By Chris Story

Last updated at 14:26, Wednesday, 18 November 2009

Cumbria's public health chief believes a new law could prove a life-saver in the county.

John Ashton

Dr John Ashton has welcomed legislation aimed at protecting children and young people from the harmful effects of tobacco.

Tough new rules will stop cigarettes being advertised openly in shops – a move supporters hope will reduce the number of children taking up the habit.

Three people a week, on average, die every day from a smoking-related illness in Cumbria. And Dr Ashton, NHS Cumbria’s director of public health, believes new rules will break the “depressing cycle” tobacco brings.

Peers in the House of Lords last week backed laws to remove cigarettes and tobacco from display at points of sale and to get rid of cigarette vending machines.

The new legislation will come into effect for large retailers in 2011 and for small retailers two years later.

Dr Ashton, who has spoken repeatedly of the effects smoking has on health in the county, said: “If we want to cut the number of smoking-related deaths we must reduce the number of young people taking up smoking.

“Tobacco is one of the few legally-available products which, if used in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions, will lead to serious ill-health or early death.

“To stay in business, tobacco companies must recruit new smokers each year to replace those who die. Preventing the promotion and easy access to tobacco products in this way is an important step in curbing this depressing cycle.”

Smokefree North West chairman Dr Janet Atherton has also welcomed the legislation.

She said: “Last year, more than 60,000 people in the north west responded to the Department of Health’s consultation on the Future of Tobacco Control, showing support for new measures to protect children and young people from the harmful effects of tobacco.”

First published at 11:37, Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk