Wolves lift ban on e-cigs at Halliwell Jones after signing new sponsorship deal

[josie andrews]

Disgusted by the lifting of e cigarette ban


WE as season ticket holders are disgusted to learn that spectators at Warrington Wolves will now be able to smoke e-cigs anywhere in the ground. As I am an asthma sufferer I don't want to sit and breathe in the smoke/vapour while watching the matches.

Could it not be restricted to on the concourses?

There has been a no smoking policy since the ground opened so why change it now?

BARBARA GILL Lymm

http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/you ... an/?ref=mr

It seems some of Wire's supporters are not happy about this too!

[OJ]

It was the front page of the Warrington Guardian this week and there do seem to be a lot of Wire fans up in arms about it but think the club will be more interested in the sponsorship money and will assume (probably correctly unfortunately) that the fuss will go away when once the new season starts.
http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/new ... e_cig_ban/

Health chief questions Wolves e-cig ban


E-cig ban u-turn as club signs new deal


FANS have voiced outrage after Warrington Wolves lifted a ban on electronic cigarettes.

The move – allowing supporters to smoke e-cigs during games – coincides with a new sponsorship deal with Truvape and will also see Wolves branded e-cigs on sale in the club shop.

The deal, which was believed to be signed in November for a substantial figure, will see the electronic cigarette company take over sponsorship of the South Stand for two years.

But health chief Dr Andy Davies, clinical chief officer from Warrington’s CCG, said he was disappointed in the club and called the sponsorship deal a ‘retrograde step’.

He added: “The jury is still out on e-cigarettes.

“They still contain nicotine which can increase blood pressure and heart rate and while carcinogens are not present, there are a whole host of other chemicals there.

“From a medical perspective, I’m not convinced it’s a good idea to allow sponsorship n Continued on page 6 of a facility which is delivering health care services like a community physio and wellbeing initiatives.

“It feels like the tobacco industry is getting around legislation that saw adverts for smoking banned.”

Fans have also reacted strongly on the Warrington Guardian’s Facebook page, with many commenting it sets a bad example for younger fans, while others argued they could not see a problem with the move.

A Warrington Guardian online ballot found 53 per cent of readers were opposed to the ban being lifted.

A spokesman for the club, whose chairman Steven Broomhead is also chairman of the town’s health and wellbeing board, said they had ‘never condoned smoking in any way’ and the move followed a similar decision by the O2 Arena in 2013.

Alex Wilson, Wolves’ commercial manager, said: “We are firmly committed to helping our fans make informed choices, particularly when it comes to health and fitness.

“Obviously the best option is to never smoke at all, but as a percentage of our fans are already smokers, we are pleased to be able to encourage them to consider switching to alternatives by allowing vaping in certain areas of the stadium, as well as providing a branded vapouriser that can be purchased on site.

“We initially introduced the vaping ban as a ‘just in case’ measure, but are now happy to reverse this as more news on the industry comes to light.

“We believe this partnership will help our fans enjoy a better matchday experience and provide those who smoke with an alternative that experts believe has the potential to hugely reduce harm.”

A club spokesman added Truvape had no ties to the tobacco industry and although ‘vaping’ had been a controversial topic in the press, recent UK figures from the Office of National Statistics have shown that fears that they may ‘lure’ non-smokers into smoking are unfounded.

The club also confirmed it would continue to enforce its no-smoking policy just as ‘strenuously’ as in previous seasons.

[Kittwazzer]

I am a non smoker. E-Cigs have been around for a while but I rarely see many people with them. I presumed they would be a fad and many of the businesses selling them would close. Is that not the case?

Not at all. Reason you don't see them so much is because most ecigs are of the 'Bic biro' type which make them look a bit silly so they tend to turn away and vape furtively. Ironically, a number of my friends use these things but will still join me outside the pub for a normal smoke. Sort of defeats the object surely?

[skem01]

A complete disgrace, shame on you Warrington Wolves. nothing more to say

I totally agree with you

[medlocke]

nothing more than a crutch for the weak, no doubt countless of serious health issues will arise in future due to vaping, if you want to stop smoking just stop, it's as easy as that

[cpwigan]

nothing more than a crutch for the weak, no doubt countless of serious health issues will arise in future due to vaping, if you want to stop smoking just stop, it's as easy as that

As a non smoker, hate cigarettes I would still disagree.

My father was a heavy smoker and gave up just like that, he smoked consulate which might have helped.

My mother is a heavy smoker and has tried umpteen times, ways to give up but never managed it.

Personally, I hate the things and wish they never existed (cigarettes)

[medlocke]

nothing more than a crutch for the weak, no doubt countless of serious health issues will arise in future due to vaping, if you want to stop smoking just stop, it's as easy as that

As a non smoker, hate cigarettes I would still disagree.

My father was a heavy smoker and gave up just like that, he smoked consulate which might have helped.

My mother is a heavy smoker and has tried umpteen times, ways to give up but never managed it.

Personally, I hate the things and wish they never existed (cigarettes)

I see what your saying, suppose it depends on a persons will power, i used to smoke 40 a day for years, i tried 3 times to stop, the first time was 5 month, the second time was for 18 month but started again after the death of my best mate (who died after a gas explosion in his flat in Hyde), the 3rd time was the one, i smoked my last fags during our opening game of 2006 (think it was against Wire but could be wrong), nit took around 10 days to get over them and will not go back to the disgusting things, the smell of them now make me bork, in the end it was either my health or the nicotine, found it harder trying to stop crisps 18 month ago

[weststand-rich]

It's a bad, bad decision from the HWJ and one I hope they would reconsider. For a club that purports to be promoting a family sport and the pinnacle of athletic endevour, they should be taking a firm moral view on this and not be actively promoting any nicotine products full-stop.

Nicotine use via an e-cig is the drug equivalent of methadrone use by a heroin addict. It satisfies the addiction without all the worst of the harm, but just effectively 'parks' the addiction without addressing it.

For what it's worth, I'm sure (relatively speaking) that nicotine inhalation is less harmful than smoking tobacco, but that doesn't mean that it's harmless. These devices should be medicalised and regulated as such for smokers trying to quit. They should be the last resort of heavy smokers, not a new avenue to use nicotine. Advertising them in anyway should be banned and any attempt to re-normalise nicotine addiction as 'vaping' should be very heavily fined. As should flavouring the gels in any way, shape or form.

There's a reason prisoners can smoke in prison. You can lock a man up, take away his freedom, his family, friends and drinking. But prisoners can still smoke. That's becuase if governors banned it, they would have a full scale riot on their hands within 3 days as the withdrawal kicked in properly. Nicotine is a pointless, pointless drug and is as addictive as crystal meth and crack cocaine.

Rant over.

[gruffy]

nothing more than a crutch for the weak, no doubt countless of serious health issues will arise in future due to vaping, if you want to stop smoking just stop, it's as easy as that

Gave up 5 years ago after smoking for 20 years and yes these things apart looking daft are just a crutch,hell if you want to give up smoking give up simple as that.

As for this move by Warrington money talks doesnt it?

[medlocke]

nothing more than a crutch for the weak, no doubt countless of serious health issues will arise in future due to vaping, if you want to stop smoking just stop, it's as easy as that

Gave up 5 years ago after smoking for 20 years and yes these things apart looking daft are just a crutch,hell if you want to give up smoking give up simple as that.

As for this move by Warrington money talks doesnt it?

was reading a new report the other day saying that theres ten times more cancer causing chemicals produced by them than normal ciggies, if true then what is the government doing allowing such things to exsist