Hazel Cheeseman
@hazelcheeseman.bsky.social
Chief Executive at UK public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) www.ash.org.uk
The idea that people want AI oversight to happen "all of a sudden" ignores years of research, warnings, and policy efforts. The delay hasn’t been a lack of awareness; it’s been because of years of industry lobbying against regulation, political resistance, and inaction.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 3w agoBlanche on AI: "The answer is not to just all of the sudden try to regulate this"
📢 The Govt is consulting on proposals to reduce the appeal of vapes to young people. You can respond here: consultations.dhsc.gov.uk/tobacco-and-... ASH's guide on responding is HERE: ash.org.uk/campaigns/th...
Tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display - Department of Health and Social Care
consultations.dhsc.gov.uk
Action on Smoking Health (UK)@ashorguk.bsky.social · 4w agoWhilst vapes are an effective smoking cessation tool for adult smokers, they should not be used by children or young people. Yet, they are being displayed in plain view of children, with bright and colourful packaging.
There are other reasons to do it, but tbh 'wrecking ball to the gambing industry' is enough incentive
The Times and Sunday Times@thetimes.com · 4w agoThe Betfred co-founder argues that after all the tax and wage rises already imposed on the industry, a raid on slot machines would be a wrecking ball
🎥 Watch our Policy and Public Affairs Manager John Waldron give evidence to the London Assembly Health Committee on youth vaping.
LHGP Director Prof. Anna Gilmore and Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Exec of @ashorguk.bsky.social, are today speaking at The King's Fund's prevention conference, examining what works, what gets in the way, and what leaders need to do next. www.kingsfund.org.uk/events/preve...
From evidence to impact: making prevention stick | The King's Fund
The UK faces profound health challenges. Prevention can help – but is often sidelined when pressure mounts. Join us to explore how to keep progress going when the system is under strain.
kingsfund.org.uk
We were pleased to host an event yesterday bringing together 150 colleagues from across the South of England, focusing on how we can work together to implement the upcoming smokefree generation policy, and maximise the opportunity that this presents for public health. Thank you to all our speakers.
Writing in The Grocer, ASH Deputy CE @carolinecerny.bsky.social explains the upcoming regulations on tobacco and nicotine products as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Act. Caroline highlights the vital role that retailers will play in ensuring this next chapter of the smokefree journey is a success🚭
Retailers are central to the next chapter of the smoke-free journey
New regulations are imminent - but much of what retailers will be asked to do will already feel very familiar, says Caroline Cerny of Action on Smoking & Health
thegrocer.co.uk
There's been media attention today about a review by RCPCH highlighting evidence on vaping & the risks it poses to young people. On BBC Breakfast, ASH Deputy CE Caroline Cerny said young people shouldn't use vapes. However, it's important that vapes are accessible for adult smokers who want to quit.
Today, the CTSI, ASH, ASH Northern Ireland & ASH Wales have written to retailers following the publication of Govt guidance on upcoming regulations as part of the Tobacco & Vapes Act. The letter sets out the key changes alongside practical guidance to support implementation. Read more here:
Health organisations urge retailers to prepare for next phase of Tobacco & Vapes Act
A joint statement has been issued by CTSI, ASH, ASH Northern Ireland and ASH Wales for retailers
conveniencestore.co.uk
ASH, @thebhf.bsky.social and @cancerresearchuk.org welcome the appointment of Andrew Black, former British civil servant, to the role of Head of Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
@marykfoymp.bsky.social is right, we need to make sure that dodgy shops no longer operate on high streets as their existence fuels harm misperceptions. However, there is a balance to be struck and we need to make sure that vape shops that ARE supporting smokers to quit can continue to do so.
Mary Kelly Foy MP@marykfoymp.bsky.social · 2mo agoI’ve long heard concerns re vape shops, betting shops & dodgy businesses on our streets. As MP I’ve worked hard as Co-Chair of the APPG on Smoking & Health & on the Public Bill Committee to ensure more would be done to tackle the scourge of illicit vape shops unashamedly targetting children.
Watch ASH CE @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social speak on GB News today about the importance of the indoor smoking ban. 📺 Hazel highlighted the popularity of the law and its hugely positive impact on public health - the law prevented 1,200 emergency admissions from heart attacks in its first year alone.🚭
ASH CE @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social explained on LBC this morning that a rise in people buying illicit tobacco doesn’t mean an increase to the size of the illicit market.
What is striking to me is that Rolling Stone has had a long commercial relationship with PMI. www.rollingstone.com/author/prese... Perhaps the editorial choice to have this cover picture is unrelated but it sure points to a culture of being comfortable with big tobacco
I Liv, I Die, Oliviagain Hill@machineiv.bsky.social · 3mo agoI genuinely hate the push to make smoking a thing again. I have watched so many drawn out, ugly, painful deaths from smoking. It makes everything disgusting. It enslaves us to the worst kinds of corporations. There’s ZERO positive here.
What is striking to me is that Rolling Stone has had a long commercial relationship with PMI. www.rollingstone.com/author/prese... Perhaps the editorial choice to have this cover picture is unrelated but it sure points to a culture of being comfortable with big tobacco
I Liv, I Die, Oliviagain Hill@machineiv.bsky.social · 3mo agoI genuinely hate the push to make smoking a thing again. I have watched so many drawn out, ugly, painful deaths from smoking. It makes everything disgusting. It enslaves us to the worst kinds of corporations. There’s ZERO positive here.
Wishing the England men's football team all the best for their game this evening. We've got our match snacks at the ready.
The UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Act puts the end of smoking within reach, but the job is not done New comment in Lancet Regional Health Europe with @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social and @jamiebrown.bsky.social www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
The UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Act puts the end of smoking within reach, but the job is not done
The UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Act marks a defining moment in tobacco control. Its smokefree generation policy—prohibiting the sale of all tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009—repres...
thelancet.com
Cigarette tax policies in #SriLanka 🇱🇰 receive only 2.38 out of 5️⃣ pts in the #CigaretteTaxScorecard 📚 #Cigarette prices are relatively high, yet Sri Lanka has not reduced affordability over time & uses a complex tax structure. Learn more about its score 👇 www.economicsforhealth.org/research/cig...
The public are many times more likely to think vaping is as harmful as smoking than they are to think it is less harmful. But it is less harmful. Not harmless, it still needs regulation, we still don't want kids to vape. But if you smoke and you switch that is better than continuing to smoke.
Action on Smoking Health (UK)@ashorguk.bsky.social · 3mo ago📉New ASH data has shown that 54% of UK adults & 52% of people who smoke wrongly believe vaping is as harmful or more harmful than smoking. As ASH CE @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social says, there are concerns that these misperceptions may prevent people from using vapes to quit smoking. 👇
Legislation driving improvements in public health. Love a graph.
Met Office - weather and climate@metoffice.gov.uk · 3mo agoYesterday marked 70 years since the UK Clean Air Act 1956 - the first national legislation to tackle air pollution, introduced in response to the devastating Great Smog of London in 1952. The graphic below is courtesy of airqualitystripes.info. 🧵 1/5
This morning ASH Chief Executive @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social gave evidence to the Treasury Select Committee session on tax and duty non-compliance on high streets. Hazel answered questions from committee members on tobacco taxation and the illicit tobacco and vape market.
FACTCHECK: A few small details that may be relevant… * EDF is bidding into the next windfarm auction (AR8) * EDF does not want that auction to be stopped * EDF plans to expand its own UK wind/solar capacity from 2-10GW by 2035
Lung cancer deaths trace the rise and fall of smoking— Lung cancer kills more than two million people every year, making it the most fatal cancer globally. While a number of factors increase the risk, the 20th century brought one like no other: smoking.
📻 Listen to our CE @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social speak on Radio 5 Live this morning about extending smokefree restrictions to pub gardens, as new ASH data shows 62% of the public support this. You can listen to the full interview here (beginning at 1:55): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Gave the approach mentioned in the article a go this morning in a Bristol shopping centre. Had conversations with people with very different perspectives & backgrounds. Not seeking to persuade just listen & understand. Moving how ppl share their life stories to some random guy from a local charity!
George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 5mo agoThere is a way out of our political spiral, and it is thrilling and inspiring. We could have a very different country. This week's column. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
20 years on, the Govt has consulted on extending smokefree places to some additional outdoor settings However as our CE @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social says there's public support for stronger action & extending these protections to more outdoor spaces would be the next step towards a smokefree society
