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Forest accuses Chancellor of being "heartless and cruel"
Wed 15th March, 2023
Forest has accused the Chancellor of being "heartless and cruel" after Jeremy Hunt increased cigarette duty by over 12%.
Simon Clark, director of Forest, said, "Punishing smokers for their habit during a cost of living crisis is heartless and cruel.
"It discriminates against poorer smokers and will drive many more consumers to the black market.
"This is bad news for legitimate, law-abiding retailers, and bad news for the Treasury which could lose billions of pounds in revenue if more smokers buy their tobacco from illicit traders."
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- Forest condemns Local Government Association call to ban smoking outside pubs, cafes and restaurants
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- Councils must prioritise help for local businesses not stop smoking services
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- Implying that smokers are a financial burden to society is "dishonest" and "economically illiterate" says Forest
- Ban on flavoured e-cigarettes would be a "massive own goal"
- Ireland: ‘Butt Out’ campaign aims to stop cigarette vending machine ban
- Poll: Public split on effectiveness of tobacco control laws
- Ban on flavoured e-cigarettes would be "criminal", says Forest
- Budget 2020: "Give smokers a break" says Forest Ireland
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- "A bin the butt campaign that ignores the importance of bins is a bit of a joke, to be honest."
- Vaping not a substitute for all prisoners who smoke, says Forest
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- Forest condemns Welsh Government plans to extend the smoking ban
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- Lift ban on vaping on hospital grounds, says Forest
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- Ireland: Forest attacks proposal to ban smoking in outdoor areas where food is served
- War on smoking has gone far enough, Forest tells mayor
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- Plain packs: Forest calls for UK policy review following "five years of failure" in Australia
- Budget 2017: Poor sacrificed on altar of public health, says Forest
- Senator wins 'nanny-in-chief' award
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- Health minister should decline WHO award
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March
- Councils urged to review funding of anti-tobacco campaign group
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- Forest welcomes defeat of Public Health (Wales) Bill
- "Increasing cost of tobacco benefits no-one apart from spivs and criminals"
- Forest slams "pointless" car smoking ban
- Poll: Little support for further increases in tobacco taxation
- Increasing tobacco taxation is "economic madness"
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February
- Jury still out on plain packaging says Forest
- Campaigners urge Chancellor to "be fair to smokers"
- Forest slams call for more cash to reduce adult smoking rate
- Axe the tobacco duty escalator, says Forest
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- Smoking in cars with children: "education better than big stick"
- Leave health workers alone, says Forest
- Plain packaging process has been a "sham"
- "What next? Standardised packaging for alcohol and sugary drinks?"
- No public desire for plain packaging say campaigners
- Stop the nonsense say critics of plain packaging
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February
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January
- Government must resist temptation to over-regulate electronic cigarettes, says Forest
- Government urged to publish plain pack consultation report "promptly" and "without further delay"
- Forest condemns decision to bring forward plain packaging legislation
- Campaigners urge Scottish Government to reject new laws on e-cigs and tobacco
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- Tory MP leads opposition to ban on smoking in cars
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- Register now if you want to change the smoking ban
- ASH awarded WHO medal on 40th "birthday"
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- Don't discriminate against smokers, Forest tells NHS
- Imperial Tobacco praised for tobacco consultation response
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