A report called for a nicotine and tobacco regulatory authority to protect public health.
Source: Protecting Smokers, Saving Lives: The case for a tobacco and nicotine regulatory authority, Royal College of Physicians (020 7935 1174)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
Current smoking, and in particular heavy smoking, is associated with all the mental disorders, according to a survey of mental health and tobacco, alcohol and drug use among people aged 16-74.
Source: Melissa Coulthard, Michael Farrell, Nicola Singleton and Howard Meltzer, Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Use and Mental Health, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Tables (pdf) | Press release (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill received Royal Assent. From 2003 the new Act will ban press and billboard advertising of tobacco products, promotion through free gifts, coupons and mailshots, and sponsorship through sporting or other events.
Source: Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act | DH press release
Date: 2002-Nov
A report charted continuing increases during 2001 in the incidence of HIV among gay men, and of hepatitis among drug users.
Source: Prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis Infections in the United Kingdom 2001, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2002-Nov
The British Medical Association said that a thousand people die every year as a result of passive smoking, and called for a ban on smoking in public places. Campaigners said they will press for new laws banning passive smoking in workplaces.
Source: Towards Smoke-free Public Places, British Medical Association (020 7383 6244) | Press release 6.11.02, Action on Smoking and Health (020 7739 5902)
Links: Summary | BMA press release | ASH press release
Date: 2002-Nov
An article reviewed the effectiveness of interventions to prevent or treat childhood obesity.
Source: 'The prevention and treatment of childhood obesity', Effective Health Care, Volume 7 Number 6, NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination/University of York (01904 433648)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 2.5
Date: 2002-Nov
'Health' claims made on food labels often leave consumers confused or unclear about the properties of the products, according to research carried out on behalf of the Food Standards Agency.
Source: Health Claims on Food Packaging - Consumer-related qualitative research, Food Standards Agency (020 7276 8000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
Research found that more than 30,000 early deaths each year are attributable to alcohol misuse; that around a million children are living with parents who have drink problems; and that alcohol-related health problems cost the National Health Service around 3 billion a year.
Source: Alcohol Research Forum, 100% Proof, Alcohol Concern (020 7928 7377)
Links: BBC report
Date: 2002-Oct
The Department of Health and the Cabinet Office began a joint consultation exercise, designed to inform work on a National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy (promised in the 1999 White Paper 'Our Healthier Nation').
Source: National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy: Consultation Document, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf) | DH press release | 1999 White Paper
Date: 2002-Oct
A Bill to ban the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco had its third reading in the House of Commons.
Source: Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 21.10.02, columns 39-92, TSO (0870 600 5522)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 2.6
Date: 2002-Oct
A survey found no evidence of an increase in 'HIV complacency' amongst gay men in the United Kingdom.
Source: David Reid, Peter Weatherburn, Ford Hickson and Michael Stephens, Know the Score: Findings from the National Gay Men's Sex Survey 2001, Terrence Higgins Trust (020 7816 4643) and Sigma Research/University of Portsmouth
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 2.6
Date: 2002-Oct
An article argued that food and drink advertising targeted at children is contributing to an epidemic of obesity. But a think-tank pamphlet said that learning to handle advertising is part of children's education, and that children should not be protected from it by increased regulation.
Source: Faith McLellan, 'Marketing and advertising: harmful to children s health', The Lancet 28.9.02 (020 7424 4910) | Adrian Furnham, Growing Up With Advertising, Social Affairs Unit (020 7637 4356)
Links: Lancet | Independent article
Date: 2002-Sep
The drinks industry produced a revised code of practice clamping down on the use by alcohol producers of 'irresponsible' promotions, sponsorship deals, websites and branded merchandise such as toys and clothing.
Source: Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks (Third Edition), Portman Group (020 7907 3700)
Links: Code (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2002-Sep
A report on the health effects of climate change in the United Kingdom gave estimates for increased cases of food poisoning, skin cancer and heat-related deaths, and for decreased cases of cold-related deaths.
Source: Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK, Air and Noise Pollution Unit/Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 4.7
Date: 2002-Aug
The government announced a cross-cutting review of the problem of alcohol addiction.
Source: Strategy Unit Project on Tackling the Harm Associated with Alcohol Misuse - Scoping Note, Strategy Unit/Cabinet Office (020 7276 1881)
Links: Cabinet Office press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 2.6
Date: 2002-Jul
