Schuman trial on home smoking: Repace debates

I got my version of this from Frank Davis who raises his hat to CAGE Canada for the story.

The trial concerns some ultra-sensitive plaintiff who has brought in a private prosecution against a smoker, in a case that will test home smoking bans. The trial has seen some dramatic moments ...

This link describes the case, and a discussion follows in which chief witness for the plaintiff wades right in. Not any old witness – this is James Repace. The debate is worth following just to see how he manages (not quite unnoticed) to evade questions and fail to cite evidence when asked to.

I don't quite understand how he gets away with participating given that the proceedings are not yet over – glad he did though.

Learning Outcomes to be awarded at anti-smoking conference

The Scottish Tobacco Control Alliance (ASH Scotland) announces a conference on smokefree homes and cars, to be held in March in Dundee.

Two things stand out: one is that the problem of secondary smoke in the home seems to be the preserve of people from 'poorer backgrounds'. Does this mean that the list of alleged ill effects are also related with being poor?

More than half of babies and young children from poorer backgrounds are regularly exposed to SHS in the home, compared with less than a fifth of UK children from families with a professional background.  Exposure to SHS in childhood is associated with reduced lung function, middle ear disease, an increased risk of respiratory symptoms and a higher incidence of respiratory tract infections.  SHS exposure has also been shown to be a cause of cot death.

The second is that this event seems to have been set up to 'qualify' relevant personnel in talking people out of smoking at home, by the award of Learning Outcomes in the National Health Service 'Knowledge and Skills Framework'.  The link 'Learning Outcomes' on the page linked above sets out the details in a Word document.

This conference (thanks to NHS Scotland funding) is free of charge. Magnificent: Scottish national certificates in attempting to convert stubborn smokers in deprived areas ... whatever will they think of next?

Survey: ASH Scotland Tobacco Control Strategy

ASH Scotland Survey: on subjects like helping people give up smoking, discouraging them smoking in the home and in the car. There is a space for comments.

No doubt this will be circulated among ASH's contacts in Tobacco Control and used to prove that the public overwhelmingly supports ASH.