Two weeks ago Cancer Research UK complained that local authorities were cutting budgets for stop smoking services.
According to George Butterworth, CRUK’s tobacco policy manager:
“These services are under threat from a lack of sustainable funding. The Government must establish a sustainable funding model for local tobacco control and stop smoking services before they are eroded further ...
“We believe the tobacco industry should pay for the damage their products cause. A levy on the tobacco industry should be used to provide sustainable funding for Stop Smoking Services and mass media campaigns to help people quit.”
See Stop Smoking Services at threat as funding comes under pressure (CRUK).
Now, six weeks before the Budget in March, CRUK has launched a campaign and petition calling on the tobacco industry to "cough up" (sic).
Cancer Research UK is today (Tuesday) calling on the Government to make the tobacco industry pay for the damage it causes and help reduce the number of people killed by its deadly product.
Earlier this month a report published by Cancer Research UK revealed that cuts to public health funding mean local Stop Smoking Services are being closed down.
In response, the charity is launching a new “Cough Up” campaign, and wants the public to support a simple solution to the problem – making the tobacco industry pay for public health services and mass media quit campaigns to help save thousands of lives.
Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK’s director of cancer prevention, said: “For too long the tobacco industry has had an easy ride, making money without having to spend a single pound on the damage its products cause. It continues to profit from selling a highly addictive and lethal product that causes illness and death.
"Tobacco companies make billions of pounds every year, so we’d like to see them using their profits to keep Stop Smoking Services open and fund advertising campaigns to help people quit. At a time when health budgets are stretched, this is a simple solution to a lethal problem. We urge the Government to make the industry cough up.”
Earlier this evening (following a late tip-off) Forest issued this response:
The smokers' group Forest has urged the government to reject calls to make tobacco companies "cough up" to help reduce the number of smokers in the UK.
Cancer Research UK wants the tobacco industry to fund public health services and mass media quit campaigns.
According to CRUK, by charging the industry around 1p per cigarette sold in the UK, an extra £500m could be raised and spent directly on tobacco control.
Simon Clark, director of Forest, said: “A tobacco levy would almost certainly be passed on to the consumer.
"Enough's enough. Smokers already contribute £10 billion a year in tobacco tax. That far outweighs the alleged cost of treating smoking-related diseases. Why should they pay more?
“Another increase in price would hit the elderly, the low paid and others who can least afford it. It would also hurt convenience stores because it would fuel illicit trade.”
He added: "Nothing has changed since the Chancellor rejected a tobacco levy last year. This is just another attempt to recycle a tired idea that has very little support."
For those who don't remember, here's a reminder of what happened last year – Tobacco levy, ASH and Forest's response and ASH's demand for tobacco levy goes up in smoke.
Like the European Commission the unelected tobacco control industry doesn't take 'No' for an answer, hence they're back (with reinforcements).
If Osborne withstands the persistent pounding on the door of No 11 I'll be pleasantly surprised.
Sugar tax, tobacco levy, minimum pricing of alcohol … Strap yourselves in, it's going to be a bumpy ride.