ASH Ireland surprised that a major figure in Irish sport takes Tobacco Post

Date: 19 August 2009

ASH Ireland is surprised that Richard Burrows has taken Tobacco Post

ASH Ireland is surprised that Richard Burrows has accepted the Chairmanship of British American Tobacco (B.A.T.), one of the biggest tobacco manufacturers in the world. Mr Burrows has been a major figure in Irish sport, especially sailing, for decades.

Dr Angie Brown, Chairperson ASH Ireland said today, “I am surprised that Mr Burrows, such an esteemed figure in Irish sport, has decided to link up with the tobacco industry. Mr Burrows will be well aware that millions of people die from the effects of smoking around the world each year and many of these cigarettes are developed and manufactured by B.A.T. This is an industry which aggressively markets an addictive killer product – and still endeavours to maintain that passive smoke is harmless - despite it being graded as a class one carcinogen by the W.H.O.

Smoking kills close to 7,000 people in Ireland each year and 500,000 in the E.U. Tobacco is the only product on the market, which is guaranteed to have a serious negative impact on users health – and will eventually kill a large percentage of them”.

ENDS

Further information contact:
Wally Young, Young Communications, 01 6680530, 087 2471520
ASH Ireland, 01 2310521