays slammed by NZ report
2008: Research review blasts retailer arguments against out-of-sight policy as “contradictory, flawed and unsupported by evidence.”  The same arguments have been put to Australian governments by tobacco dealers.  See  ASH media release 2/7/08     See  NZMJ study abstract    See NZ legislative review   

Study shows smoking in cars hazardous to health
2008: Smoking in cars a serious health risk to occupants, especially children; ventilation doesn't stop it. After just one cigarette smoked in 18 different cars, worst examples smokier than indoor-smoking bars.    See  Canada TV report      See  full study  

Tobacco displays undermine quitting
2007: Australian study shows quit attempts undermined by tobacco displays in shops.   See  ASH / Protecting Children for Tobacco media release 22/11/07 

Aims and endorsing organisations

RESOURCES                        

FACTSHEETS on Protecting Children from Tobacco: 
 
Brief 2-page  Summary  of the retail display issue
Why tobacco displays should be banned
Top ten myths against out of sight tobacco  - retailers misleading our governments
Leading adman says: Product display is advertising
No exceptions, no exemptions
Why children should not sell tobacco
The case for licensing tobacco sellers
Kids in smoky cars

See also our 2006 factsheet Tobacco Facts on retail display


Tobacco displays: mini-documentary
The Cancer Society of New Zealand has recently released a mini-doco on the issue of tobacco displays. View  trailer and link to full version

Tear Down the Walls  
2008 comment piece in the Ottawa Citizen makes a very good, reasoned analysis of why tobacco display "powerwalls" have so much impact on kids and why they should be removed.   See  the article 

STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION   

TOBACCO OUT OF SIGHT IN SHOPS:
  
Australia 
All Australian states and territories are now committed to ending tobacco display in general retail outlets by January 2012. Some jurisdictions have delays/exemptions for specialist retailers. 
 
- ACT: IN FORCE all shops except tobacconists (end-2009); tobacconists by end-2010
- NSW: IN FORCE large shops (end-2009), smaller shops (July 2010); tobacconists by mid-2013 
- WA: all outlets  by Sept. 2010 (except one tobacconist, no tobacco visible outside shop)
- NT: all outlets by Jan. 2011 (legislation introduced)
- Queensland: all outlets by mid-2011 (awaiting legislation)
- Victoria: all outlets by Jan. 2011 except tobacconists and airport duty-frees (no deadline for these)  
- Tasmania: all outlets by Feb. 2011 except small number of tobacconists (no deadline for these) 
- SA: all outlets (possibly exempting tobacconists) by January 2012 (awaiting legislation)

Worldwide trend   see  roundup  from Smokefree Action (UK)  and  Finland report in Medical News Today 22/8/10
4 countries (Iceland, Thailand, Ireland, Finland), 12 (out of 13) Canadian provinces and territories, and the British Virgin Islands have adopted laws to prohibit the visible display of tobacco products at point of sale. Iceland was the first, in 2001. The Canadian province of Saskatchewan followed suit in 2002, Thailand in 2005, Ireland in 2009, Finland 2010 - see report. New Zealand first rejected it but is now (2010) reconsidering.

Page last updated 25/8/10