Anti-smoking campaigners welcome new US website

Related tags Smoking ban

Anti-smoking campaigners have welcomed news of a US website that claims tobacco manufacturers are "manipulating" the pub and restaurant trade.The...

Anti-smoking campaigners have welcomed news of a US website that claims tobacco manufacturers are "manipulating" the pub and restaurant trade.

The site, at www.tobaccoscam.ucfs.edu, claims the tobacco industry has funded extensive lobbying efforts by the hospitality trade to prevent smoking bans being introduced in bars and restaurants.

It also accuses the manufacturers of failing to back up claims on the economic impact of a smoking ban with fact.

UK lobby group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) says the same is true in the UK.

Clive Bates of ASH directed particular criticism at the UK's Atmosphere Improves Results initiative (AIR).

He said: "The British hospitality trade, despite its enormous wealth, relies on tobacco industry money for its main initiative on passive smoking and, not surprisingly, they are favouring strategies like ventilation that suit the tobacco industry but cost restaurant owners a lot more money."

But AIR has dismissed such claims saying it is overt about any funding it receives from the tobacco sector and publishes full details of the involvement on its website.

Oliver Griffiths, spokesman for AIR, said self-regulation through the voluntary charter on smoking in pubs, which recommends the use of signage with ventilation and no-smoking areas where possible, had proved very successful.

Licensees are being urged to sign up to the charter by the end of this year in order to help meet the 50 per cent compliance target agreed with ministers.

For more information contact AIR on 020 7482 0620 or visit www.airinitiative.com.

Related topics Legislation

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