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Act now over booze and fags
Calder Grove, Mytholmroyd
WE are a country that is supposed to be taking a grip on smoking, for the benefit of the nation's health.
I was pleased to hear Alan Johnson, Health Secretary, on TV state that he was considering that cigarettes should be out of sight in retail outlets and that vending machines should only be in venues where young people do not have access.
I was then surprised to hear that Scotland had already moved on the first issue and that other European countries have implemented the second.
Why are we trailing on these issues? Our Government should be at the forefront, not lagging behind. It is just another example of New Labour's ineffectiveness.
Then there is the issue of alcohol related illness, Calder-dale having the worst alcohol-related hospital admissions in West Yorkshire (Courier, May 23).
When is the Govenment going to tackle binge and excessive drinking? To start, there could be a ban on alcohol advertising, as happened with tobacco. Not only are binge drinkers at risk of damaging their health but also the many others who drink in excess of the recommended limits.
What we need is positive action to help reduce the ill health caused by alcohol and tobacco and we need it now!
(Coun) Christine
Bampton-Smith
(Lib Dem, Luddenden Foot)
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
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