Britain on public health warpath, targets smoking

The British government will launch a long-awaited policy paper on public health next week with plans to curb public smoking, tackle obesity and address the way food companies target children through advertising.

A government official said the Public Health White Paper would be published on Tuesday, following hard on the heels of a decision by the Scottish parliament to ban smoking in public buildings from 2006.

The Scottish ban is expected to be implemented in bars, restaurants and other enclosed public spaces.

For England and Wales, Health Secretary John Reid is reported to be holding out against such a sweeping embargo.

A White Paper spells out firm government plans to legislate, although there is no guarantee when they would become law.

Tobacco and alcohol companies, including pub management firms, fear the proposals will cost them trade.

Food companies and supermarkets have equal reason to be interested.

Officials said the bill is likely to act against television advertising for "junk food," aimed squarely at children, and demand more rigorous labelling of products for things like fat and salt content.

"This is about much more than just cigarettes," one government official said.

SMOKE SIGNALS

But measures against smoking will grab the headlines.

Deaths from tobacco-related diseases have dropped during the past decade but smoking still kills about 106,000 people each year in Britain, the Health Development Agency said on Friday.

Despite efforts to get people to kick the habit, about 28 percent of men in England and 26 percent of women smoke.

"We are in the grip of a smoking epidemic: an estimated 106,000 people in the UK are dying needlessly each year from smoking," said Liam Donaldson, Britain's chief medical officer.

Reid, a former heavy smoker, has said the status quo is not an option. He is thought to have accepted a ban in workplaces but will leave some leeway for bars and restaurants.

The government is acutely conscious of accusations it is running a "nanny state," dictating how people live their lives.

Eight months ago, Ireland became the first country in the world to ban smoking in restaurants and pubs.

Since then others, including Norway and Malta, have imposed similar bans and even heavy-smoking Russians face a clampdown on puffing in public places courtesy of a bill adopted by parliament on Friday.

Britain's second largest pubs group, Punch Taverns, reporting a rise in profits on Thursday, downplayed its concern.

"There is a decline in pub smoking and clearly the Scottish issue will accelerate this, but it's not a major issue for us," chief executive Giles Thorley said.