More New South Wales - Sweeping Anti-Tobacco Measures..

August 4, 2008 - Do you recognize the adult in the image - it's the Honorable Morris Iemma, the Premier of the State of New South Wales, Australia. The premier along with his cabinet refused to give in to the pressure applied by big tobacco and did what is best to protect the health of their constituents.

Tobacco industry is now under threat as the New South Wales smoking restrictions become law. As we know, tobacco advertising and marketing contribute significantly to the use of tobacco products by children and adults. Mike Szymanczyk now the CEO of Altria, Inc. states that Philip Morris owes their success to the ability to connect with adult tobacco consumers through the in-store experience and the development of one-to-one relationships using their database of 25 million adult cigarette smokers (Remarks, Investor Presentation, 3/11/2008). No longer coffin nails peddlers will be able to connect with kids and the majority of adult smokers that want to quit.

Premier MORRIS IEMMA: We're announcing the toughest and most sweeping reforms to tobacco laws in the nation and it's all about protecting the health of our children and our grandchildren. (Public health expert Professor Simon Chapman tells the ABC's Philippa McDonald tough new NSW laws are the biggest anti-smoking step in Australia since 1976.)

Professor Mike Daube, president of the Australian Council on Smoking and Health, has indicated it's time that we move to plain packaging of cigarettes. This would be good.. André Calantzopoulos, the Chief Operating Officer of Philip Morris International (PMI), has stated that PMI is strongly opposed to generic packaging. (London, Tobacco Conference, 6/27/2008) More Professor Daube: New South Wales is going to be one of the leading states around the world in eliminating the dangers of tobacco but what has to be done first is to have these anti-tobacco measures accepted throughout the nation.

Australia has one of the lowest levels of smoking anywhere in the world, with only 18 per cent of men and 16 per cent of women regular smokers, down from 40 per cent of men and 32 per cent of women in 1983.

Reference: Tobacco industry under threat over NSW smoking sale laws by Jayne Margetts, PM - 7/30/2008 and New_South_Wales_bans_cigarette_displays, Monstersandcritics.com, 7/30/2008.

Directly related news brief: New South Wales - tough new anti-tobacco laws approved.. and New South Wales - Big Tobacco Influencing Cabinet's Decision... For more on Australia and anti-tobacco measures do a random search.

Smokeless tobacco is banned in Australia. First to act were a number of states; then a ban was placed on the products federally in 1991.