Devon health bosses sign declaration on tobacco control

Devon County Council has signed up to a national initiative  to protect its residents’ health from the risks associated with smoking. The Declaration, which has been widely endorsed by leading figures and organisations in the public health community, including the Public Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer and Public Health England, commits the Council to specific actions to reduce smoking prevalence and health inequalities. Find out more

E-cigarette caused fire in house

Firefighters in Dartmouth discovered that a small fire in a house was caused by an electronic cigarette.  They were able to use thermal imaging equipment to track the source of the fire to the device.  More

Heathrow Airport licenses 'first' e-cigarette zone

Heathrow Airport says it is opening the world's first e-cigarette zone. So-called "vaping" is banned in the rest of the airport but e-cigarette maker Gamucci is being licensed to set up the zone for its customers. Although e-cigarettes are not subject to the UK's smoking ban, many transport groups and restaurants have banned them along with tobacco ones

Changes to the Smokefree signage Law

Employers, please note The Health Act 2006 stipulated in detail what smokefree  signage should be displayed at entrances to public places (including workplaces) and in vehicles.  These regulations have been relaxed under the Red Tape Challenge. Find out more

Thousands of children regularly exposed to second-hand smoke in car

New figures released by the British Lung Foundation show that around 185,000 children between the ages of 11-15 in England are exposed to potentially toxic concentrations of second-hand smoke in their family car every day or most days. Find out more

New NICE guidance recommends all hospitals have smokefree sites

The guidance clearly sets out how to support people using acute, maternity and mental health services to stop smoking. Details

Standardised packs

The government has opened the way for standardised packaging of cigarettes by asking  paediatrician Sir Cyril Chantler to carry out a rapid review of the evidence, which will be completed by March. More

Make a noise

A pilot project which encourages students to highlight the harms of smoking to their peers is proving a success at a two schools in Devon

The Tobacco Products Directive

In October, Members of the European Parliament voted on the Tobacco Products Directive. As a result, a number of tobacco control priorities were secured

Cigarette breaks

Every day, smokers spend an average of 45 minutes away from their work, which adds up to nearly four hours per week. Details

Illegal tobacco seller convicted

A Newton Abbot man has been sentenced following guilty pleas to selling illicit tobacco from his home