Action on Smoking and Health
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a pressure group which seeks to publicise the health risks associated with tobacco smoking and campaigns for greater restrictions thereon.
In February 2006, it won its campaign for a total ban of smoking in enclosed public places in England from summer 2007.[1][2] This includes all pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants, as well as workplaces and private members clubs. A similar ban came into force in Scotland in March 2006,[3] and will do so in Northern Ireland and Wales in April 2007.
The UK Government is also raising the minimum age of being allowed to buy cigarettes from 16 to 18 from 1 October 2007.[4]
ASH was established in 1971 by the Royal College of Physicians following the failure of the UK Government to act on the College's request for effective laws to reduce tobacco use. Former health minister, John Dunwoody, became its first director.
The FOREST pressure group takes the opposite viewpoint of ASH, by campaigning for people's rights to smoke.
[edit] References
- ^ "England smoke ban to start 1 July", BBC, December 1, 2006.
- ^ England to go smokefree on 1 July 2007: truly a time for celebration. ASH. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
- ^ "Scotland smoking ban to go ahead", BBC, December 1, 2006.
- ^ "Cigarette-buying age set to rise", BBC, January 1, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Official ASH Site
- ASH USA Site
- Scottish ASH Site
- BBC timeline on smoking and associated diseases
- FOREST site : pro-smoking campaign Site
- Article on smoking ban on BBC News website
- [1] Spies, Smoking, and Radiation Sickness.
