SKOAL Bandits, tobacco sachets sucked in the mouth, are to be banned
by the Government because of the dangers, particularly to young people.
Health Secretary Mr Kenneth Clarke said yesterday he was acting to
''prevent our children and young people from taking up this dangerous
habit.''
The ban on all oral snuff will come into effect on March 13 and is
part of the Government's new campaign to curb teenage smoking.
Clarke added that the clampdown would prevent ''snuff-dipping'' --
holding tobacco between the cheek and gum so nicotine can be absorbed
into the bloodstream.
The best-known products are Skoal Bandits. The Government was
criticised in 1986 when it was disclosed it had given #193,000 in
development grants to an East Kilbride factory making them.
Mr CLarke said yesterday in a written Commons reply that snuff-dipping
was still fortunately uncommon in Britain.
However, he added: ''We have been seriously concerned by reports from
Sweden and the United States which show how attractive to young people
oral snuff can become.
''We have also taken into account evidence that this habit can result
in mouth cancer, which is particularly difficult to treat
successfully.''
The aim of the ban was ''to protect our population, particularly our
young people, from the serious health risks.
''The Government's action should nip this dangerous new habit in the
bud,'' said Mr Clarke.
The ban will not affect traditional chewing tobacco, loose tobacco
sold for pipes and cigarettes, or snuff taken by the nose.
Mr Clarke said the Government had received many calls to ban Skoal
Bandits and their like.
After consulting companies making oral snuff and other Common Market
countries, ''no new evidence or arguments have come to light which
suggest the proposed ban is not justified.''
Hamilton-East Kilbride Health Council has spearheaded a three-year
campaign against oral tobacco.
Winnie Sherry, secretary of the health council, said: ''I'm absolutely
delighted that the Government has at long last decided to respond to the
massive public opinion against these products.''
However, US Tobacco International, which employs 20 at the East
Kilbride factory, said it would fight the ''arbitrary and
discriminatory'' ban, which becomes effective in March.
It said in a statement: ''We are surprised and concerned that only
four years after having been invited by the Government to establish a
business in an area of high unemployment, such a blatantly
discriminatory ban should be proposed.
''We believe all tobacco products should be treated uniformly.
''The Government's arbitrary ban will unfairly discriminate against a
small sector of the tobacco market supplied only by companies importing
into the UK.
''Consequently, it violates the fundamental principles of
international trade. We intend to use all the means at our disposal to
challenge this decision.''
The company said the ''inconsistency'' behind the Government's action
was highlighted by the financial aid given to establish the factory, and
there had been ''full Government inter-departmental consultations''.
The company said: ''At the time the Department of Health concluded
that 'in the view of the long established freedom which allows all forms
of tobacco to be sold legally in the UK, it would be anomalous to take
action solely directed at oral snuff while other tobacco products are
sold legally in Britain'.''
US Tobacco International said only 29 days ago it had concluded a
revised marketing agreement with the Government similar to the
agreements on the sale of cigarettes.
East Kilbride MP Adam Ingram said: ''Given the support the company was
given to bring the jobs to East Kilbride, I will be seeking from the
appropriate Government Ministers whether or not they wil be prepared to
provide compensation to the employees.
''I will also be endeavouring to encourage the company to remain in
East Kilbride and to convert its productive processes to producing more
acceptible products.''
Strathclyde East Euro MP Ken Collins said: ''I'm very pleased that the
Government has at last listened to the Hamilton-East Kilbride Health
Council and in the meantime the European campaign will continue.''
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article