Beer mats linking smoking with the deadly radioactivity that killed the former Russian spy, have been condemned as “appalling bad taste”.
The harsh words come from a Newton Abbot publican who was delivered a batch of the anti-smoking mats with the question on the front: “What is polonium?” The answer to be found on the reverse is: “A radioactive chemical found in nuclear power stations and in cigarette smoke.”Polonium 210 is also the substance strongly suspected of poisoning Alexander Litvinenko, the ex Russian security officer, in London. It is 250 billion times deadlier than cyanide.
Kevin O’Connor, of the Swan Inn in Highweek Street, was stunned at the mats.
“It is really insensitive to say the least when polonium appears to have been used to kill this poor man.
“My customers were equally shocked, and the mats went straight into the bin.
“I realise they must have been produced some months ago, but releasing them at such a time seems really crass. This could backfire badly on the anti-smoking campaign.”
The Where There’s Smoke There’s Poison beer mats were produced by Cancer Research UK, with funding from the Department of Health.
Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ lobby group Forest, declared: “Cancer Research has shot itself in the foot. The timing of this campaign is not just offensive, it’s in appalling bad taste.
“I’m amazed nobody thought better of it, and pulled the plug.
“I’m sure most smokers will take the warning with a pinch of salt, but if Cancer Research is prepared to resort to this level of scare-mongering, some people may question whether it’s a charity worth supporting.
“How much lower are they going to go before they understand enough is enough?”
Professor Alex Markham, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “We apologise for any distress caused by the campaign.
“Polonium 210 is one of the chemicals featured to raise awareness of the 69 known cancer causing chemicals found in cigarette smoke.
“Our Smoke is Poison campaign was planned many months ago. Tens of thousands of people in the UK die every year as a result of smoking.
“Our campaign is designed to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking, and save some of those many lives.”
Ken Huggins – Director / Company Secretary
EasyStop (UK) Ltd
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