McCarthy hails tobacco advertising ban

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 2nd Aug 2005

Strangford Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy has hailed yesterday's coming into law of a ban on tobacco advertising as a big step towards a healthier environment.

Alderman McCarthy said:

"The right to a healthy environment must be paramount at all times, and this is a big step in the right direction.

"Indeed, it is a little unfortunate we have had to wait such a long time. Four years ago, during my time on the Assembly's Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee, I and others are on record as being in favour of this move.

"Coming as it does the week after the death of Professor Sir Richard Doll, who first linked tobacco to lung cancer over half a century ago, this is a fitting legacy to his pioneering work. Half of those who smoke will die of a smoking-related disease, and this is a statistic that simply cannot be ignored, either by government or by society."

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:

The ban applies across the EU, with some minor exceptions (such as "national events").