Snus News & Other Tobacco Products

another TOBaCCO control FAILURE- e-cigaretttes A tobacco PODUCTUCTsDUCTCTOs.

2011-05-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

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J"Because e-cigarettes have not been thoroughly tested, one cannot conclude that they are less harmful or less dangerous than conventional cigarettes," said Dr. Langston. "The fact that they come in fruit and candy flavors gives them the potential to entice new nicotine users, especially teens." Some of flvors include o, Mint, Apple, Chocolate, and Strawberry. You can pick your nicotine level and the flavor you want for your electronic cigarette set that comes with additional refills, or if you already have your e-cigarette, pick the flavor of your cartridge refills.

Today's annoucement april 25 , 2011 by the FDA http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm252360.htm to not appeal Judge Richard Leon's ruling in NJOY v FDA https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_ doc?2009cv0771-54 to the US Supreme Court means that e-cigarettes, e-liquid, nicotine gums, lozenges, patches, skin creams and nasal sprays are now unregulate tobacco products according to federal law (as long as no therapeutic claim is made by the manufacturer/importer).

These nicotine products now join cigars and pipe tobacco as unregulated tobacco products under the . Currently regulated products include cigarettes, roll-your-own, and smokeless tobacco.

U.S. FDA for our children must limit the availability of menthol cigarettes..

IF THE FDA DOES NOT limit the availability of menthol cigarettes..THE Family Smoking Prevention Tobacco Control Act CAN BE CONSIDER A FAILURE...

Why we need a ban on menthol cigarettes,
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Vermont - $1 cigarette tax is likely up in smoke..

2011-04-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

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APRIL 30, 2011

VERMONT
February 3, 2011 - Vermont’s anti-tobacco forces are pressing lawmakers to boost the state’s per-pack tax — now $2.24 — in hopes of offsetting planned budget cuts to anti-tobacco efforts, raising more money for the state and discouraging people from lighting up.

A new survey shows strong public support for an 81-cent increase in Vermont's tax on a pack of cigarettes -- a finding the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Vermont is using to support its drive for the tax change, reported the Burlington Free Press. The poll showed even stronger support -- 88 percent -- for raising taxes on other tobacco products such as cigars and chewing tobacco, Vermont - Anti-smoking group proposes tax increase, public survey agrees..;

APRIL 29th - A heavy lobbying campaign to increase Vermont’s cigarette tax will continue its legislative push in an effort to reduce smoking rates while raising an additional $10 million in revenue.House members recently voted on a 27-cent increase on the state’s cigarette tax (currently at $2.24) before the Senate voted last week on a 53-cent hike in the Miscellaneous Tax bill. But the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Vermont says that is not enough to discourage smokers from lighting up.

"We are strongly still championing at least a 10 percent increase. We would love a dollar because that would bring the best public health benefit to Vermont, but you need to have at least a 65 cent increase (that would be a 10 percent increase) ... studies have shown that at least a 10 percent increase is needed to have a public health impact," said coalition coordinator Tina Zuk.

"Twenty-seven cents is just not worth it, and it doesn’t even produce that much revenue for the state and it probably won’t have any public health impact because you need to have a significant increase for [smokers] to even notice it," she said.

Anti-smoking groups have pressured lawmakers to support a $1 increase in the tax, citing the hike as the most effective way to prevent youth smoking. Raising the tax would create a $10.2 million increase in new revenue as well, according to the coalition.

"I think it’s important to not only look at the budget now, but down the road. We can’t be short-sighted with what we’re doing fiscally now because we’ll pay for it later," Zuk said.

But Gov. Peter Shumlin, a first-term Democrat, has lobbied for a smaller tax bump to keep Vermont on an even playing field with neighboring states.

"I don’t object to cigarette taxes, but right now, Vermont has $5 million of unexpected cash for the 2011 budget because our cigarette tax is lower than New York and competitive with Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The result has been that people have flooded into Vermont to buy cigarettes. While they’re there, they buy other things in our stores," he said.

The administration also disputes the full $1 increase would bring in $10 million annually, saying Vermont could see a loss in sales instead because other states will reap the benefits of lower cigarette prices.

"Those who say a dollar increase will bring us $10 million are smoking something other than tobacco," Shumlin told the Reformer. In the end, the General Assembly will go home approving a small increase in the cigarette tax, but it will not be "penny-wise and pound-foolish," he added.

Rebecca Ryan, director of Health Promotion and Public Policy for the American Lung Association, said Shumlin is pushing for real health care reform but will not address tobacco use.

"Vermont was a national leader in reducing the devastating impact of tobacco use, but the state’s investment in programs to prevent kids from smoking and helping adults quit has been dramatically reduced over the last three years," Ryan said. "In addition, the evidence is clear that increasing the price of a pack of cigarettes is most effective at preventing kids from smoking, Vermont has not had a significant increase since 2006 and the youth smoking rate has not changed since 2005."

Sen. Jeanette White, D-Windham, said the proposed cigarette tax and the rest of the Miscellaneous Tax bill heads to the Committee of Conference.

"The Senate committee ended up with 53 cents, so there were a lot of differences between the House version and the Senate version," she said. "The conference committee is set up with three Senate members and three House members and they go and they do the final bill."

Any final compromise between the two proposes are not likely to increase, but find a median between the two.

The coalition has actively lobbied for cigarette tax increases since 2002 when the levy jumped from 44-cents to $1.19, and another 80-cent hike in the next four years.

In 2009, the Legislature increased the tax to its current level of $2.24 per pack.
..
Chris Garofolo can be reached at cgarofolo@reformer.com or 802-254-2311 ext. 275.

Rreference $1 cigarette tax is likely up in smoke">.By CHRIS GAROFOLO / Reformer Staff

Bill seeks $1.50 hike in Maine cigarette tax

2011-04-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

April 29, 2011

LITTLE BACKGOUND Maine - anti-smoking groups want an increase in state cigarette tax..;

A bill to increase Maine's cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack to $3.50 has encountered opposition in the State House from convenience stores, grocers and other businesses that deal with tobacco.

The Taxation Committee on Wednesday took up a bill supporters see as a way to help discourage young people from smoking. Money from the tax increase would help fund the operation of a tobacco help line.

The American Lung Association of Maine says that when Maine raised its cigarette tax by $1 per pack, an unprecedented number of people called the help line.

But groups representing convenience stores and tobacco dealers say they worry about the negative impact higher taxes will have on their businesses. They also say the higher taxes will send cigarette buyers to New Hampshire..

Reference A bill to increase Maine's cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack to $3.50 has encountered opposition in the State House from convenience stores, grocers and other businesses that deal with tobacco.

The Taxation Committee on Wednesday took up a bill supporters see as a way to help discourage young people from smoking. Money from the tax increase would help fund the operation of a tobacco help line.

Reference: Bill seeks $1.50 hike in Maine;

Maine - related news briefs:
Maine - anti-smoking groups want an increase in state cigarette tax..;
Ogunquit, Maine - the people have voted no smoking on beaches..;
Maine cigarette sales rise, New Hampshire cigarette sales fall..;
Maine - light cigarette lawsuit judges ruling sets case back.;
Maine - conference on a class-action lawsuit against the makers of light cigarettes..;
Maine - new law bans smoking in outside dining areas..;
Maine - smoking prohibited at states parks, beaches and historic sites..;
Maine - law banning flavored tobacco products - July 1, 2009..
Maine - illegal to smoke in cars while children present..
Star Scientific gets Maine lawmakers to repeal a ban enacted last September 20, 2007 on the sale of a tobacco lozenge product known as hard snuff..;
Maine - ban on flavored tobacco products..;
Maine Tobacco Tax Hike.

BELGIUM - Barkeepers demonstrate against total smoking ban..

2011-04-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

28 Apr 2011. More than 800 Belgian bar owners and their supporters demonstrated Saturday against a decision to widen a smoking ban in public spaces to cover all cafes and the kingdom's nine casinos from 1 July.
DIRECTLY Related news brief Belgium - smoking ban in casinos and cafes moved up to July 1, 2011.."

he demonstration in Brussels was organised by the federation of cafe owners and restaurateurs, which claims that 4,000-5,000 of the country's 12,000 cafes are threatened with closure by the new legislation which will ban smoking in all of the HORECA (Hotels, Restaurants, Cafes) industry as of 1 July.

Smoking has been banned in work places, restaurants and pubs that serve food since 2009, while temporary exemptions had been granted to casinos and cafes that only serve snacks. The law had called for the exemptions to end sometime between 1 January 2012 and 1 January 1, 2014, but the Flemish Anti-Cancer League asked Belgium's constitutional court to strike them down. The court decided to lift the exemptions but gave establishments until 30 June to "adapt to the general smoking ban."

The judges ruled that the government failed to prove that pubs would be harmed by a general smoking ban, saying that drawing distinctions between establishments was actually harmful to competition.

The court also stated that the protection of the health of employees and non-smokers should apply to casinos even though they serve a "specific" clientele.

Café and bar owners argue a total ban on smoking in pubs is unacceptable because it would result in a 30 to 50 per cent loss of revenues and have a knock-on effect on breweries and other suppliers. They want the option to declare their premises smoking or non-smoking. (pi)

REFERENCE; Barkeepers demonstrate against total smoking ban,

lorillard’s sales and share up sharply.., q1 2011

2011-04-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

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SEEKING ALPHA, 4/26.04, 26 201

SEEKING alphA 4/26/2011 quESTIONS AND ANSWER

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April 27, 2011 Lorillard’s sales and share up sharply
Apr 27, 2011—Lorillard's wholesale domestic cigarette shipment volume during the first three months of this year, at 9,524 million, was up by 9.4 per cent on that of the first three months of 2010.

This performance was achieved against a background of an estimated 3.4 per cent fall in volume for the US domestic market as a whole.

In reporting its first quarter 2011 figures, Lorillard said that the three months period under review had included one more shipping day than had the first quarter of 2010. Adjusting for this additional day and for 'modest' changes in wholesale inventory patterns, Lorillard's domestic volume had increased by an estimated 8.3 per cent.

Lorillard's full price brand volume was up by 7.5 per cent to 8,217 million.

Newport volume was up 8.0 per cent to 8,114 million, an increase in which Newport Non-Menthol, launched in the final quarter of 2010 as the first major Newport extension in a decade, was said to have played a significant part.

Also within Lorillard's full-price stable, True volume was down by 16.6 per cent to 52 million and Kent volume was down by 21.1 per cent to 50 million.

Price/value brand volume was up by 23.1 per cent to 1,307 million, with Maverick volume up 22.7 per cent to 1,174 million and Old Gold volume up 26.0 per cent to 133 million.

Including shipments to Puerto Rico and US Possessions, Lorillard’s overall volume was up by 9.5 per cent to 9,708 million.

Lorillard's share of the US domestic retail market during the first three months of this year, at 14.1 per cent, was up by 1.5 percentage points, while Newport's share of the market, at 12.0 per cent, was up by 1.1 percentage points.

Newport Menthol's share of the US market's menthol segment was unchanged at 36.4 per cent. The menthol segment in the US was said to have increased by 1.1 percentage points to 31.0 per cent of the total market.

Meanwhile, Lorillard's net sales during the first quarter of this year, at $1.535 billion, were increased by 12.9 per cent, or $175 million, on those of the first quarter of 2010.

The increase in net sales was said to have resulted from higher unit sales volume and higher average prices, partially offset by higher sales promotion costs primarily driven by the introduction of Newport Non-Menthol.

Gross profit during the first quarter of 2011, at $543 million, represented 35.4 per cent of net sales, whereas, during the first quarter of last year, gross profit was $478 million, or 35.1 per cent of net sales.

The increase in gross profit was said to reflect an increase in net sales, partially offset by higher costs related to the State Settlement Agreements and the Federal Assessment for Tobacco Growers, and higher Food and Drug Administration user fees.

"In the first quarter, Lorillard once again delivered industry leading financial results on virtually every measure that matters," said Murray S. Kessler, chairman, president and CEO.

"It's a testament to our flagship Newport brand which continues to organically grow volume and market share, despite challenging external conditions."

PMI Seeking Alpha q1 2011

2011-04-26T10:57:00.001-07:00

April 26, 2011

MI’s cigarette volumes increased
Apr 26, 2011—Philip Morris International’s cigarette shipment volume during the first quarter of 2011, at 207.920 billion, was up by 1.6 per cent on that of the first quarter of last year, though, on an organic basis, which excludes acquisitions, the company’s volume was down by 3.3 per cent. PMI’s cigarette volumes increased ,

Philip Morris International Management Discusses Q1 2011 Results - Earnings Call Transcript

FDA wants to get schooled in cigarette making, asks tobacco cos for learning tours

2011-04-25T16:47:00.000-07:00

April 5, 2011 DA wants to get schooled in cigarette making, asks tobacco cos for learning tours

By Michael Felberbaum, The Associated Press – 3 days ago

RICHMOND, Va. — The Food and Drug Administration wants to get schooled in cigarette making.

The federal agency's 2-year-old Center for Tobacco Products is asking tobacco companies to invite it to tour farms and factories that grow or process tobacco.

It says the visits are meant to help the agency better understand how each step in the process — from field to package — could influence the final product.

The FDA wants to tour large and small cigarette factories, a smokeless tobacco plant, tobacco farms, a rolling-paper factory and a tobacco warehouse.

The agency won the authority to regulate tobacco in 2009. Although the agency has the authority to visit most tobacco facilities, the tours are not official inspections. It said in its request that better understanding the industry "may be helpful."

"Some of the people they've hired certainly know a lot about tobacco, (but) the odds that many or any of them have actually been on the inside of a manufacturing facility is probably pretty low," said Ira Loss, an analyst with Washington Analysis who has covered the agency for three decades.

The nation's second-largest cigarette maker, Reynolds American Inc., intends to take the agency up on the request.

"We certainly think it's important the FDA understand the practicalities of tobacco manufacturing," Reynolds spokesman David Howard said.

Altria Group Inc., owner of the nation's top cigarette company, Philip Morris USA, said it plans to respond but wouldn't say whether that meant it would extend an invitation.

Tobacco companies, in essence, will foot the bill through user fees the FDA charges them.

Reference: FDA wants to get schooled in cigarette making, asks tobacco cos for learning tours by Michael Felberbaum, The Associated Press – 3 days ago

Third Hand Smoke...What it is, and How it Affects you..

2011-04-24T17:01:00.000-07:00

April 24, 2011

April 19, 2011

Backgound: Third-Hand Smoke..

Father's Day and Third-Hand Smoke..

Children are especially vulnerable to third-hand smoke.

more-evidence-dangers-of-third-hand.html

George, B.C. - Third hand smoke is something people should be taking seriously--that from a Tobacco Reduction Coordinator with Northern Health. George Wiens, says if you walk into a home or sit in a car and smelled the pungent odour of a distant cigarette, that is third hand smoke. He says with each cigarette, third hand smoke gets into furniture, carpets , clothing, blankets, hair and toys. Wiens says babies and children are most at risk from third hand smoke. He says kids are "on the floors, on the rugs in our home, and young children very tactile. They pick things up and put it in their mouth. Long term those low level exposure dosages will have health effects." Wiens says smokers can reduce the risk by smoking outside and away from children, wearing a designated smoke jacket and washing their hands as soon as your cigarette is done.

REFErence; What it is, and How it Affects you./hqprincegeorge.comv, 4/23/2011

Anybody who tests positive for tobacco or nicotine products will not be able to gain employment at Sparrow hospital..

2011-04-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

April 24, 2011There are almost as many "no smoking" signs at Sparrow Hospital as there are cigarette butts along its campus. The hospital banned smoking on site years ago, and whether or not people listened, it's taking the next step in its anti-tobacco policy.

"Anybody who tests positive for tobacco or nicotine products will not be able to gain employment at Sparrow," said John Berg, a Sparrow marketing executive.

Lucky for current employees who smoke, that only goes for new hires starting May 1, 2011. Still, those we talked to--smokers or not--didn't like it.

"See that's crazy to me, your freedom of choice...that's why I live in America," said Jacob McPhail, a non-smoking employee.

"I don't think that's fair. I think if they don't want them smoking on campus that's fine but I think what you do on your own time should be up to you," said employee Michael VanDussen, who does smoke.

The sparrow campus has been smoke free since 2007 and the signs are everywhere to prove it. But there's also proof the policy isn't always enforced. We found a pile of cigarette butts swept up just feet from a no-smoking sign outside the building, not to mention, people coming and going for smoke breaks there too.

"I've seen people smoke right next to the non-smoking sign and nobody say anything about it whatsoever," said McPhail.

The new policy won't be quite as easy to get around. Applicants who test positive for nicotine can apply back only after 90 days. It's the latest move, the hospital says, to promote healthy living.

"Whether you're talking about emphysema or lung cancer or COPD and pneumonia, heart disease, congestive heart failure, and heart attack, all of these are effects of a lifetime of smoking," said Berg. "This is is a habit that robs families of loved ones. It cuts people's lives short."

These are things anyone in the health care industry should know first-hand, he added.

RFEERENCE: Smokers Need Not Apply.wilx.com, 2/22/2011
A few related news briefs:
.Detriot, Michigan 3- area hospitals; want a job do not use tobacco..
Franciscan Health System - seeking a job don't use tobacco or don't even hang with people that use tobacco..
Hennepin County, Minnesota - planning no smoking on all county property even inside your own car..;
Get that job in health care just quit smoking or don't start using tobacco..;
Each smoker costs an employer about $3,400 annually in higher health care bills..;
Massachusetts - Anna Jaques Hospital jobs - if nicotine test is positive do not apply..;
Massachusetts Hospital Association - as of January 1, 2011 will no longer hire users of tobacco products..;
Hospital in Georgia will no longer hirer new employees that use tobacco..;
Tennessee - hospital will no longer hire people that use tobacco products..

Basically Tobacco Companies will do anything to get you to start moking..

2011-04-24T05:10:00.000-07:00

reach lucky-strike_instead of a sweet

April 4, 2011Quit smoking and you can still save your skin..

The tobacco industry’s past role in weight control related to smoking. Semira Gonseth1 Isabelle Jacot-Sadowski1 Pascal A. Diethelm Vincent Barras and Jacques Cornuz, EUOPeAN Journal of PPUblic Helh The tobacco industry’s past role in weight control related to smoking First published online: April 7, 2011 ABSTRACT,

British and American tobacco companies deliberately added powerful appetite-suppressing chemicals to cigarettes to attract people worried about their weight, according to internal industry documents dating from 1949 to 1999. Chemical additives are just one of several strategies successfully used by tobacco companies over the past 50 years to convince people that smoking makes you thin.

Tobacco giants Philip Morris and British American Tobacco added appetite suppressants to cigarettes, according to the documents, released during litigation in the US. Four other major companies tested potential chemicals, including amphetamine and nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, but the documents, which are incomplete, do not reveal if such chemicals were ever added and sold to the public.

By the end of the 20th century, smoking was almost exclusively male behaviour, but the number of women smokers dramatically increased in the 1940s and 1950s. Today, one in five British men and women smoke, causing more than 100,000 preventable deaths a year.

A Canadian study of 500 young women, published in Tobacco Control this month, found those looking at female-oriented cigarette packs branded with words such as "slim" and "vogue", were more likely to believe smoking helps people control their appetite – an important predictor of smoking among this group – compared with those viewing plain packaging. Smokers wrongly believe that certain words, such as the names of colours, and long, slim cigarettes mean the brand is less harmful, according to a study, that included 2,000 Britons, published in Addiction.

Deadly in pink: the impact of cigarette packaging among young women
Press Release. Juliana Doxey, David Hammond, Tobacco COntrol First 8 April 2011, ABSTRACT

Since the widespread advertising ban, images such as Kate Moss smoking on the catwalk have become invaluable for the industry.

Last year, Australia became the first country to introduce compulsory plain packaging. Here, the Government committed to considering similar controls on packaging in the Tobacco Control Plan published in March. The public health minister Anne Milton will meet her Australian counterpart in the next few weeks.

Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) is urging the Health Select Committee to force tobacco companies to disclose documents that would shed light on marketing strategies, including product packaging and design, to help MPs make an informed choice about introducing plain packaging.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Ash, said: "Now advertising is banned, the industry uses pack design and product descriptors, such as "slims", to promote the message that smoking makes you thin. It must be required to put its products in plain, standardised packaging to prevent it using such "dog whistle" tactics to promote smoking to vulnerable young women."

A Tobacco Manufacturers' Association spokesman said: "We do not believe any plans for plain packaging are based on sound public policy, nor any compelling evidence... Plain packs are likely to lead to further increases in smuggling... and make it easier for counterfeiters to copy."

REFEERENCE: Tobacco firms used diet-aid chemicals Internal documents reveal that appetite suppressants were added to cigarettes as companies pitched their products to women Nina Lakhani, ndependent.co.uK, 4/24/2011.

Seeking Alpha, RAI q1 2011..

2011-04-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

PMI’s cigarette volumes increasedTOBACCO REPORT, /6/26, 2011

MMWR - CDC predicts smoking bans in every state by 2020..

2011-04-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

DIrectly related new brief:
CDC predicts smoking bans in every state by 2020..

READ MMWR Report: State Smoke-Free Laws for Worksites, Restaurants, and Bars --- United States, 2000--2010
Weekly
April 22, 2011 / 60(15);472-475Cigarette Smoking --- United States, 1965--2008 SupplementsCDC January 22, 2011 / 60(01);109-113

January 22, 2011 -
Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure causes lung cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in nonsmoking adults and children, resulting in an estimated 46,000 heart disease deaths and 3,400 lung cancer deaths among U.S. nonsmoking adults each year (1). Smoke-free laws that prohibit smoking in all indoor areas of a venue fully protect nonsmokers from involuntary exposure to SHS indoors.

NYC - PURCHASE INternet cigarette sales wihout paying taxes..

2011-04-22T07:50:00.000-07:00

April 22, 2011 - New Yorkers hoping to avoid the nation's highest cigarette taxes have long turned to the Internet as a source for cheap smokes, but few bought as often, or as much, as Roza Budansky, according to city officials.

Over a three-year period, the 64-year-old purchased nearly $1 million worth of untaxed cigarettes from an Internet retailer in Louisville, Ky., said a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday by the City of New York. In total, some 32,232 cartons were shipped to her modest apartment in Brooklyn, the suit claimed.

The city's lawsuit accuses Budanksy and 31 other people of evading millions of dollars in taxes by buying heaps of cigarettes over the Web from Chavez Inc., which was raided and effectively shuttered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in late 2009.

Lawyers for city said the variety and quantities of cigarettes involved made it clear that the cartons were being resold on the black market as part of a tax evasion racket.

Each of the defendants was listed in company billing records as having bought thousands of cartons - far more than they could smoke themselves. Budansky's orders, the suit said, were for 22 different brands and were placed 10 to 15 times a month.

The suit seeks $6.5 million in unpaid taxes from Chavez and its major New York City customers, plus $13 million in penalties.

Attorneys who have represented the company's principal owners, Israel and Pam Chavez, in past legal proceedings said Thursday that they hadn't seen the complaint and didn't yet know whether their clients would comment.

In January, the company lost a legal appeal in which it had challenged the seizure of its bank accounts and assets. In court, the company had acknowledged that it didn't collect taxes on out-of-state cigarette purchases but argued that it wasn't required to do so.

Justice Department lawyers said the company had $132 million in online sales over just a few years. They had argued that the company's key sin wasn't the failure to collect taxes, but its refusal to comply with a law requiring it to report purchases to state officials, so that customers could eventually be billed at their local tax rate.

Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Budansky by phone and through social networking messages were not immediately successful, but she told The New York Post in an interview published Thursday that she was innocent.

REFERENCE: NYC sues over Internet sales of tax-free cigs, by DAVID B. CARUSO,Associated Press, 4/21/20

NYC directly related:
New York City - loosies still being sold in New York City..;
New York City - fewer smokers entering free quit smoking program..;
New York City - Should condos and co-ops be able to ban smoking inside owners' apartments?;;
New York City smoking ban includes city golf courses..;
NYC Mayor Bloomberg making the case for banning smoking at city bus stops..;
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New York City - tomorrow is the day, ban on smoking in parks, beaches, marinas, boardwalks and pedestrian plazas should pass..;
New York City - expects vote soon on smoking at beaches and park..;
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New York City - suing tobacco company in Washington State..;
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gives $500,000 to defend anti-smoking laws in Uruguay..;
New York City - decreases in tobacco related disease..;
New York City - smoking-related deaths drop by 17% in 8-years..;
New York City - does it the RIGHT WAY, bans most forms of flavored tobacco products..;
New York City - City Council moves one step closer to extending smoking ban to parks and beaches..;
New York City - Poospatuck Reservation stores (2) caught selling cigarettes to bootleggers..;
New York City - smoking ban enforced, club fined and closed for letting patrons smoke inside..:
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New York City - Department of Health cracking down on smoking at outside areas at bars and other places....;
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New York City - Mayor Bloomberg still considering smoking ban in parks and beaches.. - Get It Done Already!!;
Big tobacco companies file lawsuit contesting NY City's anti-smoking signs..;
New York City - federal judge rejects plaintiffs attempt to stop the law that blocks the sale of flavored tobacco products..;
New York City - moving closer to closing a nighclub that flouted smoking ban..;
New York City - VIDEO: starting March 1, 2010 stores, anti-smoking signs..;
NYC Lawsuit against Online Cigarette Vendor Dismissed..;
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New York City - ban on flavored tobacco products becomes law..;
New York City bans the sale of flavored tobacco products..;
New York City - Mayor Bloomberg pushing ahead to ban smoking in city parks and beaches..;
New York City - all retailers selling tobacco will be required to post warning signs..;
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New York City - may ban smoking in parks and beaches..;
New York City - can't sue Internet cigarette retailers for lost taxes..;
New CDC Chief Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH..;
New York City Council ban candy-flavored tobacco, smoking outside of hospitals..;
New York - city and state officials back off plans to crack down on cigarette black market..;
New York City - nonsmokers exposed to cigarette smoke..;
New York City - cigarettes more than $10- a- pack..;
NYC can move forward with reservation cigarette lawsuit..;
Michael Rubens Bloomberg - ELF Award winner 2008;
NYC sues reservation smoke shops over bootlegging..;
NYC Fights Smoking With Reality Images in Matchbooks..;
NY City Can Proceed With Lawsuits Against 10 Online Cigarette Vendors..;
NYC Warns Parents of Smoking Lawsuits...
(NY City)

CDC predicts smoking bans in every state by 2020..

2011-04-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

April 21, 2011 - By 2020, every state may have bans on smoking in restaurants, bars and the workplace, federal health officials predicted Thursday Apil 21st, based on the current pace of adopting anti-smoking laws.

The number of states with comprehensive indoor smoking bans went from zero in 2000 to 26 in 2010.

"It is by no means a foregone conclusion that we'll get there by 2020," said Dr. Tim McAfee, director of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health.

But the success of the smoking ban movement has been astounding, and seems to be accelerating, he added. "I'm relatively bullish we'll at least get close to that number."

Nearly half of U.S. residents are covered by comprehensive state or local indoor smoking bans, the CDC estimated, in a new report.

Another 10 states have laws than ban smoking in workplaces, bans or restaurants, but not in all three venues.

Some other states have less restrictive laws, like requiring smoking areas with separate ventilation.

.Only seven states have no indoor smoking restrictions, although some of their cities do: Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Gary Nolan, director of a smokers' rights group, said he wouldn't be surprised if the CDC's prediction came true. Public health officials and others have been putting tremendous pressure on bars and businesses to bar smoking, he added.

"It wouldn't surprise me if they prevailed," said Nolan, of the Smoker's Club. "It's just a little bit more liberty slipping away at the hands of big government."

Tobacco smoke is an established cause of lung cancer, heart disease and other maladies, and smoking has been called one of the nation's leading causes of death.

The science on the impact of smoking bans is younger. Because it takes years or even decades for cancers to develop, there's little information on the impact of bans on cancer rates. But studies have already charted declines in adult heart attack rates and in childhood asthma attacks after smoking bans were adopted in some communities.

The American Heart Association's chief executive, Nancy Brown, said the CDC report brings good news. But she said advocates have a lot of work ahead of them to make the 2020 prediction come true.

"It's too soon to rest on our laurels," she said, in a prepared statement.

Reference: CDC predicts smoking bans in every state by 2020", By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer, Wral.om, 4/21/2011,

VIDEO smokers in Ukraine has decreased by 5% in the last year..

2011-04-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

April 21, 2011 - Ukraine has one of the highest numbers of smokers in Europe, with most people starting by the age of 12.Doctors say smoking-related diseases kill around 100,000 people each year. But according to the Ministry of Health, the number of smokers in Ukraine has decreased by 5% in the last year, compared with the previous year.

The main reasons may be the increase in excise taxes and the prices of tobacco products, the restriction on public smoking and the prohibition of direct advertising. Ukraine has one of the highest numbers of smokers in Europe, with most people starting by the age of 12. Doctors say smoking-related diseases kill around 100,000 people each year.
But according to the Ministry of Health, the number of smokers in Ukraine has decreased by 5% in the last year, compared with the previous year.

The main reasons may be the increase in excise taxes and the prices of tobacco products, the restriction on public smoking and the prohibition of direct advertising.

Reference; VIDEO_ Smokers in Ukraine on the Decline,, english.ntdtv.com/, 4/21/2011

Ukraine related news briefs:
Kyiv (Kiev) , Ukraine - banning alcohol and tobacco sales from small street kiosks starting April 1, 2011....;
Ukraine - draft law introduced to ban the sale of tobacco and alcoholic beverages in kiosks..;
Kiev (Kyiv), Ukraine - January 1, 2011 restrict smokers in restaurants to closed-off rooms..;
Ukraine - President Victor Yushchenko accused of being close with tobacco industry..;
Ukraine - President Yushchenko vetoes bill to hike tobacco products tax..;
Ukraine - enforcement of smoking ban, 28,000 people fined..;
Ukraine - lost cigarettes flooding Europe..

CSP Daily News 4/21/201 Altria q1 2011 - cigarettes down, smokeless down, cigars down ..

2011-04-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

April 21, 2011 Meanwhile, as Mr. Symanczyk and Chief Executive Officer of Altria Group, Inc. pointed out, Marlboro gained share as the quarter progressed, but Marlboro's 2011 first-quarter retail share decreased 0.5 share points due primarily to the timing of new product launches. Marlboro's 2010 first-quarter retail share benefited from the January introduction of two Marlboro Special Blend products, while two new Marlboro Special Blend products, which began shipping at the end of February 2011, had a minimal impact on the brand's retail share in the first quarter of 2011.SQPhilip Morris USA's retail share for the three-month period decreased 1.2 share points.

Altria Group results outside of cigarettes:

Overall. In the first quarter of 2011, Altria's net revenues decreased 2.0% to $5.6 billion due primarily to lower net revenues from cigarettes and cigars, and revenues net of excise taxes were essentially flat.

Smokeless.The smokeless products segment's 2011 first-quarter financial, shipment volume and retail share comparisons were impacted primarily by new product launches and promotional product introductions. The smokeless products segment's 2010 first-quarter results benefited from the launch of new Copenhagen products, the national introduction of Marlboro Snus and a Skoal Slim Can pouch promotion. In the first quarter of 2011, the smokeless products segment's net revenues and revenues net of excise taxes decreased 0.5% and 0.6%, respectively, due primarily to lower shipment volume and costs for brand-building initiatives, partially offset by higher pricing.

Cigars. The cigars segment's 2011 first-quarter financial results were negatively impacted by events following the 2009 federal excise tax (FET) increase on tobacco products. Middleton saw increased competitive activity, including significantly higher levels of imported, low-priced machine-made large cigars. Middleton responded with promotional investments to defend its position in the marketplace. In the first quarter of 2011, the cigar segment's net revenues and revenues net of excise taxes decreased 13.3% (from $135 million to $117 million) and 24.1% (from $87 million to $66 million), respectively, due primarily to increased promotional investments.

REFERENCE: Marlboro's Momentum Altria addresses Marlboro Leadership Program, details quarterly earnings By Linda Abu-Shalback Zid & Steve Holtz, csp DAILY News 4/21/2011.

Marlboro Losing Ground from Seeking ALpha - Altria, Inc Q1 2011

2011-04-21T07:09:00.000-07:00

Altria, Inc. Q1 20110 Earnings Call Transcript, Seeking Alpha, 4/26/2010;

Questions and Answers: Altria, Inc. Q1 20110 Earnings Call Transcript - Questions and Answers , Seeking Alpha, 4/26/2010;
Ansers.

PAPER: Gender-Specific Effectiveness of a Life Skills Program..

2011-04-20T17:32:00.000-07:00

VVENA, Germany, April 19 (UPI) -- Telling teens to "just say no" is not effective but school-based training on live skills helps them avoid tobacco and alcohol, German researchers say.

PAPER: Do Girls Profit More? Gender-Specific Effectiveness of a Life Skills Program Against Alcohol Consumption in Early Adolescence, arina Weichold karina.weichold@uni-jena.de,Anett Brambosch, Rainer K. Silbereisen, The Journal of Early Adolescence November 4, 2010, abstract

"Information alone is not good enough because even children know that alcohol consumption and smoking can cause health damage," Dr. Karina Weichold of the Jena University in Germany says in a statement. "Therefore prevention needs to start somewhere else."

Weichold and colleagues at Jena University are developing a specially developed prevention program named IPSY -- an acronym for Information and Psychosocial Competence, which tries to convey basic life skills.

The study involved about 1,700 school children ages 10-15 from Thuringia, Germany. The students learn general skills such as how to deal with stress and anxiety or with their own self image, using interactive learning modules. They discuss their results with classmates and teachers.

Role playing, movement and relaxation techniques are part of the concept. The program consists of 15 modules of 90 minutes in fifth-grade, followed by a development phase of seven modules in the next two years.

"The age-typical increase in the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes is lower in the group of pupils who took part in our program than in the control groups," the researchers say. "Moreover, the initiation age is being delayed."

The findings are published in the Journal of Early Adolescence.

Reference: Telling youth to 'just say no' not enough, UPI.com, 4/19/2011

Smoke -Free Bismarck., North Dakota...

2011-04-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

Bismarck voters said no to smoking on Tuesday, April 9th, 2011. Voters chose to make all bars smoke-free in a special referendum election. They also rejected allowing smoking huts for bar patrons wishing to puff outside

The ban is expected to take effect next week, after ballots are verified by the Bismarck City Commission. That could be next Tuesday or April 27, said city administrator Bill Wocken. "The commission will decide," he said.

The smoking ban for all bars, truck stops and tobacco shops passed with 5,273 yes votes to 3,554 no votes, said Burleigh County Auditor Kevin Glatt. The measure that allowed smoking huts, but implemented the smoking ban, was rejected 4,482 to 4,285.
Voters opposed paying for the special election with sales tax funding 4,454 to 4,182.

"We are truly excited. It was truly a grassroots effort. We want to thank all the volunteers who helped," said Kimberlee Schneider, spokeswoman for the Smoke Free Bismarck and American Lung Association in Bismarck. She said Bismarck "took a big step toward being a clean city and making sure everyone has the right to breathe clean air."

Supporters of the bar workers who organized the referendum against the ban were disappointed about the new restrictions. Their spokesman, Keith Holzer, thanked the bar workers for stepping up to the plate and the businesses that supported the anti-ban campaign. "This is going to cost jobs, and cost revenue and charitable gaming. ... The citizens got their chance to vote. I hope all those people support those bars when they go smoke-free," Holzer said.

City attorney Charlie Whitman expects the commission will officially receive the ballots at next Tuesday's meeting that begins 5:15 p.m. at the City/County Building. The ban would go into effect April 27 if commissioners validate the ballots.

Glatt said about 8,838 ballots were cast Tuesday. In the June 2010 election when voters elected the city commission, park board and school board, some 11,700 ballots were cast.

Most of the people waited an average of eight to 12 minutes to vote at the VFW Sports Center, Glatt said. "The longest wait was 30 minutes. A lot of that was because people didn't have proper ID. It required more work from the clerks to enter them into the system," he said.

"Between 2:30 and the close of the polls (7 p.m.) we averaged 300 voters per precinct - five a minute. At 7 p.m. all those standing in line were able to vote," he said.

He said the last voter at the VFW Sports Center left at 7:30 p.m.

Witnesses said some frustrated voters turned around at the Bismarck Civic Center site. Some voters reported waiting 45 minutes at the Civic Center.

Glatt was pleased with the trial run of the voting center concept.

"I think it was a very good test of vote centers. It's something we'll sit down and take a look at, things we learned today. I think it was a valuable experiment. We received a lot of positive comments. We received some criticism and we'll use that constructively," Glatt said.

Of the count, there was a healthy level of absentee voters - 1,700 requested and about 1,200 were returned, Glatt said.

Reference:
Bismarck voters approve smoking ban but no smoke huts

Senator Richard Blumenthal expressing support for menthol recommendation..

2011-04-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

Apil 20, 2011 - Hartford, CT) –Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)today expressing support for their continued work to protect public health through the “removal of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace.”

Blumenthal encouraged the FDA to continue work to follow up on recommendations from a report from the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) regarding menthol cigarettes.

“Such findings about the dangers of menthol tobacco products in general, and to our youth in particular, are highly concerning, and provide abundant grounds for FDA to develop a plan that will result in the removal of menthol from tobacco products to protect public health,” Blumenthal states in the letter. “It is well documented that the restriction of access to tobacco products directly impacts youth smoking rates and that FDA should take strong action to prevent tobacco companies from using menthol cigarettes to increase the number of youth who smoke.”

The TPSAC Committee found evidence that tobacco companies often include menthol flavors in their products both to entice certain demographics – such as young children and teens – to use tobacco, and to make it harder for them to quit.

Blumenthal has a long record of fighting to protect public health as Attorney General, and helped lead the legal fight against big tobacco culminating in an historic settlement in 1998 which included restrictions on direct tobacco advertising to children, resulting in a dramatic drop in youth smoking rates in Connecticut and around the country.

Menthol Cigarettes - alter the menthol concentration so cigarettes will not be so appealing to young smokers..)

Reference: blumenthal.senate.gov/4/18/2011 - Letter from Senator Blumenthal can be found at bottom of reference..

MALAYSIA - BAT sees challenging year..

2011-04-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

Tak nak = Don'tr Want..

APRIL 20, 2011 PETALING JAYA: British American Tobacco (M) Bhd (BAT Malaysia) expects its challenging operating environment to continue this year. BAT Malaysia chairman Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman said the challenge was still declining volumes, in view of the high government excise tax which has led to an increase in the trade of illicit cigarettes.

BAT Malaysia managing director William Toh reiterated that two surveys conducted last year by the Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers showed that illicit trade comprised 38.2% of the country's total cigarettes market.

“This is a sizeable portion of the market for us to tap if we can resolve the illicit cigarette trade issue,” said Toh after the group's 50th AGM yesterday.PETALING JAYA: British American Tobacco (M) Bhd (BAT Malaysia) expects its challenging operating environment to continue this year.

“This is a sizeable portion of the market for us to tap if we can resolve the illicit cigarette trade issue,” said Toh after the group's 50th AGM yesterday.

BAT Malaysia chairman Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman said the challenge was still declining volumes, in view of the high government excise tax which has led to an increase in the trade of illicit cigarettes.

“This is a sizeable portion of the market for us to tap if we can resolve the illicit cigarette trade issue,” said Toh after the group's 50th AGM yesterday.

Toh added that prices of cigarettes in Malaysia was the third highest in Asean countries, after Singapore and Brunei.

Last year, the group took advantage of duty savings under the by sourcing wrapping materials and tobacco leaves from neigbouring countries like Thailand and Indonesia.

“Tobacco leaves from Indonesia is much cheaper compared with non-Asean countries. But we still support local tobacco growers although Malaysian leaves is among the most expensive in the world.

“We are still the biggest buyer of Malaysian tobacco in the country,” said Toh.

This year, the group aims to double its export volume to 30% of its annual production.

Toh said new contract customers this year are BAT Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

“This is in addition to our exports to Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as for duty-free retail. Exports should contribute about 5% or 6% to group revenue this year.”

BAT Malaysia is also looking to sell its machines, which were used to produce 14-stick packs (banned in June last year), to members of the BAT group outside Malaysia. (Malaysia - ban on 14-stick cigarette packs delayed worry about increase in illicit cigarettes..

The machines are valued at between RM15mil and RM18mil.

“We do not sell to third parties because we do not know what they do with the machines,” said Toh.

REFERENCE: BAT sees challenging year by THOMAS HUONG Huong@thestar.com.my, THE STar , 4/20/2011>

Malaysia - some related news briefs:
Malaysia - cigarette makers charging less than the minimum for a pack of cigarettes..;
Malaysia - some related news briefs:
Malaysia - 8% drop in tobacco industry volume projected in 2011..;
Malacca, Malaysia - smoke free zones to be expanded..;
Malaysia - public are strongly advised not to purchase any e-cigarettee..;
Malaysia - sets minimum price for cigarettes..;
Malaysia - if you smoke you lose..;
Penang, Malaysia - specific areas for smoking..;
Malaysia - BAT wants gradual, moderate increases in the cigarette tax..:
Malaysia - horrific graphic warnings on cigarette packs, cartons..;
Malaysia - one out of three packets of cigarettes was smuggled;
Malaysia - doing a better job of seizing smuggled cigarettes..;
Malaysia - best way to get teenage girls to stop smoking is through education..;
Malaysia - ban on 14-stick cigarette packs delayed worry about increase in illicit cigarettes..;
Malaysia - slight decrease in illicit cigarettes; JTI Malaysia q1 2010 market share increases..;
Malaysia - Health Ministry's proposal to ban the sale of 14-stick cigarette packs beginning June 1, 2010..;
Malaysia - increase in number of women smoking..;
Malaysia - new strategy to penalize retailers who sell contraband cigarettes..;
Malaysia - youth and student smokers may not receive aid from government..;
Malaysia - two tobacco control regulations starting January 1, 2010..
Malaysia - about 368,000 teenager smokers in the country, 50-60 added per day..;
Malaysia - sale of cigarettes in packets of less than 20 prohibited as of June 1, 2010..;
Malaysia - stepping up efforts to curb the trade in illicit cigarettes..;
Malaysia - BAT plans to dispose of a parcel of industrial land..;
Malaysia - ban on cigarette sponsorship for sports will not be withdrawn..;
Malaysia - cigarette-shaped sweets packaged like cigarettes;
Malaysia - Penang consumer group ban cheap cigarettes and increase price on premium..;
Malaysia - Kelantin State Government may not promote staff who smoke..;
Malaysia - excise duty increased on tobacco - another increase could be coming this month..;
Malaysia - smoking limits your quality of life..;
Malaysia - smoking civil servants in Penang to receive free nicotine treatment..;
Malaysia - illicit cigarettes, BAT wants government to slow excise duty increases..;
Peninsular Malaysia - one of three cigarette packs is either contraband or fake..;
Komtar, Penang, Malaysia smoking ban strictly enforced..;
Malaysia student forced to smoke 40 cigarettes in two hours..
Malaysia - PSD and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government departments and agencies..;
Malaysia: Are tobacco control measures working? - WHO thinks so...;
Malaysia - slowdown in cigarette consumption..;
Malaysia - January 1, 2009 pictorial cigarette warnings..;
Malaysia to hike cigarette prices..;
Malaysia - 25% of all cigarettes sales are illegal...Peninsular Malaysia - one of three cigarette packs is either contraband or fake..;
Komtar, Penang, Malaysia smoking ban strictly enforced..;
Malaysia student forced to smoke 40 cigarettes in two hours..
Malaysia - PSD and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government departments and agencies..;
Malaysia: Are tobacco control measures working? - WHO thinks so...;
Malaysia - slowdown in cigarette consumption..;
Malaysia - January 1, 2009 pictorial cigarette warnings..;
Malaysia to hike cigarette prices..;
Malaysia - 25% of all cigarettes sales are illegal...

2011-04-20T07:36:00.000-07:00

April 20, 2011 Reynolds American Inc., the nation's second-biggest cigarette company, reports its first-quarter results before the stock market opens Thursday, April 21st. (host first-quarter 2011 earnings conference call on April 21st, 2011)
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Continued growth in Reynolds American Pall Mall brand despite industrywide declines in the number of cigarettes being as taxes, smoking bans, health concerns and social stigma all increase.

The Winston-Salem, N.C., company has promoted Pall Mall as a longer-lasting and more affordable cigarette as smokers weather the weak economy and high unemployment, and the company has said half the people who try the brand continue using it. Reynolds also sells Camel and Natural American Spirit cigarettes, and Kodiak and Grizzly smokeless tobacco.

Pall Mall's fourth-quarter volume grew 19 percent, and its share of the U.S. market increased 2.3 percentage points to 8.3 percent. Camel volumes grew 8.5 percent during the fourth quarter, and the brand's market share rose to 8 percent.

While its growth brands like Camel and Pall Mall continue to do well, increasing 13.5 percent last quarter, its other brands are dragging down overall volumes, which fell about 5 percent in the fourth quarter.

Analysts also will be looking at the company's smokeless tobacco products - a segment of the tobacco industry that's growing and becoming increasingly competitive as companies seek products to offset the decline in cigarette sales. (Reynolds American Inc. highlights business report q4 and entire 2010..)

Reference; Earnings Preview: Reynolds American by MICHAEL FELBERBAUM, Asssociated Press 4/19/2011

Lake Worth Beach, FL, beach, city parks to go tobacco free along with grounds of city buildings..

2011-04-20T07:29:00.000-07:00

April 20 2011 - moking would be banned at Lake Worth Beach, city parks and the grounds of city buildings under tobacco-free rules the city plans to create.

Commissioners directed city staff Tuesday, April 19th to develop a tobacco-free parks and workplace ordinance modeled after one suggested by the county health department.

Goals include reducing litter, promoting a healthy lifestyle and reducing health insurance costs for city employees, Mayor Rene Varela said.

Enforcement would not be strict and would likely come by raising awareness about the ordinance, Varela said.,

"We all know realistically we're not going to have police out there enforcing this," Varela said. "A big push in public health is creating awareness."

The health department has offered to help the city with its anti-smoking campaign at no charge by:

Providing tobacco-free signs for property.
Helping organize events to raise awareness about the hazards of smoking.
Supplying brochures about smoking and contact information for the Florida Quitline, a telephone service that provides counseling, nicotine patches and other services to smokers trying to quit.
Offering city employees services to help them quit smoking.

Vice Mayor Suzanne Mulvehill said she worried that establishing a tobacco-free beach would discourage some people from coming.

She dropped her concern after hearing health department statistics showing that more than 80 percent of county residents are non-smokers.

"It's going to be part of reinforcing that we are a green, living city," Mulvehill said .

Resident Erica Whitfield urged commissioners to develop the tobacco-free ordinance, noting that she was tired of removing cigarette butts from the sand while building sand castles with her daughter .

Barbara Jean Weber, a smoker, urged the commission to ban smoking at the beach.

"The beach is a gorgeous, exquisite, living thing," Weber said. "When I go to church, I don't put my cigarette out on sacred ground."

Reference: Lake Worth beaches, parks to go tobacco free, by Willie Howard, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer, palmbeachpost.com, 4/19/2011.

More evidence dangers of third -hand smoke..

2011-04-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

April 19, 2011

Backgound: Third-Hand Smoke..

Father's Day and Third-Hand Smoke..

Children are especially vulnerable to third-hand smoke..

Strong campaigns against pregnant women smoking and being exposed to secondhand smoke are well-known, but toxins remaining on surfaces and clothing or so-called “thirdhand smoke” can also be dangerous. New research has found that thirdhand smoke has a harmful effect on the lungs of a developing fetus.

Stepping outside to smoke a cigarette may not be enough to protect the lungs and life of a pregnant woman’s unborn child, according to a new study in the American Journal of Physiology.

PAPER: Thirdhand Smoke: A New Dimension to the Effects of Cigarette Smoke on the Developing Lung, Virender K Rehan vrehan@labiomed.org, Reiko Sakurai, and John S. Torday , American Journal of Physiology accepted in final form 8 April 2011. ,abstract

The study, by researchers at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed), found prenatal exposure to toxic components of a newly recognized category of tobacco smoke—known as “thirdhand smoke”—can have as serious or an even more negative impact on an infants’ lung development as postnatal or childhood exposure to smoke. Thirdhand smoke is the newly formed toxins from tobacco smoke that remain on furniture, in cars, on clothing and on other surfaces—long after smokers have finished their cigarettes.

“Thirdhand smoke is a stealth toxin because it lingers on the surfaces in the homes, hotel rooms, casinos and cars used by smokers where children, the elderly and other vulnerable people may be exposed to the toxicants without realizing the dangers,” said Virender Rehan, MD, a principal investigator at LA BioMed and corresponding author of the study. “Pregnant women should avoid homes and other places where thirdhand smoke is likely to be found to protect their unborn children against the potential damage these toxins can cause to the developing infants’ lungs.

Dr. Rehan, a National Institutes of Health-funded investigator who has been researching the effects of smoking on lung development for more than a decade, said this is the first study to show the exposure to the constituents of thirdhand smoke is as damaging and, in some cases, more damaging than secondhand smoke or firsthand smoke.

“We looked at the mechanisms that drive normal lung development and found those mechanisms were clearly disrupted by thirdhand smoke,” he said. “Based on this, we can conclude that prenatal disruption of lung development can lead to asthma and other respiratory ailments that can last a lifetime.”

Thirdhand smoke is aged secondhand smoke, and it attaches to the surfaces in homes and other surroundings. It is composed of smaller, ultrafine particles with a greater molecular weight that pose a greater asthma hazard than firsthand or secondhand smoke. Although concerns about the dangers from thirdhand smoke have been raised recently, this new study is the first to provide biological data to support these concerns.

Dr. Rehan said touching surfaces contaminated with thirdhand smoke, as well as ingesting dust containing the superfine particles of thirdhand smoke, are the most likely major pathways for exposure to these toxins.

“Children and pregnant mothers in busy households are especially susceptible to thirdhand smoke exposure because they could touch or breathe in the toxic substances from contaminated surfaces,” he said. “Among infants, it has been found that the rate of ingesting dust is more than twice that of adults, making babies especially vulnerable to the effects of thirdhand smoke.”

He also noted that nicotine levels are six times lower among infants living in homes with strict no-smoking policies.

“The dangers of thirdhand smoke span the globe because smoking is more prevalent in many other countries than it is in the United States,” he said. “While further study is needed, the alarming data clearly highlight the potential risks and long-term consequences of thirdhand smoke exposure.”

While previous studies had documented the danger of nicotine in thirdhand smoke, this new study measured the effect of two other toxins in thirdhand smoke—1-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-4-butanal (NNA) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). The researchers found prenatal exposure to thirdhand tobacco smoke components plays a much greater role in altered lung function in offspring than postnatal or childhood exposures.trong campaigns against pregnant women smoking and being exposed to secondhand smoke are well-known, but toxins remaining on surfaces and clothing or so-called “thirdhand smoke” can also be dangerous. New research has found that thirdhand smoke has a harmful effect on the lungs of a developing fetus.
Stepping outside to smoke a cigarette may not be enough to protect the lungs and life of a pregnant woman’s unborn child, according to a new study in the American Journal of Physiology.

The study, by researchers at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed), found prenatal exposure to toxic components of a newly recognized category of tobacco smoke—known as “thirdhand smoke”—can have as serious or an even more negative impact on an infants’ lung development as postnatal or childhood exposure to smoke. Thirdhand smoke is the newly formed toxins from tobacco smoke that remain on furniture, in cars, on clothing and on other surfaces—long after smokers have finished their cigarettes.

“Thirdhand smoke is a stealth toxin because it lingers on the surfaces in the homes, hotel rooms, casinos and cars used by smokers where children, the elderly and other vulnerable people may be exposed to the toxicants without realizing the dangers,” said Virender Rehan, MD, a principal investigator at LA BioMed and corresponding author of the study. “Pregnant women should avoid homes and other places where thirdhand smoke is likely to be found to protect their unborn children against the potential damage these toxins can cause to the developing infants’ lungs.

Dr. Rehan, a National Institutes of Health-funded investigator who has been researching the effects of smoking on lung development for more than a decade, said this is the first study to show the exposure to the constituents of thirdhand smoke is as damaging and, in some cases, more damaging than secondhand smoke or firsthand smoke.

“We looked at the mechanisms that drive normal lung development and found those mechanisms were clearly disrupted by thirdhand smoke,” he said. “Based on this, we can conclude that prenatal disruption of lung development can lead to asthma and other respiratory ailments that can last a lifetime.”

Thirdhand smoke is aged secondhand smoke, and it attaches to the surfaces in homes and other surroundings. It is composed of smaller, ultrafine particles with a greater molecular weight that pose a greater asthma hazard than firsthand or secondhand smoke. Although concerns about the dangers from thirdhand smoke have been raised recently, this new study is the first to provide biological data to support these concerns.

Dr. Rehan said touching surfaces contaminated with thirdhand smoke, as well as ingesting dust containing the superfine particles of thirdhand smoke, are the most likely major pathways for exposure to these toxins.

“Children and pregnant mothers in busy households are especially susceptible to thirdhand smoke exposure because they could touch or breathe in the toxic substances from contaminated surfaces,” he said. “Among infants, it has been found that the rate of ingesting dust is more than twice that of adults, making babies especially vulnerable to the effects of thirdhand smoke.”

He also noted that nicotine levels are six times lower among infants living in homes with strict no-smoking policies.

“The dangers of thirdhand smoke span the globe because smoking is more prevalent in many other countries than it is in the United States,” he said. “While further study is needed, the alarming data clearly highlight the potential risks and long-term consequences of thirdhand smoke exposure.”

While previous studies had documented the danger of nicotine in thirdhand smoke, this new study measured the effect of two other toxins in thirdhand smoke—1-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-4-butanal (NNA) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). The researchers found prenatal exposure to thirdhand tobacco smoke components plays a much greater role in altered lung function in offspring than postnatal or childhood exposures.

>PAPER: Thirdhand Smoke: A New Dimension to the Effects of Cigarette Smoke on the Developing Lung, Virender K Rehan vrehan@labiomed.org, Reiko Sakurai, and John S. Torday , American Journal of Physiology accepted in final form 8 April 2011. ,abstract

Reference Thirdhand Smoke Can Affect Fetal Lung Development, lements4health.com, 4/19/2011

Bulgarians moking less and drinking less alcohol..

2011-04-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

April 19. 2011 In the last year, smoking in Bulgaria is down to 591 cigarettes per person, compared with 778 in 2009, according to data of the National Statistics Institute, NSI.

The consumption of alcoholic beverages is also down – from 25.5 liters in 2009 to 23.6 liters in 2010.

In 2010, Bulgarian households have increased their consumption of bread by 2.1 kg, compared to the previous year, reaching 108 kg per person.

The trend to eat more meat, fish, seafood, and vegetables remains, with 32 kg of meet per person, compared to 30.7 in 2009.

In 2010, the average Bulgarian drank 19.9 liters of milk, 1 liter less than in 2009, but increased the consumption of yoghurt to 28.9 kg, from 26.8 kg in 2009.

The consumption of vegetables is up from 68.4 per person in 2009 to 69.1 in 2010, but the one of fruit is slightly down, by 800 grams to 42.5 kg per person in 2010.

"We want a total ban of smoking in public, and we must become a non-smoking Bulgaria," Konstatinov said on the Bulgarian national radio pointing out that Bulgaria is second only to Greece in the percentage of smokers, and first in the EU on the percentage of smokers between 15 and 20 years of age. (Bulgarian Health Minister Demands All-out Smoking Ban..)

Reference; National Stats: Bulgarians Smoke Less, Drink Less Alcohol, novinite.com (Sofia New Agency, 3/14/2011
span class="fullpost">
Bulgaria - some related news briefs:
Bulgarian Health Minister Demands All-out Smoking Ban..)
Bulgaria to Finalize Bulgartabac Privatization in 3 Weeks..:
Bulgaria - Health Ministry to Increase Smoking Ban Checks..;
Bulgaria - Major Tobacco Companies Back Bulgaria's Excise Policies..;
Bulgaria - Culture Minister protests against ban on smoking scenes in cinema..;
Bulgaria - National Program for Limiting Smoking in 2011-2015..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac 2010 profit 16.5 times larger than it was in 2009..;
Bulgaria - about a dozen investors declared interest in the privatization of Bulgartabac Holding..;
Bulgaria - according to CEO of Bulgartabac cigarette prices may not change in 2011..;
Bulgaria - advisory board for tobacco will be established..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac - sale should be completed by middle of 2011..;
Bulgaria - rightist SDS party - each EU state should set own excise duties..;
Bulgaria - tobacco contraband..;
Bulgaria - cigarette excise revenue down this year..;
Bulgaria - smoking restriction checks begin after January 3, 2011..;
Bulgaria - PMI to introduce their own Marlboro 10-pack cigarettes..;
Bulgaria - health minister will work for implementing full smoking ban in public places..;
Bulgaria - tobacco growers seeking more subsidies..;
Greece/Bulgaria - governments opposed to WHO's attempt to ban blended tobacco..;
Bulgaria - tobacco companies back effort to reduce illicit cigarette trade.;
Bulgaria - Mayor of Town of Kyustendil - non-smokers should pay less for health insurance..;
Bulgaria - smoking ban beginning January 1, 2011 - do they know which smoking ban applies??;
Bulgaria - Director of the Customs Agency announced Bulgaria ranks 1st in Europe in seizure of contraband cigarettes..;
Bulgaria - smoking rate down, knowledge of dangers of tobacco use gaining..;
Bulgaria - another tobacco tax increase in the draft 2011 budget..;
Bulgaria - confusion over which public smoking ban is in force..;
Bulgaria - WHO upset with Bulgaria's weakened smoking ban..;
Bulgaria - weakened smoking ban, just added minors can't be in disco clubs after 10pm..;
Bulgaria - final vote delayed on weakened smoking ban..;
Bulgaria - weakened smoking ban, second reading..;
Bulgaria - commission tightens smoking ban a little..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac buyer may be chosen by end of year..;
Bulgaria - prime minister not happy with giving tobacco growers subsidies..;
Bulgaria - to loosen smoking ban to start June 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - finance minister comments may be good news for tobacco farmers..;
Bulgaria - parliament debates proposal to water down smoking ban..;
Bulgaria - majority of all Bulgarians - 78% are against the smoking ban delay..;
Bulgaria - every increase in excise duty on cigarettes consumption goes down..;
Bulgaria - grace period over, increase in tobacco tax starts Thursday, April 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - Italian authorities arrest 2-Bulgarians smuggling cigarettes..;
Bulgaria - tractor trailer loaded with contraband cigarettes seized in Ancona, Italy..;
Bulgaria - cigarette consumption down, cigarette tax collection up, seeking funds for technology to intercept contraband goods..;
Bulgaria - justifying why smoking ban won't go into effect on June 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - Citigroup chosen as consultant for sale of Bulgartabac..;
Bulgaria - ruling party may delay smoking ban until 2011..;
Bulgaria - Finance Minister Djankov, "Less Smoking Is Good for Economy..";
Bulgaria - govt to weaken full smoking ban to be effective June 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - do producers support contraband cigarettes??;
Bulgaria - sale of Bulgartabac coming - selection of a consultant..;
Greek Farmers Renew Bulgaria Border Blockade..;
Bulgaria - leadership of tobacco fund to be replaced..;
Bulgaria - illegal trade in cigarettes will reach 40% of total trade in 2010..;
Bulgaria - limits on personal imports of tobacco products from outside the EU..;
Bulgaria - European Commission authorizes payment to tobacco producers for 2009 crop..;
Bulgaria -two cigarette smuggling attempts busted on Serbian border..;
Bulgaria - price of cigarettes increases..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac stays in the economy ministry, sold by middle of 2010, starting price 100,000,000 euro..;
Bulgaria - tobacco producers propose Bulgartabac transfer..;
Bulgaria - government, tobacco growers reach subsidy agreement..;
Bulgaria - start of steps leading to the privatization of the state-owned cigarette monopoly Bulgartabac..;
Bulgaria - police hold smoking protest over lack of bonuses..;
Bulgaria - police busts major cigarette contraband ring..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac Holding” will be privatized in 2010..;
Bulgaria - MPs Impose Hefty Fines on Cigarette Sales Violators..;
Bulgartabac Chief - cigarette tax increase as of January 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria Bulgartabac Holding Sells 23% of Shares to Mutual Funds..;
Bulgaria - more than 70% of smokers want to quit..;
Bulgaria - cigarette taxes going up each year except 2011..;
Bulgaria - chair of the economic committee in parliament disapproves of planned raise in excise duties on cigarettes..;
Bulgaria and others - smoking ban, increased cigarette taxes, smuggling..;
Bulgaria - Cigarette excise duties will be increased next year..;
Bulgaria - cigarette contraband, government loses BGN 920M yearly..;
Bulgaria - one third of the tobacco products sold are illicit..;
Bulgaria - new government to speed-up Bulgartabac sale..;
Bulgaria - Fake Victory Light cigarettes..;
Bulgaria's tobacco monopoly may be up for sale..;
Bulgarian lawmakers vote to ban smoking in all publc places from June 2010..; Bulgarian tobacco company Sofia-BT exports increase by 541 percent..;
Does Russia own Bulgaria's tobacco monopoly, Bulgartabac..;
EU percent of adults smokers -highest Greece 1 , Bulgaria 2.. - lowest Slovenia..;
Bulgaria - 1 in 3 youths smoke / half of pregnant women smoke..;
PMI training Bulgarian custom officers to stop cigarette smuggling..;
Philip Morris International (PMI) was truly happy they had been back in the Bulgarian cigarette market for a year and had already had 6.8% of market..;
WHO FCTC Protocol to Prevent Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products Won't Be Completed Until End of 2010..;
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008..;
Bulgaria Enters 2009 with Cigarette Prices Hike...
Bulgaria is marking Tuesday, November 10, 2009, the 20th year since the internal coup at the Bulgaria

Tobacco smuggling as an "unintended consequence of high cigarette taxes..

2011-04-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

April 19,2011

A recent wave of state tobacco tax increases, designed to pump revenue into cash-strapped local governments, is inspiring an increasingly dangerous cigarette smuggling industry where big profits lure violent criminal gangs and drug traffickers into the booming illegal market, according to law enforcement officials and court records.

Larry Penninger, acting director of the tobacco diversion unit of theBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), says investigations and prosecutions involving tobacco trafficking have been increasing as smugglers flood high-tax states with cigarettes from low-tax states.

From 2007 to last year, 27 states raised their cigarette taxes, according to Michigan's Mackinac Center for Public Policy, which closely tracks tobacco tax rates across the country. Mackinac describes tobacco smuggling as an "unintended consequence of high cigarette taxes."

There is so much illicit money to be made, Penninger says, that some drug and weapon trafficking organizations are adding tobacco to their product lines to boost profits. For example, in low-tax states such as Virginia, where cigarettes cost about $4.50 a pack, smugglers can sell a truckload (typically 800 cases) in New York at $13 a pack. New York is the highest tobacco taxing jurisdiction in the country.

Smuggling costs states and the federal government about $5 billion, according to U.S. government estimates. "Everybody out there (involved in illegal trafficking operations) is tapping into tobacco,'' Penninger says.

Since 9/11, much of federal law enforcement has focused on terrorism, but tobacco smuggling is attracting fresh interest.

- Last year, the ATF reported 357 open cases involving tobacco smuggling, compared with a handful a decade earlier.

- During the 2010 fiscal year, the Justice Department reported 71 new prosecutions referred by the bureau, a 39% increase from the year before, according to records compiled by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University in New York.

- Seizures of cash and property also have been rising, from $11 million in the 2007 fiscal year to $31.5 million in the 2009 fiscal year.

Reference: Cigarette taxes spur smuggling
by Kevin Johnson - USA TOday, 4/18/2011.

Cancer Council tips more apartment smoking bans coming....

2011-04-19T07:07:00.000-07:00

The Cancer Council of South Australia says a ban on smoking inside Australian apartments is "entirely possible and even probable".

Earlier this month an eight-unit apartment block in western Sydney introduced a by-law making the premises, including balconies, completely smoke-free.

Sydney, Australia - apartments stub out smoking..

xpectation is growing that there be no smoke in shared places," she said.

"Councils have discussed [banning smoking at] various events like Christmas pageants.

"The State Government has announced plans to protect playgrounds, and Cancer Council SA wants to see hospitality in South Australia smoke-free as a priority.

"It's entirely possible and even probable that people sharing apartment blocks will want those to be smoke-free too here in Australia."

Professor Wilson says the demand for smoke-free areas is sparked by increased awareness of the risks of second-hand smoke.

2006 Surgeon General's Report—The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke.

"[The] fact remains that second-hand smoke is harmful. The level of exposure can determine a person's risk and you could imagine many would like to have the choice that their home be a safe haven - something that poses quite a challenge in a shared setting such as apartment blocks," she said.

But Tim Vine, the director of Civil Liberties Australia, says tobacco is legal and people should be entitled to use it in the privacy of their homes.

"They shouldn't be excluded from a community because they engage in a legal activity," he said.

"While I understand people wouldn't want second-hand smoke coming through their apartment buildings... people will just have to learn to live alongside each other.

"We shouldn't be turning to the law to settle disputes between neighbours."

Cameron Murphy, the head of the New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties, fears a ban on smoking in units could trigger a broader crackdown.

"It's perfectly alright to ban smoking where it affects another person's enjoyment of their lot but it's got to be something that is more than a mere annoyance," he said.

"Can the body corporate really dictate what people are entitled to do inside their lot? If it's found that they can, what's next?

"It's a slippery slope. If an owners corporation doesn't like people cooking because it doesn't like the smell of cooking wafting from apartment to apartment, will they ban it? "Drinking coffee, what you do in the bedroom... will they ban that?"

Reference: Cancer Council tips more apartment smoking bans by Monique Ross, ABC News, 4/8/2011

WHO warns anti-smoking campaigners not to become too close to drug firm..

2011-04-18T16:58:00.000-07:00

APRIL 18, 2011 - WHO warns anti-smoking campaigners not to become too close to drug firms [FREE FULL TEXT]: * BMJ 2011; 342:d2430 doi: 10.1136/bmj.d2430 (Published 14 April 2011) BMJ 2011; 342:d2430

The World Health Organization has warned health professionals working in tobacco control not to become too closely involved with drug companies that produce smoking cessation products.

The warning came last month at a meeting on smoking prevention in Madrid that was hosted by the National Committee to Prevent Smoking, which represents most Spanish anti-tobacco organisations, and which was sponsored by Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, and McNeil—all of which make treatments to help smoking cessation.

Armando Peruga, programme manager of WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative, advised health professionals “to be independent and guided by scientific evidence.”

“We have to keep a distance from the tobacco industry, but we also have to maintain some distance from any other industry that can have a commercial interest in this issue,” he said.

“Today the tobacco industry is starting to joke that we have been sold to the pharmaceutical industry, something we must be aware of,” he added.

rEFEENCE: Steer clear of Big Pharma, says... the WHO!/A>
Frhttp://velvetgloveironfist.blogspot.com , VELVET GLOVE ION FIST, 4/15/2011

PHILIP Morris USA on Friday made its annual Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) payment, which amounted to about $3.5 billion..v.

2011-04-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

Apil 18, 2011 - This amount includes approximately $267 million that PM USA disputes it owes as a result of the 2008 Non-Participating Manufacturer (NPM) Adjustment. )

As permitted by the terms of the MSA (Tobacco Master settlement agreement;, PM USA paid the disputed amount into a Disputed Payments Account pending final resolution of the 2008 NPM Adjustment dispute. "We continue working towards a resolution of the Non-Participating Manufacturer Adjustment dispute for 2008 and prior years and look forward to doing so, either by settlement or through the arbitration process laid out in the Master Settlement Agreement," said Denise Keane, Altria Group, Inc. executive vice president and general counsel, speaking on behalf of PM USA. "PM USA determined that the best decision at this time was to place the disputed money into an escrow account where it will be available, with earnings, to whoever prevails in the 2008 NPM Adjustment dispute." Since 1997, PM USA has paid more than $55 billion to the states (MSA and Previously Settled States combined), which included payment of disputed amounts for the 2003-2007 NPM Adjustments that PM USA was entitled to withhold or pay into a disputed payments account under the MSA. The NPM Adjustment Proceedings Background The Master Settlement Agreement is a contract between Participating Manufacturers and the Settling States that establishes certain rights and obligations for each of the parties. The amount each Original Participating Manufacturer pays each year under the agreement is determined by a complex formula. One component of that formula is the Non-Participating Manufacturer adjustment, which is potentially available in the event that all of the Participating Manufacturers in the aggregate lose more than two percentage points of market share compared to 1997. For the years 2003-2006, an economic consulting firm appointed under the Master Settlement Agreement has rendered its final and non-appealable decision that disadvantages experienced as a result of the MSA were a "significant factor contributing to" the market share loss of the Participating Manufacturers for 2003-2006. For 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Participating Manufacturers and the States have agreed that the States will not contest that the disadvantages of the MSA were a significant factor contributing to the Market Share Loss. Thus, no significant factor determination will be necessary with respect to the Participating Manufacturer's collective loss of market share for 2007, 2008 and 2009. States that prove they have diligently enforced their qualifying escrow statutes during all of a particular year will be able to avoid any application of the Adjustment to their payments for that year. The MSA Independent Auditor recently determined that the participating manufacturers collectively lost market share for 2010. A proceeding before an economic consulting firm with respect to a "significant factor" determination for 2010 loss of market share cannot be commenced until April 2012. Arbitration Agreement for 2003 PM USA and approximately 25 other Participating Manufacturers have entered into an arbitration agreement with 45 MSA States concerning the 2003 NPM Adjustment, including the States' claims of diligent enforcement for 2003. The selection of the Arbitration Panel for the 2003 NPM Adjustment was completed in July 2010 and the arbitration is currently ongoing. Proceedings to determine state diligent enforcement claims for 2004-2009 have not yet been scheduled. The availability and precise amount of any NPM Adjustment for 2003-2009 will not be finally determined until 2012 or thereafter. Reference: Philip Morris USA Makes Master Settlement Agreement Payment of Approximately $3.5 Billion, SOURCE: Philip Morris USA, (BUSINESS WIRE), 4/15/2011 RICHMOND, Va., Apr 15, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

chief of the Montana First Nation been suspended after admitting her role in storing 14 million contraband cigarettes..

2011-04-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

The chief of the Montana First Nation been suspended after admitting her role in storing 14 million contraband cigarettes worth an estimated $7 million, were seized Thursday.

The cigarettes were found stored in a Quonset that belonged to the First Nation. Chief Carolyn Buffalo of the Montana First Nation did not deny that the cigarettes were in the possession of the First Nation.

Band members told CTV News Buffalo and band councillor Leonard Standingontheroad have both lost their roles with the band pending an investigation.

"I'll apologize as many times as I need to," said Buffalo. "The truth is we were trying to get our economy going because we have no money," said Buffalo.

The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission announced Fbeen suspended after admitting her role in storing 14 million contraband cigarettes from a storage building on the Montana First Nation near Wetaskiwin.

Reference: been suspended after admitting her role in storing 14 million contraband cigarettes edmonton.ctv.ca, 1/7/2011

Alberta few related news briefs:
Smoking in a car, even if window is open, exposes a child to dangerous levels of poisonous particles..;
This is a FACT: Children's exposure to second-hand smoke is dangerous, especially in cars..;
United Kingdom - head GP physician calls smoking in front of children "child abuse"..;
Senior British Doctors demand banning smoking in vehicles when children are present..;
More evidence - vehicles most dangerous space for second-hand smoke inhalation..;
Vehicles Most Dangerous Space for Second-Hand Smoke Levels...

References: a href="http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/alberta/2011/04/01/17845606.html">Anti-smoking group wants smoking ban in vehicles with kids"> by FRANK LANDRY Legislature Bureau, edmontonsun.com, 4/1/2011; Group calls for ban on smoking in cars Kelly Turner, AM770, 4/1/2011.

Some Alberta related news briefs:
a href=http://snus-news.blogspot.com/2011/04/alberta-pressured-not-to-left-alone-ban.html">Alberta - pressured not to left alone ban smoking in cars with kids present..;
Alberta - only two provinces left that do not ban smoking in cars with children..;
Canadian Cancer Society - wants Alberta and all other remaining provinces/territories to ban smoking in cars with children..:
Leduc, Alberta , Canada - bans smoking in cars with kids, takes effect July 2, 2011..;
lberta, Canada - family of anti-smoking activists wants her photo on cigarette packs..;
Alberta, Canada - lawsuit against big tobacco should be filed within a year..;
Alberta - government is not planning to finance medications to help people quit smoking..;
Alberta - tobacco banned in pharmacies and grocery stores..;
Alberta tobacco reduction strategy is working..;
Smoking rampant among pregnant women in Alberta..;

Conflict Exists With the Acceptance of Tobacco Industry Money..;

duMaurier SNUS - Comments Regarding Smokeless Tobacco from Dave Hancock, Minister of Health & Wellness, Province of Alberta, Canada..;
duMaurier SNUS - Edmonton, Alberta - Imperial Tobacco Canada..; We need more tobacco like a hole in the head - the world does not need: smokeless, chewless and spitless tobacco.;
Tighten restrictions on all tobacco advertising..

Dutch smokers are “alarmingly” ignorant of harms of passive smoking..

2011-04-16T18:02:00.000-07:00

April 16, 2011 - Tobacco control experts are urging the Dutch government to launch information campaigns funded by a doubling of the price of secondhandsmokecigarettes, after a new study showed an “alarming” ignorance of the dangers of passive smoking.

The study, by researchers at Maastricht University for the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project, coincides with this week’s European conference on tobacco and health in Amsterdam ;, aimed at putting tobacco control higher on the political and social agenda. THe latest Tobacco Control Scale, a report on measures to combat smoking by the Association of European Cancer Leagues, placed the Netherlands joint 13th out of 30 countries, behind Turkey and Italy<br><br><a href=">The Tobacco Control Scale 2010 in Europe Luk Joossens Martin Raw) Its position may reflect the recent decision to allow smoking once more in small cafes Netherlands - smoking ban lifted in small cafes with no staff.. of passive smoking and the low average price of a packet of cigarettes in the Netherland, estimated at €5.05 (£4.45; $7.18), less than half the €11.24 (16.2204 USD) in Norway.

The Maastricht University study found that just 61% of Dutch smokers agree that cigarette smoke is dangerous to non-smokers. In France the percentage is 96% and in China it is 93%. It also showed that only 70% of Dutch smokers recognise a direct link between passive smoking and lung cancer in non-smokers (94% in France). Only 9% of Dutch smokers thought about the harm to others (42% in the United Kingdom).

Geoffrey Fong, of the International Tobacco Control project, said that understanding harm was the key to tobacco control. “As a signatory to the WHO framework convention on tobacco control the Netherlands has a duty to inform its people about the dangers of smoking,” he said.

Marc Willemsen, who led the Dutch study, described the findings as “alarming,” particularly as the Dutch health ministry had recently decided to discontinue funding for media campaigns to educate smokers.

“We knew that there was a large degree of toleration—that is part of our culture—but we had no idea that the basic level of knowledge was so low,” said Professor Willemsen, who blamed the absence of campaigns on the health dangers of smoking. He believes that the government is afraid of appearing to be too “nannying.”

He said, “The health minister has told parliament that she does not want to finance campaigns in the areas of lifestyle behaviour and has specially mentioned smoking as an example.”

Lies van Gennip, chief executive of Stivoro, the Dutch expert centre on tobacco control, said that it was of utmost importance to raise knowledge. “It is shocking that people in Holland know less about the damage from passive smoking than in China,” she said. She called for “proven effective measures,” such as graphic warnings on cigarette packets and increasing the cost of a packet of cigarettes, which could be gradually doubled to €10 to match the price in other countries. This call has sparked a campaign against the organisation in the social media.

The health minister, Edith Schippers, wrote to MPs on 31 March accepting that public knowledge about the harms of passive smoking seemed to be low.

Reference: Dutch smokers are “alarmingly” ignorant of harms of passive smoking by Tony Sheldon
(environmntal tobacco smoke, ets, shs, passive smoking, involuntary smoking sidstram smoking)
Netherlands - related news briefs:
a href=http://snus-news.blogspot.com/2010/12/netherlands-smoking-ban-widely-ignored.html">Netherlands - smoking ban widely ignored - govt not sure how many bars have no employees..;
Netherlands - smoking ban lifted in small cafes with no staff..;
Netherlands - small pubs (bars) - one-man businesses smoking allowed..;
Netherlands - legislation to abolish smoking ban for small cafes/bars with no staff.. ;
Netherlands - bars defy two-year old smoking ban..;
Netherlands - small bars can continue to ignore smoking ban..;
Dutch government will change law to keep bars smoke free..;
Netherlands - lifted smoking ban for bars with no employees..;
Holland - smoking ban temporarily halted for smaller cafes run by their owners alone..;
Netherlands - spot checks on smoking in small cafes suspended temporarily..;
Dutch bar owners without staff when victory against smoking ban..;
Netherlands - Marijuana /Tobacco Cigarettes - Confusion..;
Netherlands - small bars/cafes with no staff could be exempt from smoking ban..;
Court spares small Dutch cafe over smoking ban..;
Netherlands - 1st court case for flouting smoking ban..;
Netherlands - ban on smoking in bars and restaurants NOT enforced..; Netherlands - ban on smoking in bars and restaurants NOT enforced..; Netherlands the smoking ban must be enforced - Ab Klink, Health Minister...;
Congratulations are in order: Netherlands, Romania & Alberta...
(Holland, Dutch)

Richmond, VA, home of Philip Morris USA again won the title of “Asthma Capital” of the U.S.

2011-04-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

April 16, 2011

March 31, 2008 - Altria bid farewell Friday to New York City and joins its Henrico County-based subsidiary, Philip Morris USA, the nation's largest cigarette maker, in Virginia. (Altria Moves Headquarters from N.Y. to Virginia Today)

IN less than two years after the move to Richmond Philip Morris USA has again won the title of “Asthma Capital” of the U.S. for the second year in a row. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America also ranked Virginia Beach in the top 10 most challenging places to live with asthma.

The group's rankings are based on scoring of a variety of factors in the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. The foundation has conducted the study for eight years.

Richmond ranked 14th in 2009, but jumped to the top spot last year. The group says Richmond's ranking is based on factors including a higher than average pollen score, continued poor air quality, a lack of public smoking bans, and high poverty and uninsured rates.

Does the production of million of cigarettes results in continued poor air quality??

“Although Richmond is a particularly difficult place for people with asthma to live, asthma triggers are present in every American city,” Mike Tringale, a spokesman with the group said in a news release. “There is no way for asthma patients to escape their disease, but no matter where they live, patients can work with their physicians to find ways to control their symptoms better.”

Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the lungs resulting in chronic wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing. It causes more than 4,000 deaths annually and more than 500,000 hospitalizations, as well as $18 billion in medical expenses and indirect costs each year.

Reference: Richmond named nation's 'Asthma Capitol', Associated Press, Richmong-Times Dispatch, 4/16/2011.

Germany: Catering Sales Rise Despite Anti-Smoking Laws..

2011-04-16T11:23:00.000-07:00

April 16, 2011
Germany has sixteen states (Laender), as follows:

1. Berlin (city state)
2. Hamburg (city state)
3. Bremen (city state)
4. Brandenburg - capital: Potsdam
5. Bayern (Bavaria) - capital: Munich
6. Baden-Württemberg - capital: Stuttgart
7. Hessen (Hesse) - capital: Wiesbaden
8. Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine Westphalia) - capital: Düsseldorf
9. Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland Palatinate) - capital: Mainz
10. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - capital: Schwerin
11. Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) - capital: Hanover
12. Saarland - capital: Saarbrücken
13. Sachsen (Saxony) - capital: Dresden
14. Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony Anhalt) - capital: Magdeburg
15. Schleswig-Holstein - capital: Kiel
16. Thüringen (Thuringia) - capital: Erfurt

The first three are city states and have a somewhat different constitution from the others.

Contrary to claims by breweries, the catering industry and tobacco firms, the imposition of smoking bans in German states has not dampened sales. The southern state of Bavaria, for example — which has the strongest anti-smoking laws in Germany — has seen catering industry sales rise by 1.5 percent in the second half of 2010, versus the same period a year earlier. In contrast, bars and restaurants in North Rhine-Westphalia, the German state with a range of means exempting smokers from bans, has seen its catering trade income sink by 3.1 percent in the same time span.

The prevalence of loopholes in North Rhine-Westphalia is illustrated by the city of Essen, where only a third of its 362 bars are smoke free. Many of the bars and cafes have found ways to sidestep the smoking ban, for example by forming so-called smoking clubs.

Germany and ‘Smoke-Free Europe’

Barbara Steffens, of the Green Party, who is the state health minister in North Rhine-Westphalia, wants to tighten her region’s lax smoking laws — prompting an outcry from the beer industry. But the reality of the regional sales figures contradict the oft-repeated fear that businesses will suffer if punters are not allowed to light up.

Germany’s smoking bans have long been a patchwork affair with individual states determining regional measures. The result has been that many bars manage to keep their doors open to smokers. Six months ago, European Union Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy John Dalli of Malta called for new rules that would help bring about his goal of a ” smoke-free Europe.” (European Union - commission wants no exceptions to smoking bans..)

According to a ranking list released in March by the Association of European Cancer Leagues, the Tobacco Control Scale 2010 shows that Germany lags many of its European neighbors on the basis of its tobacco taxes, smoking and advertising bans. (The Tobacco Control Scale 2010 in Europe Luk Joossens Martin Raw)

Reference: Catering Sales Rise Despite Anti-Smoking Laws:smoking-quit.info, 4/14/2011.

Some Germany related news briefs:
Germany - kids just don't think smoking is cool anymore..;
Germany - tobacco taxes to increase in May 2011..;
Germany - tobacco tax to increase incrementally over next 5-years..;
Oktoberfest 2010 in Munich, Germany smokefree in 2011..;
Bavaria, Germany - Oktoberfest to be smokefree but not this year..;
Study - the more teens see cigarette ads, the greater the risk of taking a puff..;
Germany - Bavaria referendum on smoking in cafés and beer halls on July 4, 2010..;
Germany - losing billions as smokers find cheaper places to buy cigarettes..;
Germany - smokers smoking less but it's costing more..;
Bavarians force referendum on smoking ban next year..;
Bavaria - court rules, looser implementation of smoking ban constitutional..;
Germany - beer sales are down smoking ban maybe partial blame..;
Bavaria - state's parliament loosened regulation on smoking ban..;
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008..;
German sales rise in Germany amid moves to impose smoking ban..

Tossed cigarette likely sparked trailer fire that killed six horses Saturday, April 16, 2011 2:18 PM

2011-04-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

April 16, 2011 - Fire-safe cigarettes do not prevent unattended cigarettes from igniting nearby materials or tinder..

December 27, 2009 - North Carolina (NC) - beginning in January 2010 fire safe cigarettes (FSC), smoking ban in public places..

A cigarette tossed by a passing driver likely sparked a fire in a horse trailer on Interstate 95 that killed six thoroughbreds Friday night, according to the Nash County Sheriff's Office.

The truck was northbound on I-95 south of Rocky Mount, when a camera showed the driver that smoke was coming from the horses' stalls in the trailer, state troopers said.

The driver woke up a back-up driver in the cab, and they tried to put out the fire, but it quickly got out of control.

One of the drivers suffered burns while trying to save the horses, but they all died.

Troopers said a discarded cigarette from a passing vehicle likely flew into one of the partially open stalls, setting fire to the hay, troopers said.

The vehicle was transporting the horses from Florida to New York.

I-95 was closed after the fire, causing traffic to back up for miles.

Reference: Tossed cigarette likely sparked trailer fire that killed six horses">, m.wral.com/

Kenton County, Kentucky smoking ban begins..

2011-04-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

April 16, 2011 - After years of contentious debate, a northern Kentucky county will be the first in that part of the state to ban smoking in most public places come Friday, April 15th.

Each year more than 8,000 Kentuckians die of illnesses caused by tobacco use. Some die of lung cancer, while others fall victim to cardiovascular disease. Annually, Medicaid and Medicare costs exceed an estimated $1.2 billion for treatment of Kentuckians suffering smoking-related diseases and conditions. This equals $300 for each of the 4 million people living in Kentucky. (KY Department of PUblic Health Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program)

The controversial ordinance says Kenton County offices and public establishments such as restaurants, churches, bowling alleys, bingo halls and retail stores must go smoke-free, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

Private clubs and "drinking establishments" meeting certain requirements can apply for an exemption, the newspaper said.

Health advocates say comprehensive smoke-free laws are needed to protect employees and customers from the hazards of secondhand smoke, while opponents of the ban argue it infringes on the rights of businesses and property owners.

But both sides say the partial ban allowing exemptions for some, but not all public places, is confusing and will be difficult to enforce.

"We have a lot of experience with other communities, like Louisville, which eventually strengthened their ordinance to a comprehensive smoke-free law because of enforcement issues," said Ellen Hahn, director of the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy at the University of Kentucky.

"It's really a matter of everyone deserves to breathe clean air, and why do we give exemptions for some and not for others?" Hahn said. "From an enforcement standpoint, it's much easier if it's comprehensive.

Vhe Kenton County Health Department has helped by distributing tool-kits, posting sample signs and reminder cards on their website.

There will be consequences for businesses who don't comply with the new law.

"Well, as the ordinance says, the first time we find a violation, the owner will receive a warning," Dr. Lynne Saddler, Northern Kentucky Health Department, "But along with that warning we will also provide the education to help them understand what's wrong and what they have to do to fix the non-compliance with the ordinance."

More than 5,500 businesses in Kenton County will be affected by the law.

References: Kenton County businesses prepare for smoking ban by Chelsey Collins, .wxix.com, 4/7/2011, Kenton Co: Extinguish 'em if you got 'em/Written by Cindy Schroedercschroeder@nky.com news.cincinnati.com 4/13/2011.

Indonesia tobacco smoke promoted as cancer cure - Griya Balur Clinic....

2011-04-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

April 15, 2011 - An Indonesian woman exhales cigarette smoke into the mouth of a gaunt, naked patient at a Jakarta clinic, where tobacco is openly touted as a cancer cure.

The Western patient is suffering from emphysema, a condition she developed from decades of smoking. Along with cancer and autism, it's just one of the ailments the Indonesia's Griya Balur Clinic touts smoking as cure for cancer, autism and emphysema

"I missed this," says the woman, a regular customer, with an American accent, as Phil Collins?s "I Can Feel It" blares in the background.

Griya Balur would be shut down in many parts of the world, but not in Indonesia, one of the developing-country new frontiers for big tobacco as it seeks to replace its dwindlin

Griya Balur founder Dr Gretha Zahar said she had treated 60,000 people with tobacco smoke over the past decade. With a PhD in nanochemistry from Padjadjaran University in Bandung, West Java, Zahar believes that by manipulating the mercury in tobacco smoking can cure all diseases including cancer, and even reverse the ageing process.

"Mercury is the cause of all illnesses. In my cigarettes - we call them Divine Cigarettes - there are scavengers that extract the mercury from the body," she said.

ndonesia's biggest cigarette manufacturer, PT HM Sampoerna, is an affiliate of Philip Morris International. Briti
sh American Tobacco bought Indonesia's fourth largest cigarette maker, PT Bentoel, for $494 million in 2009.

The government reaps about seven billion dollars a year in excise taxes from the industry, which employs scores of thousands of people around Temanggung in Central Java.

Cigarettes cost about one dollar for a pack of 20, yet they are often the second biggest item of household expenditure after food for the Southeast Asian country's poorest families.

According to the World Health Organisation, smoking rates have risen six-fold in Indonesia over the last 40 years.

Smoking kills at least 400,000 people every year and another 25,000 die from passive smoking.

References: In Indonesia, tobacco smoke promoted as cancer cure, by Agence France-Presse,The Raw Story, 4/12/2011; Indonesia's Griya Balur Clinic touts smoking as cure for cancer, autism and emphysema

Delaware County Health Board wants to widen 5-year-old smoking ban..

2011-04-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

Delaware County officials will be asked to widen the county's five-year-old smoking ban to include businesses exempted in 2006, including bars, taverns, private clubs and tobacco stores.

The county board of health is likely to consider the ban -- proposed by the Tobacco-Free Coalition of Delaware County -- at its 7 p.m. meeting today, while the county commissioners -- who will have final say on the ordinance -- could receive it as early as Monday.

The ban would not affect private residences and vehicles, noted Commissioner Don Dunnuck, an attorney who also drafted the smoking ban ordinance based on proposed statewide legislation.

Reference: Delaware County Health Board to consider stricter smoking ban 5
Written by KEITH ROYSDON and DOUGLAS WALKER thestarpress.com, 4/13/2011

Saint Louis - 12-Year-Long Lawsuit by Hospitals against Tobacco Companies Inches Towards Jury Selection

2011-04-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

April 15, 2011 Background:

March 9, 2011 - Saint Louis, Missouri - 37 hospitals suing tobacco companies..

September 10, 2010 - St. Louis, Missouri - lawsuit by hospitals after 12 years to go to trial January 2011..

The tobacco industry owes millions in healthcare - at least that’s what Missouri hospitals say. According to the hospitals, the tobacco industry has cost them millions of dollars in healthcare for patients being treated for smoking-related illnesses who can’t pay their medical expenses.

More than 40 area hospitals, along with the city of St. Louis, sued Altria Group Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and other cigarette makers back in 1998, claiming that the tobacco giants manipulated the nicotine content in cigarettes and did not properly inform consumers of the risks associated with smoking.

Kenneth Brostron, a lawyer for the hospitals, said the tobacco companies should take responsibility for their actions. But the tobacco companies deny any responsibility for patient care costs and any financial losses to the hospitals.

The lawsuit went to trial in January and is the third such claim to reach trial. The first, in Ohio in 1999, was won by the tobacco industry. The second trial resulted in the awarding of $17.8 million to a health insurer in New York in 2001. The decision was reversed on appeal in 2004.

Thirty-seven of the more than 40 hospitals in Missouri remain in the lawsuit. They are seeking approximately $455 million from the tobacco industry. Due to the fact that the trial may last six to seven months, the court has sent out surveys to 6,000 potential jurors to find 12 people who can commit for such a long time. The court is hoping to pull together a pool of about 600 from the surveys and then begin sorting out those based on biases.

More than 30 hospitals are seeking $1 billion from cigarette makers, claiming their products caused serious, preventable illnesses that the hospitals were forced to treat. They say the money will go towards recovering funds spent on treating uninsured patients and those who did not pay their medical bills, going back to 1993. The cigarette companies argue that because the hospitals did not suffer direct damage from cigarettes, they should not be allowed to collect money for other people’s problems. The case could be precedent-setting for similar cases around the country.

Both sides have been going through pretrial arguments for nearly 12 years, since the hospitals first filed their lawsuit in November 1998. (CITY OF ST. LOUIS, et al., Plaintiffs, v. AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, INC., et al., Defendants. No. 4:98CV02087 ERW, July 2, 1999))

In 2001, Judge Michael Calvin ruled that the case was worthy of a jury trial, but it has been stalled in the “discovery” stage ever since, as the two sides battle to produce admissible evidence.

Experts expect it to set precedents for similar cases across the country, as it is the only one of its kind to leap some legal hurdles that killed more than 160 similar cases in courts across the country.

The hospitals are seeking to recover losses for patients treated since 1993, which is potentially $1 billion.

Initially, the plaintiffs were 44 hospitals, including most of the major facilities in St. Louis, plus the city itself on behalf of its clinics and the now-closed City Hospital. Nearly a dozen have since dropped out for various reasons.

References: 12-Year-Long Lawsuit by Hospitals against Tobacco Companies Inches Towards Jury Selection, Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky, ALLGOV.com, 9/8/20-10; Giant jury pool considered for big-stakes St. Louis trial by HEATHER RATCLIFFE (hratcliffe@post-dispatch.com), stltoday.com, 9/3/2010.

Reference: Tobacco Industry Under Fire for Patients Who Can't Pay Their Medical Bills By Roberta Seldon , ThirdAge.com
4/14/2011

Hong Kong confirms rise in smuggling..

2011-04-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

April 15, 2011 - According to the China Daily, the Legislative Council Panel on Security held a special meeting on Friday to discuss the situation concerning the illicit trade in cigarettes that has risen since the increase of 41.5 per cent in the tobacco duty on 23 February. (Hong Kong - Tax increase adds HK$10 (1.28 USD) to cigarette price..)

At the panel meeting, Tam Yiu-keung, assistant commissioner of the Customs and Excise Department said that in recent years, sales of illicit cigarettes through "telephone booking" have been on the rise, coupled with an increase of cross-border couriers carrying small quantities each time.

The department says it will augment law enforcement on various fronts, including raids, the use of undercover agents and tracking of warehouses where illicit cigarettes are stocked.

Several lawmakers expressed concern about the limited number of customs officers deployed to tackle illicit cigarettes. (pi)

Reference: Hong Kong confirms rise in smuggling, Tobacco Journal International, 4/11/2011.

Hong Kong related news briefs:
Hong Kong - convenience store chains cut cost of cigarettes by HK$2;
Hong Kong - Tax increase adds HK$10 (1.28 USD) to cigarette price..;
Hong Kong - govt officials meet with tobacco companies ahead of next week's budget..;
Hong Kong - Council on Smoking and Health has called for a raise in tobacco tax to at least 75% of retail price..;
Hong Kong - latest survey - proportion of smokers in younger age group dropped by 10%..;
Hong Kong - as of December 1st smoking ban extended to 131 bus terminals..;
Study - many benefits including improvement in your sex life when you quit tobacco..;
Hong Kong - from August 1, incoming passengers allowed to import a maximum of 19 cigarettes, one cigar or 25 g of cut tobacco..;
Hong Kong - ways to beat the smoking ban..;
Hong Kong - smokers defy smoking ban, no penalty for owners of
venues..;
China - can they learn tobacco control from Hong Kong??;
Hong Kong - 50% increase in tax on tobacco products approved..;
Hong Kong - cigarettes too cheap, tax only 61 and 66 percent of retail price..;
Hong Kong study - further proof, women have a harder time quitting cigarettes..;
Hong Kong - as of November 1st no tobacco advertising at newsstands - now display boxes..;
Member states of WHO's Western Pacific region agree to new tobacco control action plan..;
Hong Kong - Is the fixed-penalty fine for smoking offenses effective?;
Hong Kong - more unions are starting to enforce extended smoking ban..
Hong Kong - unions refuse to hand out penalty tickets for smoking..
Hong Kong - tobacco smokers may be prone to developing life-threatening complications from swine flu..;
Hong Kong - total smoking ban in full force no exceptions..
Hong Kong - total smoking ban in effect - Wednesday, July 1, 2009..;
Hong Kong - smoking statistics..;
Hong Kong - movie poster woman smoking - NOT ALLOWED..;
Hong Kong - bar owners an employees march to protest smoking ban starting July 1, 2009..;
Hong Kong - attempt to delay July 1, 2009 smoking ban fails..;
Hong Kong - cigarette smuggling soars after tax increase..;
Hong Kong - Tax on cigarettes pushed up by 50 percent..;
Honk Kong - smoking increase raise tobacco duties??;
Hong Kong - temporary smoking ban exemption ends July 1, 2009..;
Hong Kong - after smoking ban cigarette consumption up 14 percent..;
Hong Kong - public smoking ban - smoking rooms??;
Shanghai Tobacco's Golden Deer Cigarettes - Hong Kong..;
More on Philip Morris International of the Future...

Indonesia Menthol Cigarette Cancer - menthol cigarette cancer rate is similar to any other cigarette caused lung cancer..

2011-04-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

April 15, 2011 Menthol Cigarette Cancer – A study about menthol cigarette cancer has revealed good news and bad news. Good news is that menthol cigarette cancer rate is similar to any other cigarette caused lung cancer. The menthol cigarette study results came at a time when the FDA is already contemplating on the menthol cigarette ban.

People in 12 southern states were used as a basis for the menthol cigarette study.
440 people with lung cancer were observed together with 2,213 other people who do not have the disease. Those that consume 20 or more cigarettes per day reveal a 12 times more likely of acquiring the disease than those who don't.

Aside from that, regular smokers are 21 times more likely to have lung cancer that those who do not smoke.

According to the authors of the study, "Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of premature death in the United States, but undue emphasis on reduction of menthol relative to other cigarettes may distract from the ultimate health prevention message that smoking of any cigarettes is injurious to health".

The rise in the incidence of young smokers have forced governments to issue vigorous legislation to combat the rise.

????? Recently, flavored cigarettes have been banned in Canada but as of the moment cigarette menthols are exempt from the legislation.

Reference: Menthol Cigarette Cancer ; indonesiatobacco.com, 4/9/2011

North Carolina - may reinroduce cigarett tax stamps this time..

2011-04-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

April 15, 2011 - A bill that aims at reinstating cigarette tax stamps has been introduced in the General Assembly of North Carolina, reports the Winston-Salem Journal.

North Carolina is one of three states which do not use cigarette stamps to collect excise tax. The General Assembly eliminated it in 1993, arguing that the revenue produced from the excise tax - which at that time was USD 0.05 a pack - was not worth the administrative, logistics and enforcement costs of the stamps.

The tax is now USD 0.45 a pack and analysts say annual excise-tax revenue worth USD 1 million could be gained by reviving the stamp.

A similar bill aiming at curbing cigarette smuggling into North Carolina was introduced in 2010, but never got out of committee. However, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco and Philip Morris USA have now added their support. (North Carolina - may restore tax stamp to reduce smuggling...)

Reference: North Carolina may revive tax stamps>, Tobacco Journal International, 4/14/2011.

NATO Show April 12 -14 , 2011, Las Vegas, NV - DR. Tobacco Survey.. Dr. Lawrence Deyton..

2011-04-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

Dr. Lawrence Deyton, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products (CTP),

April 15, 2011 - NATO's (National Association of Tobacco Outlets) 10th Anniversary at the Rio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV, April 12 – 14, 2011.

April 15, 2011 When it comes to tobacco regulation, Dr. Lawrence Deyton, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), acknowledges that there might be discord on occasion. But as he told retailers and manufacturers at the NATO Show Thursday, April 14th communication is an important focus of the CTP, even during those times.

"We want to establish a relationship of good communication and trust," he said. "We may not always agree on everything. But we can disagree on things, but we don't need to be disagreeable. And we need to keep communicating with each other about how this is all going, so that we can all learn for each other."

He added, "Tobacco retailers, we know you're on the front line of protecting our youth from initiating tobacco use.... Tobacco retailers are crucial to us at FDA to help keep tobacco out of the hands of kids."

Deyton also outlined what's up next for his organization, including the recent discussions around menthol cigarettes. In March, the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) reported that "removal of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace would benefit public health in the United States." Deyton said, "The Tobacco Products Scientific Committee is just that--it's advisory.... That committee's advisory does not set FDA policy; FDA sets FDA policy."

He said the FDA is considering the report and an industry perspective document, which could "take some time," but promised the first progress report will be available in June.
Also in June, the FDA will issue a final rule on the graphic health warnings, proposed in November. Those warnings will have to be put in place by manufacturers in September of next year. (Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage of the FDA's warning labels.)

TPSAC also will be looking at dissolvable products, and will issue a report by March 2012.

April of next year will be a busy time for the CTP, as it will establish a list of harmful and potentially harmful constituents, publish that list and begin educating constituents about it. The center will also issue guidance or regulation on the scientific evidence to be used to assess modified risk tobacco products. Manufacturers must submit information to the FDA proving that their products are modified risk, if they want to market them that way. "If they do effectively prove it and FDA agrees, they can market it as having modified risk. But we have to establish what those standards are," Deyton said.

When asked if it's possible to prevent youth access to tobacco products, without "complete prohibition" of them, Deyton said he didn't know the answer. "The law says that these are legal products in this country.... I do think that big-picture goal is achievable."

He reiterated that retailers are important to that process. "Your understanding of tobacco use, tobacco sales, and tobacco marketing in this country is huge for us to understand, so we can together achieve those kinds of public health goals that the law intends for us."

Reference: FDA Looks Ahead Center for Tobacco Products head outlines next step for retailers at NATO Show, By Linda Abu-Shalback Zid, CSP Daily News, 4/15/2011.

NATO Show April 12 -14 , 2011, Las Vegas, NV - Tobacco Survey..

2011-04-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

April 15, 2011 - NATO's (National Association of Tobacco Outlets) 10th Anniversary at the Rio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV, April 12 – 14, 2011.

NATO Tobacco Data Insights' National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO)-CSP Tobacco Survey that will serve as "foundation research" for future surveys to come. The survey, sponsored by Swedish Match, drilled down into tobacco category specifics of 160 convenience stores and tobacco outlets representing nearly 11,000 stores.

When it comes to cigars, tobacco shops draw 23% of their tobacco revenue from the category, while c-stores were at 7%. Tobacco shops had an average of 430 cigar SKUs, while c-stores carried 59. Our survey actually found there was equally as much engagement and enthusiasm about some of the packaging innovation."

For pipe tobacco, the c-store is a "marginal player," according to Mitch Morrison, vice president and group editor of CSP magazine. The category accounted for 1% of c-store tobacco revenues, and four SKUs. In tobacco shops, it accounted 7% of revenue. Tobacco shops averaged 31 SKUs of standard and 14 SKUs of hookah; Morrison added that there has been "an uptick in consumer preference for hookah" lately.

Cigarettes were an area where there was a lot of commonality between c-stores and tobacco shops, although they accounted for 80% of tobacco revenue in c-stores and 51% in tobacco shops. Tobacco shops generally carried 238 SKUs, while c-stores hold 182.

Moist smokeless tobacco (MST) accounted for 6% of tobacco revenues in tobacco shops, and 9% in c-stores. Tobacco shops carried an average of 47 SKUs, while c-stores were not far behind with 37 SKUs. Morrison said, "As tobacco sets start to shift from cigarette heavy in convenience stores, we're seeing greater featuring of MST, both in terms of premium and nonpremium brands."

For cigarettes, Marlboro Special Blend "had taken off" with 28% of the votes. Morrison said he was also "pleasantly surprised" by Newport Non-Menthol's 10%, since it only debuted a couple of months prior to the survey. He added, however, that pricing incentives could be playing a role.

For MSTs, Copenhagen wintergreen had 30% of the votes. While vibrancy is good for manufacturers' bottom lines, Morrison said they are also looking at what is happening overseas and spending many advertising dollars to raise awareness. Retailers, he said, should be examining how they can be "piggybacking" on those efforts.

Reference: Building the Foundation NATO Show kicks off with NATO-CSP Tobacco Survey insights by Linda Abu-Shalback Zid , CSP Daily News, 4/14/2011.

JT rebuilds its shipments in Japan..

2011-04-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

April 14, 2011 - As scheduled, Japan Tobacco (JT) resumed shipments of seven products in Japan on April 11 following the disruption that was caused to its operations by the earthquake and tsunami that struck the north east of Japan on March 11.

Nine additional products, including Mild Seven Lights and Caster Mild, will be shipped from April 25, and a further nine products, including Hope and Peace Lights Box, will be shipped from May 9, though, in the initial stages of these two phases of the renewed shipping operations, volumes will be limited.

But, by May 9, JT will be shipping all of the 25 key products that it identified on April 1.Japan Tobacco Inc will resume shipments of seven tobacco products including Mild Seven and Seven Stars on April 11 as scheduled. The company plans to expand its shipments and ship its mainstay 25 products from mid-May, it said.

The company has been suspending shipments of all its 97 tobacco products due to difficulties in procuring materials following the March 11 massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Reference: JT rebuilds its shipments in Japan, Tobacco Reporter, /14/2011

Some directly related news briefs
March 29, 2011 - Japan Tobacco to halt shipments..
April 2, 2011 - Japan doing everything possible to normalize its supply systems as quickly as possible..

The World Medical Association will step up its fight against tobacco..

2011-04-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

THE HON NICOLA ROXON MP
Minister for Health and Ageing, WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION COUNCIL MEETING, SYDNEY
Thursday 7 April 2011

10.04.2011) The World Medical Association will step up its fight against smoking with proposals to ban the production, distribution and sale of candy products that depict or resemble tobacco products.

At their three-day Council meeting in Sydney, Australia, (April 7-9) WMA delegates agreed to recommend to their annual Assembly in October plans to strengthen the organisation's anti tobacco policy to combat moves by the tobacco industry to make their products more appealing to young people.

Delegates argued that the WMA should extend its policy to include restrictions on smokeless tobacco and tobacco-derived products, including prohibiting all government subsidies for tobacco-derived products.

Dr. Ardis Hoven, chair of the Board of the American Medical Association, said the tobacco industry was now involved in aggressively promoting new forms of cigarettes, such as smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes in shops and on the internet to attract and appeal to young people, and the WMA needed to respond strongly.

Dr. Mukesh Haikerwal, chair of the WMA Council, said he and his colleagues were delighted with this week's major announcement at the WMA meeting by Australia's Health Minister on plain packaging for cigarettes.

‘The WMA welcomes the stringent measures of the Australian Government to progress tobacco control in this country and we hope this will be followed by other nations.'

References: Gloves off in medical body’s fight with tobacco, 4/14/2011; World Medical Association Council, Medical News Today, 4/11/2011; World Physicians Intensify Campaign against Smoking

IN raising children - no place for dissolvable smokeless tobacco products..

2011-04-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

April 14, 2011

J.R. Reynolds Tobacco Camel Dissolvables Products: Orbs (spherical object), which is a pellet (dissolves in the mouth, like breath mints) that lasts about 15 minutes; Sticks (twisted) can be placed in the mouth like a toothpick or broken into a pieces that are placed between the upper lip and gum, where they dissolve after 10 minutes; and edible film Strips for the tongue, which dissolve after about 3 minutes (e.g., like Listerine PocketPak breath strips). Flavors - Strips will come in fresh mint flavor and Sticks in Mellow; Orbs will be available in both flavors.

Each product is convenient user-friendly dosage form containing amounts of the nicotine to render the user a slave to this addictive substance for many years to come. As pointed out by Dr. Connolly these nicotine dosage forms are easier to tolerate so kids will become possible life-long nicotine addicts at a much younger age compared with cigarette initiation.

Our children - NO - to dissolvable smokeless tobacco products..

Click on images to enlarge..

"Our Highest Priority Has To Be Keeping Children From Beginning To Use Tobacco Products" Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the USA.

Ads Available at retailers in Colorado. Thank you the Center for Global Tobacco Control, Harvard School of Public Health.

India - Prime Minister urged to ban sale of smokeless tobacco products

2011-04-13T17:08:00.001-07:00

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April 13, 2011 - Kolkata (Calcutta), April 12 - Seventeen regional cancer centres in India have urged the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to ban the sale of tobacco products like gutka and pan masala in the country. (Smokeless tobacco products include gutka, gkhaini and pan masala — all chewing tobacco products.) Related news briefs: April 4-5 Delhi to host national consultation on smokeless tobacco..)

Also, India - main opposition party leader calls for a complete ban on tobacco..

“India has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world with 75,000 to 80,000 new cases being reported every year and chewing of tobacco and gutka contribute to 90 per cent of oral cancer in the country,” Mr Jaydip Biswas, Director, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI, said here.

He said the 17 regional cancer centres, including CNCI, had decided to join hands to fight the menace and urged the Prime Minister in this regard.

In a communication to the Prime Minister, the regional cancer centre directors said that easy availability of the mixture of toxic substances, which contain areca nut (supari), slaked lime and certain food additives, in small affordable pouches in every nook and corner of the country, has become a serious health hazard.

According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2010, nearly one-third of Indian population is addicted to smokeless tobacco. (India - govt releases results of GAT Survey..)

“A large number of children and youth in India are addicted to smokeless tobacco, which contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. There are 3,095 chemical components in tobacco, among them 28 are proven carcinogen,” Mr Biswas said.

According to the GATS, 34.6 percent adults consume some form of tobacco in India, 25.9 per cent adults use smokeless tobacco and 14.1 percent of youth in India between 13-15 years of age currently use any form of tobacco products.

The survey said that about two in three adults notice advertisements on promotions of tobacco products. Three in five current tobacco users (61.1 per cent) notice the health warning on tobacco product packages and one in three current tobacco users (31.5 per cent) thought of quitting because of the warning label.

The CNCI director said the magnitude of tobacco-related cancer, on an average, was on an upward trend in eastern and north-eastern India.

“This is largely due to high prevalence of tobacco consumption,” he said, adding that there was not much control on production and sale of gutka which is sold everywhere.

The director said that to combat such a dreadful situation, a strong campaign was required to be launched to regulate production, sale and use of gutka and pan masala in greater public interest.

Reference: PM urged to ban sale of tobacco products

India - some related news briefs:
^*India - pictorial warnings on tobacco products unclear....:
^*India - main opposition party leader calls for a complete ban on tobacco..;
^*Mumbai, India - BEST committee to monitor to prevent tobacco advertisement;
^*India State of Goa - stop sale of loose cigarettes and raise tobacco taxes..;
^*Chandigarh, India - a leader in tobacco control..;
^*India - Cancer docs take tobacco battle inside parliament..;
^*http://snus-news.blogspot.com/2011/02/india-to-introduce-anti-tobacco.html;
^*India - 80% of teenagers in metropolitan cities are addicted to smoking cigarettes..;
^*India - despite govt ban, sale and advertising of tobacco products is rampant around educational institutions..;
^*India - foreign cigarette companies could soon find it harder to sell their products..;
^*Maharashtra, India - collecting fines from anti-tobacco drive..;
^*India - health ministry formulating policy that is smokeless tobacco specific..;
^*India - celebs shy away from endorsing tobacco and liquor..;
^*Mumbai, India - students campaign to spread word on the dangers of tobacco products..;
^*India - cigarette/bidis companies resume tobacco production..;
^*India - will delay for a year the use of scarier pictorial warnings on cigarette and bidi packs..;
^*India - cigarettes and bidis manufacturers halt production seek clarification on pictorial health warnings..;
^*India - Tobacco Board warns farmers against planting unauthorized crop..;
^*India - revised pictorial warnings on tobacco products will be implemented from December 1, 2010..;
^*India - captions with pictorial warnings should use local languages..:
^*India - pictorial warning will appear on every tobacco pack sold from June 1, 2010..;
^*India - government set to ban foreign direct investment in tobacco..;
^*India - despite tobacco control measure in place - tobacco sales increase..;
^*India - still confusion pictorial warnings on cigarette packs..;
^*Mumbai, India - NGO activists want closure of hookah bars..;
^*India - gutkha and bidi companies NOT pictorial warnings..;
^*India - cigarette packs with pictorial warnings are here..; ^*India - NO graphic pictorial warnings yet..;
^*India - Still no pictorial warnings on cigarette packs..;
^*India - pictorial warning on cigarettes and tobacco products effective May 31, 2009..;
^*India - pictorial warning on cigarettes and tobacco products will be implemented from May 31 - no doubts about it..;
^*India - will pictorial or graphic health warnings be implemented from May 30, 2009..;
^*India - placing pictorial warnings on tobacco products delayed again...

World anti tobacco day May 31, 2010 - Photos Women Smoking in India..

MSA - the tobacco companies are disputing about $5.2 billion in payments..

2011-04-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

April 13, 2011 - State governments struggling to close yawning budget gaps are fighting to get billions of dollars from a landmark 1998 tobacco master settlement agreement (MSA) that they counted on to help fund everything from Medicaid to elder care programs.

the tobacco companies are disputing about $5.2 billion in payments, according to the National Association of Attorneys General. Since 2006, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Lorillard Inc., and about 40 other cigarette makers that signed the settlement have withheld about $3.2 billion from the states. The companies claim the states failed to enforce a provision stopping small, rival cigarette companies that didn’t sign the settlement from undercutting them on prices.

Read more according to a story by Ben Hallman for the Center for Public Integrity.

Broke state governments may owe $5.2 billion to big tobacco companies Showdown begins today at arbitration hearing, by Ben Hallman, Center for Public Intgrity, 4/12/2011..

Nepal - bans the sale of cigarettes in separate sticks..

2011-04-13T13:10:00.000-07:00

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April 13, 2011 - - Gone are the days when you could freely smoke or chew tobacco in public places. A new bill on tobacco products endorsed Monday, April 11th by Nepali legislature-parliament severely restricts tobacco consumption in public places. According to Tuesday's Republica daily, the new law to be enacted shortly was endorsed as part of Nepal's obligation to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and bans tobacco consumption in schools, colleges, hospitals, government offices, temples and public vehicles. Nepal is a party to the WHO convention. So we had the obligation to translate certain WHO provisions into national law," said Secretary at the Ministry of Law and Justice Madhav Poudel. Nepal signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) on 3 December 2003. Nepal ratified the WHO Framework Convention on 7 November 2006.

In an attempt to discourage smoking among youngsters, the law terms the selling of tobacco products to minors an offense. The law also bans the sale of cigarettes in separate sticks to make the cigarette purchase a bit difficult. The new law also stipulates that the tobacco companies fill 75 percent space of the packaging of the tobacco products with the facts about health hazards from tobacco consumption, and totally bans advertisements promoting tobacco use in any form. Legislature-Parliament Tuesday unanimously approved the Tobacco Product Control and Regulatory Bill, 2010. It will come into effect 90 days after the President approved it.

In an attempt to discourage smoking among youngsters, the law terms the selling of tobacco products to minors an offence. The law also bans the sale of cigarettes in separate sticks to make the cigarette purchase a bit difficult. "Now the people will have to buy cigarettes only in packets. It will certainly reduce tobacco sales," said UML chief whip Bhim Acharya adding that people would certainly have difficulties in the beginning, but they must get used to the new regulations. The new law also stipulates that the tobacco companies fill 75 percent space of the packaging of the tobacco products with the facts about health hazards from tobacco consumption, and totally bans advertisements promoting tobacco use in any form. "The best part of the new law is that it attempts to minimize the health risks non-smokers undergo because of smoking by others in public places," Acharya said.

"The parliament has endorsed the bill. Now it is up to the government to enforce the law. We hope the new law will be helpful in reducing the harms to the people caused by tobacco use," said Nepali Congress (NC) chief whip, Laxman Ghimire. Activists had long been demanding an effective law against the use of tobacco products in public places. < font color=purple>In Nepal, prevalence of smoking and tobacco use is 56.5 percent in men and 19.5 percent in women, which is higher in comparison to other countries. Tobacco use here is found to be higher among the poor and illiterate sections of the population. Brief Profile on
Tobacco Control in Nepal

References: Nepal to ban smoking at public places, investors.com, 4/11/2011; Bill bans smoking at public places POST B BASNET

A few related news briefs:
Nepal - bill to implement tobacco control measures being debated in parliament;
Nepal - tobacco use high in Kathmandu Valley..;

Lorillard to host first-quarter 2011 earnings conference Tuesday, April 26, 2011..

2011-04-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

April 13, 2011 - Conference call for analysts and investors will begin at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on April 26, 2011, which will be hosted by Murray S. Kessler, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and David H. Taylor, Executive Vice President, Finance and Planning and Chief Financial Officer. Investors can participate in the conference call by dialing (888) 239-6824 (domestic) or (706) 902-3787 (international). The passcode for this event is: 59461547.

The news release and a live webcast of the conference call will also be available under the Investor Relations section of Lorillard's website at www.lorillard.com.

The conference call will be available for replay in its entirety through May 3, 2011. If you wish to listen to the replay of this conference call, please visit Lorillard's website at www.lorillard.com or dial (800) 642-1687 (domestic) or (706) 645-9291 (international) and enter passcode: 59461547.

Reference: Lorillard to Release First Quarter 2011 Results on Tuesday, April 26, 2011, PRNewswire, 4/12/2011.

Better Business Bureau gives E-Cigarette Company an “F”..

2011-04-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

FDA Deputy Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein, 41 years old, led the FDA's campaign against e-cigarettes before quitting. U.S. FDA - loses two top members - Connolly/Sharfstein..

We bet the FDA has not do anything with mailing e-cigarettes as tobacco products..
For now the U.S. court system wants e-cigarettes (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems = ENDS) to be considered tobacco products. (U.S. FDA - D.C. Court of Appeals Won't Revisit Decision On E-Cigarettes..)

As a result these tobacco products can not delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, FedEX and DSL.

The PACT Act from June 29, 2010 makes it illegal to use the U.S. Postal Service to deliver any form of tobacco product (cigarettes and smokeless tobacco). FedEx, UPS and DSL — have bowed to state pressure and have refused to ship tobacco products. (U.S. PACT Law takes effect June 29, 2010..)

As we know most e-cigarettes are made in China. When these items are shipped they should be clearly marked - TOBACCO so they can be returned to the sender.. (e-cigarettes - delivery NOT by U.S. mail, or other carriers..)

April 13, 2011 - The
Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is warning consumers to be wary of free trial offers for electronic cigarettes.

Customers who tried to take advantage of ‘free’ Internet offers for smokeless cigarettes say they were burned by unexpected charges that totaled $100 or more. Ubiquitous and deceptive online websites for said “free trials” are even deceptively referencing news organizations like ABC and CBS in the promotion of their products.

Nationally, the BBB has received 360 complaints, including six from Minnesota consumers, against a Naples, Florida company called Direct E-Cig. The company calls its product a ‘revolutionary electronic smoking device designed as a great alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes.’ They have failed to respond to 170 of the complaints and have an “F” rating with the BBB.

“Customer complaints against Direct E-Cig show a clear pattern of misrepresentation,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota. “In many cases, consumers were unpleasantly surprised to find their credit cards were billed for $100 – or more – after ordering what they thought was a free starter kit.”

In response to some of the complaints, Direct E-Cig told the BBB its website notes that consumers must go through a cancellation process within 15 days “to avoid being billed the full price of the kit of $109.95 and future monthly shipments.” Several consumers said they received direct email solicitations from the company and never saw the cancellation policy.

Even if consumers are dissatisfied with the product and follow the return policy exactly, it appears that the so-called free trial offer will end up costing them money. The website notes that Direct E-Cig charges $7.50 for each opened or missing cartridge and a $10 restocking fee on all returns.

A warning in small print on the Direct E-Cig website notes that “This product contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance. It has not been approved by the FDA as a smoke cessation device.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers about potential health risks associated with electronic cigarettes. The FDA has said the products can increase nicotine addiction among young people and may lead them to try other tobacco products including conventional cigarettes.

The BBB offers the following advice for consumers who are considering taking advantage of free or low-cost trial offers for smokeless cigarettes or other products:

• Is the free trial offer related to a membership, subscription or extended service contract?
• Do I have to contact the company to avoid receiving more merchandise or services?
• Who do I contact to cancel?
• Will I receive other products with the free item? If so, will I have to pay for them or send them back if I do not want them? How long do I have to decide before incurring a charge?
• Is there a membership fee? If so, is it refundable?
• Will you automatically bill my credit card for anything?
• Who is offering the trial – you or another company? What is the name and address of the company?

Reference: Better Business Bureau gives E-Cigarette Company an “F”, hometownsource.com, 4/12/2011.

North Carolina - state smoking ban working just fine..

2011-04-12T16:34:00.000-07:00

April 13, 2011 - On January 2, 2010 the State of North Carolina's ban on public smoking went into effect. The law according to the bill made smoking prohibited in all enclosed areas of restaurants and bars. (North Carolina (NC) - beginning in January 2010 fire safe cigarettes (FSC), smoking ban in public places..)

State public health officials have been found the indoor smoking ban has resulted in an 89 percent improvement in air quality in North Carolina restaurants and bars in recent months. Air quality was measured using a machine that measures the number of particles in the air smaller than 2.5 micrograms. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency measures these particles in outdoor air because they are known to cause breathing problems and contribute to premature deaths. Burning tobacco releases significant amounts of these particles, officials said. (North Carolina - reaping the benefits of statewide smoking ban..)

There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke: even small amounts of secondhand smoke exposure can be harmful to people’s health. The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.;

North Carolina North Carolina General Assembly - a Bill 469 has been introduced to repeal substantial parts of the state's smoke-free law (SB 469). Smoking Ban/Exempt Age-Restricted Venues.

A new poll released today April 5th by a coalition of public health groups finds 74 percent of North Carolina voters support the state's one and a half year old smoke-free law. The survey of 500 likely voters was released by the North Carolina Alliance for Health.

The poll found support for the smoke-free law cuts across party lines, including 78 percent of Democrats, 68 percent of Republicans and 71 percent of Independent voters. Among those who have a favorable view of the "Tea Party," 61 percent support keeping the law.

"These results show what we have always known – North Carolinians understand secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard, and they don't want their right to breathe clean air taken away," said Pam Seamans, Executive Director of the North Carolina Alliance for Health, the coalition that led the efforts to get the smoke-free legislation passed in 2009. "Although some special interests may not like the smoke-free law, it is clear the people of North Carolina overwhelmingly support being free from the toxic effects of secondhand smoke. This is one issue that unites North Carolinians across the political spectrum." A bill to repeal substantial parts of the state's smoke-free law (SB 469) was introduced on March 30 of this year.

Among North Carolina voters the survey also found:

* 55 percent are less likely to vote for candidates who wanted to weaken the law
* 77 percent view exposure to secondhand smoke as a health hazard
* 82 percent believe it is important for bars and restaurants to have a smoke-free environment

Reference: 74% of North Carolina Voters Support State's Smoke-Free Law, 12newsnow.com, SOURCE North Carolina Alliance for Health, PR Newswire, 4/5/2011`.

Some other North Carolina news briefs:
Directly related news briefs:
Raleigh, North Carolina - new ordinance prevents people from lighting up in parks..:
Wake County, North Carolina - school system gets $3million in settlement of tobacco case..;
Raleigh, North Carolina - vote on smoking ban in parks delayed..;
North Carolina - smoking ban being challenged by some small businesses..;
North Carolina - air quality improved - reaping the benefits of state smoking ban..;
North Carolina - smokers be careful where you flick your cigarette..;
North Carolina - nine sentenced in cigarette-smuggling ring..;
North Carolina - U.S. cigarette consumption in 2009 fell 9.3% so share of MSA payment reduced..;
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina - you can smoke on the beach but don't drop them..;
North Carolina - reaping the benefits of statewide smoking ban..;
North Carolina - may restore tax stamp to reduce smuggling..:
North Carolina - smoking ban forces smokers outside in the cold..;
North Carolina - some hookah bars owners stay open after smoking ban begins..;
North Carolina (NC) - beginning in January 2010 fire safe cigarettes (FSC), smoking ban in public places..;
North Carolina - smoking ban simple details, January 2, 2010..;
North Carolina - smoking ban does not allow hookah bars to operate - RIGHT..;
North Carolina smoking ban includes banning hookah bars..;
North Carolina Governor Purdue signs smoking ban law..;
North Carolina - legislators approve smoking ban..;
North Carolina - smoking ban scaled back again..;
North Carolina Senate Health Committee votes for stricter smoking ban..;
North Carolina House poised to pass smoking ban..;
North Carolina - ban on smoking in public places passes 1st test..

Our children - NO - to dissolvable smokeless tobacco products..

2011-04-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

April 12, 2011
Click to enlarge..
Dangers to our children - let not forgot dissolvable tobacco products are back.. We must make sure the market test of these products fail.

Camel Dissolvables like Orbs - chance of nicotine poisoning increased.. - A research study and editorial published today, Monday, April 19th, 2010 in the medical journal Pediatrics takes direct aim at a novel tobacco product that some critics say too closely resembles Tic Tac breath mints.

May 26, 2009 - U.S. - snuff out dissolvable smokeless-tobacco products before they can get a toehold..

April 28, 2010 U.S. - senator urges FDA to pull dissolvable tobacco products from test market sites..

April 20, 2009 - U.S. Senate Health Committee Adopts Merkley-Brown Amendment on Tobacco Candy...

December 21, 2010 - R.J. Reynolds Tobacco confirms Camel Dissolvables being pulled from all 3-test markets...

December 20, 2010 - Ohio - R.J. Reynolds will no longer test market dissolvable tobacco products here but will add more cities next month..

FDA CTR Scientific Advisory Committee to meet - dissolvable tobacco products.. was the second topic on the FDA's Center for Tobacco products agenda but this may have all changed.;

March 24, 2011 - US. FDA - at present no oversight on dissolvable tobacco products..

March 23, 2011 - U.S. Shortcomming fda tobacco regulations only applies to cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, smokeless tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco..;

February 24, 2011 - R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. new Camel dissolvable test sites identified...

Marlboro and Skoal Smokeless Tobacco Sticks - will be available for purchase in selected sites in the State of Kansas...

February 24, 2011 - Altria companies to test new smokeless tobacco stick..

Let's not forget..

March 10, 2010 - Part 1: avoidance of nicotine addiction - remove the flavoring from all tobacco products...

March 14, 2010 - Part 2: avoidance of nicotine addiction - remove the flavoring from all tobacco products...

Florida - plaintiff may win against R.J. Reynolds, final ruling is pending..

2011-04-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

April 1, 2011 - 77-year-old Daytona Beach woman has won $300,000 in what likely is the first verdict against a tobacco company in Central Florida out of thousands of suits filed statewide by ailing, longtime smokers.

A Volusia jury has decided that R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company is partly liable for the lung cancer suffered by Stella Koballa. A circuit judge will review the verdict at a future court hearing. In the Volusia case, jurors made their decision on Thursday after learning in the three-week trial that Koballa had smoked for 45 years, starting with a pack of Lucky Strikes when she was 16. She testified that she was addicted to nicotine, ultimately quitting in 1996 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Ben Reid, an attorney for R.J. Reynolds, declined comment because a final ruling is pending. Jurors decided that Koballa was 70 percent liable for he cancer, while the tobacco company was 30 percent liable.

"We're happy with the result and we feel this was a victory for Ms. Koballa," said her attorney, Bill Ogle, whose Daytona Beach law firm, Mayfield & Ogle, is handling about 150 similar cases in Orange, Brevard and Volusia counties.
Ben Reid, an attorney for R.J. Reynolds, declined comment because a final ruling is pending.

Koballa and other longtime smokers were originally covered under a class-action lawsuit against the tobacco companies that resulted in a $145 billion jury award, the largest amount in punitive damages in U.S. history. The lead plaintiff was the late Dr. Howard Engle, a Miami pediatrician.

In 2006, the Florida Supreme Court threw out the Engle award, ruling that longtime smokers would have to file individual lawsuits against the cigarette makers. But the new lawsuits are allowed to use some of the Engle case evidence that tobacco companies had concealed — that smoking cigarettes is addictive and harmful to a smoker's health.

After the Supreme Court ruling, more than 8,000 cases, now called the "Engle progeny," were filed and are still wading through the Florida and federal courts.

The "Engle progeny" cases stem from Engle versus R.J. Reynolds, a landmark class-action lawsuit originally filed against cigarette makers in 1994. Background: The original Florida lawsuit was filed in 1994 by a Miami Beach pediatrician, Dr. Howard Engle, who had smoked for decades and couldn't quit. The class of smokers was estimated at up to 700,000 when the giant $145 billion award was issued in 2000. (Dr. Howard A. Engle, the veteran pediatrician who lent his name to a landmark class action suit against Big Tobacco, dies..)

Six years later, a Florida jury found that cigarettes cause lung cancer and other illness and ordered the tobacco companies to pay a record $145 billion in punitive damages to sick smokers. But the Florida Supreme Court threw out the award in 2006 and decertified the original cases of about 700,000 Florida smokers, but ruled the individual cases could proceed. That allowed for thousands of individual cases to move forward through Florida's courts. (Cigarette Makers Face Thousands of New Florida Lawsuits..)

Only 40 cases have reached juries, with about 27 verdicts awarding damages to the plaintiffs, said Edward L. Sweda, Jr., a senior attorney at the Tobacco Products Liability Project at Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, which tracks these cases.

Jury awards have ranged from $86,000 to more than $46 million. "Overall, that is a pretty good track record," said Sweda. "The larger awards, especially, show that juries have been outraged at the history of the conduct of tobacco companies."

Meanwhile, the smaller awards and the cases that tobacco companies did win show how juries also have to weigh the personal decisions of the longtime smokers.

In the Volusia case, jurors made their decision on Thursday after learning in the three-week trial that Koballa had smoked for 45 years, starting with a pack of Lucky Strikes when she was 16. She testified that she was addicted to nicotine, ultimately quitting in 1996 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer.

The majority of these cases involve elderly smokers who started well before the health warnings came out,” McGrane said. “It becomes a more difficult decision for a jury in a case in which the smoker did know the health risks.”

'But the stakes are huge,” he said. “Imagine if all 8,000 plaintiffs won just $300,000. That’s $2.4 billion in verdicts against the tobacco companies.”

References: Longtime smoker from Daytona wins $300,000 in suit against R.J. Reynolds
April 11, 2011 by Ludmilla Lelis, Orlando Sentinel, April 11, 2011; Longtime smoker from Daytona wins $300,000 in suit against R.J. Reynolds, mokersinfo.net, www.orlandosentinel.com, April 11, 2011.

Some related news briefs from Florida court cases:
Jury decides in favor of Philip Morris USA in Engle trial in Clay County..;
Florida - First smoking case appealed to Fla. Supreme Court..;
Florida smoker wins case - awarded compensatory damages of $10,000 ..;
Florida - tobacco cases clog dockets of courts..;
Florida - jury snaps tobacco’s recent winning streak with an $80 million award..;
Florida - jury returns verdict in favor of Philip Morris USA, 5th consecutive time..;
Florida is tide turning? - 4th time in 2-weeks Philip Morris USA wins court cases..;
Florida - PM USA to challenge verdict in the Piendle v. RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris USA case..;
Florida - tobacco companies ordered to pay $2.2 million to widow of smoker..;
Florida - individual cases against big tobacco can move forward, can rely on Engle jury findings..;
Florida - jury awards smoker $21M from Philp Morris USA.;
Florida - can big tobacco survive all these lawsuits they continue to lose??;
Florida - big tobacco loses another case..;
Florida - jury awards $26.6 million to smoker's widow..;
Florida - 9 year old case, appeals court upholds $24.8 million award..;
Florida - $300 million jury award to former smoker overturned..;
Florida - jury awards $300 million in ex-smoker's suit..;
Florida - tobacco companies ask court to block ruling..;
Florida - plaintiff drops case to avoid paying legal fees for Philip Morris USA..;
R.J. Reynolds to appeal plaintiff's award of $30 million..;
R.J. Reynolds loses Florida court trial - widow gets $30 million..;
Broward County Florida jury awards widow of smoker $1.5 million...

Oklahoma - increase moist snuff tax, raise money, recruit more rural physicians..

2011-04-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

April 12, 2011 - An interesting and novel revenue-raising measure that would help place doctors in underserved areas of the state is pending in the Legislature. While Senate Bill 233 isn't a perfect solution to addressing the state's physician shortage, it would help in the short run, as well as the long run. And it might be the most palatable way to tap into a new revenue source. We believe it should advance.

The bill would increase the state tax on moist snuff, which is one of several forms of smokeless tobacco. The measure would eliminate the existing 20 percent tax on moist snuff and replace it with a $1.20 per ounce tax. An estimated $8 million to $9 million a year would be raised that would be directed to the Physician Manpower Training Commission, which would use the funds to attract primary care physicians to parts of the state that don't have enough doctors.

The higher tax is attractive on several levels. Higher taxes on tobacco products are proven to help bring down consumption. More primary care doctors in underserved areas obviously would help address chronic and costly health problems in those communities.

Texas has had considerable success in placing doctors in needed areas through a similar program.

But as we said, it's not a perfect solution. Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove, is a physician who predictably supports such programs, but he opposes this particular measure, calling it a "great quick fix" that locks in taxes on a dangerous product.

He'd like a feature that would ensure future adjustments for inflation - a great idea but politically questionable at this time.

One novel feature of SB 233 is that if lawmakers don't approve it by the necessary 75 percent supermajorities in each chamber, then it automatically becomes a referendum that would be decided in a statewide vote. That's a nifty approach that could just about ensure passage.

Given this state's long-festering health ills, lawmakers owe it to their constituents to advance any measure that could help address them.

Reference: Tax hike on moist snuff would help physician recruitment by World's Editorial Writers, Tulsa World, 4/12/2011.

Australia - hard to believe - Teenage smoking is on the rise..

2011-04-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

April 11, 2011 DESPITE the mountains of information warning us of the dangers of smoking, young Australians are lighting up in droves. They're not old enough to legally buy a pack of cigarettes but almost 60,000 Australian children aged 15-17 are regular smokers.

Although smoking rates have declined over recent decades, young people were the most likely to have increased the amount they smoked in the past year, a new report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has found.

Five percent of children aged 12-15 smoke according to another study, the Australian Secondary Schools Alcohol and Drugs Survey, and experts say the number of young people still taking up the deadly habit means a lot more needs to be done.

A pointer out by the Tasmania Health Minister Michelle O'Byrne says the changes are designed to make smoking appear abnormal. (Tasmania, Australia - to ban smoklng in all outdoor dining areas..)

Apart from the usual peer pressure, Cancer Council Australia president Professor Ian Olver says tobacco companies are successfully exploiting loopholes in advertising restrictions to hook new, young smokers.

"Clearly, there's enough promotion still to attract young people," he says. "If you made a movie about Winston Churchill you'd expect him to have a cigar but why does Sigourney Weaver smoke in Avatar? There's still product placement in movies."

There is also pack design intended to lure impressionable young customers. Tobacco companies and their deep pockets are fighting plans to make Australia the first country to introduce plain packaging from next year, claiming it infringes on their intellectual property.

Quit Victoria executive director Fiona Sharkie says it would be the most significant public health reform in decades: "If plain packaging stops young people (smoking), it's a good thing."

Tobacco giants fight on

Ms Sharkie says smoking rates have never been lower but there are still too many young people smoking.

"Smoking is part of socialisation. If your friends don't smoke you probably won't and if your parents don't smoke, you probably won't," she says. "But if you're with a group who smoke, you'll try it."

The price of a pack of 30 cigarettes rose by more than $2 after the Federal Government imposed a 25 per cent tax hike a year ago, taking the retail price to more than $16 per pack. It is expected that smoking rates will fall further as a result.

Mr Olver says, "Every 10 per cent that you lift the price can drop a country's smoking rate by between three and four per cent."

Anyone under the age of 35 would never have seen an advertisement for cigarettes on TV and children under 12 are the best advocates for quitting, says Ms Sharkie: "They are well aware of the health effects and they nag their parents about stopping smoking."

Anne Jones, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, says apart from plain packaging, all tobacco advertising and promotion should be banned, as should the additives that make cigarettes more palatable to new smokers.

"But the industry is fighting the government on every front, all to protect their own commercial interests so they can continue selling an addictive, lethal product that's killing 15,000 Australians each year," ms Jones says.

Because so many different types of outlets sell cigarettes, from supermarkets to convenience stores, access is easy and compliance monitoring extremely difficult. Ms Jones says about 20 percent of teenagers are buying smokes from sales assistants who fail to check their identification.

5 Ways Parents Can Reduce Teenage Smoking by Chris on June 16, 2010, /understandingteenagers.com.au, 6/16/2010.

Reference: Teenage smoking is on the rise by Sharon Labi,
Sunday Herald Sun (.news.com.au), 4/10/2011.

Denmark - Are these political parties interesting in your good health..

2011-04-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

April 11, 2011 Figures from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) from the World Health Organisation show that Denmark has an incidence of 326 people in every 100,000 developing cancer, the highest incidence in the world. Figures are based on 2008 statistics. (WHO figures show Denmark reports most cancer per 100,000 in the world.)

Denmark’s Socialist People's Party, Social Liberal Party and Unity Party have said they will liberalize the country's tobacco smoking laws if they win the next parliamentary elections, according to an Esmerk Danish News story.

At present the country’s anti-tobacco laws ban smoking in all enclosed public places.

But the three parties promise that if they are elected they will make exceptions so that people will be allowed to smoke in single-person offices and small pubs.

Reference: Danish parties promise to accommodate smokers, Tobacco Reporter, 4/11/2011.

AUDIO- University of Massachusetts in Amherst to ban smoking as of June 2013..

2011-04-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

April 11, 2011 - The days are numbered for smoking on the campus of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Smoking has been banned as of June 2013. The people who make the laws and set the standards on the Amherst campus now have to decide how to punish those who light up anywhere on campus after the ban goes into action.

Just look inside the many cigarette receptacles throughout the Amherst campus and you can see a lot of people smoke. It's just as apparent from the cigarette butts improperly discarded. UMass senior Mark Valdez will be long gone when the smoking ban takes effect, but smoker Robin Baj intends to still be working there in two years. “I am a smoker and I come out on my break and I have to leave the campus, I'll have to get in my car and leave the campus,” Baj said.

For some students who have never lit up a cigarette in their lives, the smoking ban goes against their sense of personal freedom on a college campus. “It's getting a little constricted. I mean UMass prides itself as a very liberal campus,” UMass senior Jeff Cappello said.

It’s a campus where so many smokers do not show common courtesy getting rid of their cigarette butts properly, that once a year anti smoking advocates pick up hundreds of pounds of butts that have accumulated during the previous 12 months, and the 2013 smoking ban has become an instant selling point for some parents considering sending their kids to UMass next year.

“I would prefer being non smoking because It's a disgusting habit, your clothes smell, It kills you. A lot of things will kill you, but that's just one more nail in the coffin,” David Fishbein of Cresskill, New Jersey said.

The people who make the laws and set the standards on the Amherst campus now have to decide how to punish those who light up anywhere on campus after the ban goes into action.

References: AUDIO - Praise, criticism for UMass smoking ban Ban will take effect in June of 2013, Sy Becker, WWLP,com, 4/8/2011; Plan to turn UMass into a smoke-free campus by 2013 riles community by STEVE PFARRER, Staff Writer .gazettenet.com. 4/8/2011.

U.S. Hookah Use Widespread Among College Students..

2011-04-11T11:54:00.001-07:00

Click to enlarge..
April 11, 2011 - -- Nearly one-fifth of U.S. college students who took part in a survey regularly use hookahs (water pipes, Sheesha, Shisha, Hookah, Narghile, Waterpipe), and many of them mistakenly believe that hookah smoking is safer than cigarette smoking.

Hookahs on college campuses becoming growing public health issue..

PAPER: Prevalence and correlates of waterpipe tobacco smoking by college students in North Carolina, Erin L. Sutfina, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Thomas P. McCoy, Beth A. Reboussin, Kimberly G. Wagoner, John Spangler and Mark Wolfson, Drug and Alcohol Dependence - online, ABSTRACT..

The Internet-based survey sent to a random sample of students at eight North Carolina colleges and universities found that 40.3 percent reported having ever smoked tobacco from a hookah, nearly as many students (46.6 percent) who said they had ever smoked a cigarette. Nearly 25 percent of respondents said they were current users of cigarettes and 17.4 percent said they were current users of hookahs.

The investigators found that among those most likely to use hookahs were first-year students and males. In addition, the results suggested a link between use of hookahs, cigarettes and marijuana, a history of using illegal drugs, and alcohol use in the 30 days before the survey.

In general, hookah smokers tended to incorrectly believe that this activity was safer than cigarette smoking, according to the researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

"The smoke produced by hookahs is a very mild smoke that may be appealing to non-cigarette smokers as a starter product," study author Erin L. Sutfin, an assistant professor in the social sciences and health policy department, said in a medical center news release.

"Likely because of the pleasant aroma and taste, users may inhale more deeply over a longer period of time. This results in hookah smokers actually inhaling a larger volume of tobacco smoke than cigarette smokers do," she noted.

"This study highlights hookah smoking as a considerable public health concern, especially among young adults. Going forward, we need to develop interventions to address this risky behavior," Sutfin said.

PAPER: a systematically review finds waterpipe tobacco smoking negatively affects lung function...

Qatar - have they forgot that sheesha is also a dangerous tobacco product..

England - smoking a shisha pipe just as bad as smoking tobacco..

Sheesha (Shisha, Hookah, Narghile, Waterpipe) As Harmful as Cigarettes, says Expert..

Reference: Hookah Use Widespread Among College Students; Study Reveals Mistaken Perception of Safety in Potential Gateway Drug/a>, Science Daily, 4/6/2011.

Taiwan - disappoint in tobacco control no increase in tobacco tax in 24 years..

2011-04-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

August 24, 2010 - John Tung Foundation, the leader in Taiwan's anti- smoking campaign.
April 11, 2011 - Civic groups on Sunday, April 10trh made public their proposed amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act to curb the rising rate of smoking among teenagers. More than 150 civic groups, including the anti-smoking John Tung Foundation, Consumers' Foundation, and Formosa Cancer Foundation, said the act should be amended in light of the fact that the rate of teen smoking in Taiwan had climbed to 22 percent last year. Statistics for 2010 show that 8 percent of junior high school students and 15 percent senior high school students smoke.

The groups called for smoking be banned in all indoor public spaces and work places, for more warning messages to be placed on tobacco packaging, and for a ban to be introduced on the display of tobacco The John Tung Foundation and other civic groups yesterday made an urgent call for revisions to tobacco regulations aimed at smoking, after studies showed a rising number of young people were picking up the habit.

More than 150 civic groups called for tighter tobacco restrictions that would mitigate the harmful effects of exposure to second-hand smoke and the “excessive marketing and advertisement efforts” by tobacco companies.

About one in five adults in Taiwan smokes cigarettes, a proportion similar to that in Western countries. However, the foundation said a chilling statistic showed that in the past three years, the proportion of young people who smoked had increased from 6 percent to about 8 percent.

“Taiwan has not increased the cigarette tax in 24 years,” John Tung Foundation president Yau Sea-wain (姚思遠) said. “The lack of action to make cigarettes more expensive is not helping to curb demand for cigarettes.”

The foundation and other groups said amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (菸害防制法) were needed to increase the tobacco health surcharge, as well as prohibiting smoking in all indoor public areas and workplaces.

The foundation also called for restrictions on the packaging of cigarettes and displays in stores, such as increasing the proportion of surface area on cigarette packaging for warnings on the harmful effects of tobacco from the current 35 percent to as much as 90 percent.

The goal is to minimize recognition of cigarette brands among young people and their exposure to marketing techniques by cigarette companies, which have sought to create brand loyalty among young people, the foundation said.

The groups said that even though Taiwan signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005, which vows to curb cigarette smoking, the government had made few improvements in its laws and implementation to adhere to the treaty.

Reference: Anti-smoking group urges changes to tobacco regulations
by Shelley Huang Staff Reporter, TaipeiTimes.com, 4/1/2011.

Taiwan related news briefs:
Taiwan - video clips surface with parents giving cigarettes to young children..;
Taiwan - video clips surface with parents giving cigarettes to young children..;
Taiwan - seek public opinion before implementing anti-tobacco measures..
;
Taiwan - soon smokers will need to carry ashtrays..;
Taiwan - cigarette consumption decreasing..;
Taiwan - smokers appear on TV cartoons, also sports programs and movies..;
Taiwan - plans to ban people from smoking while walking and riding motorbike next year..;
Taiwan - Taipei quit smoking booths around city..;
Taiwan - smoking ban takes effect - THESE PEOPLE ARE SERIOUS..;
Taiwan lawmakers fail to raise tobacco tax..;

Coram's Fields - lot of children present but smoking ban rejected.

2011-04-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

April 8, 2011 -A HISTORIC park reserved exclusively for children has become embroiled in a row over social class after a plea for a smoking ban was rejected.
Coram's Fields is a unique seven acre playground and park for children living in or visiting London. It is open access, provides a calm, safe and stimulating environment where children can play freely and enjoy a varied programme of activities. Coram's Fields is a large urban open space in the London borough of Camden in central London, England

King’s Cross resident Daniel Zylbersztajn has been waging a campaign against visitors lighting up at Coram’s Fields, which contains a farm, paddling pool, playground and café. His appeal for a ban on cigarettes was rejected at a Coram’s Fields board meeting in February.

The Holborn park’s executive director Octavia Holland has warned that turning the area into a no-smoking zone might deter some people from bringing their children there.
In an email to Mr Zylbersztajn last month, Ms Holland said: “As you are aware Coram’s Fields serves some of the most disadvantaged people in the area and making it a non-smoking zone could mean their children, many of whom don’t have gardens, would not come to the park and therefore miss out.

Do you love your children?? Children and Secondhand Smoke Exposure..

Mr Zylbersztajn, who regularly takes his daughter to Coram’s Fields, accused Ms Holland of being “classist and unfair”. He said: “What they [the board] are saying is people shouldn’t smoke but poor people can smoke as they are too stupid to know better. I don’t think that is the case.”

This week, Ms Holland claimed her words had been misinterpreted. She said: “That’s a misreading of my email. What is important is that everyone can come into this park. It’s an open access park and no one should be excluded from having enjoyment of it because their parent or carer decides to smoke. “I’m not aware of any other parks that have banned smoking and it’s important to bear in mind this is an open space and not a confined area.”

Coram’s Fields is a seven-acre park within what was once the Foundling Hospital site. No adult may enter unless accompanied by a child.

Mr Zylbersztajn said an online petition he has started has been signed by more than 60 people. Patrols to collect cigarette butts from the park have been stepped up in response to the campaign.

Members of Coram’s Fields executive committee have said that while they do not condone smoking there would be “practical problems” with banning it as children might have to be separated from parents.

Patients from nearby Great Ormond Street Hospital regularly visit the park with their parents, many of whom smoke because of “particularly stressful circumstances”, one committee member said.

Reference: Class bias claim in Coram's Fields smoking row by JOSH LOEB, Camden New Journal, 4/7/20100.

Increasing prevalence of smoke-free homes and decreasing rates of sudden infant death (SIDS) syndrome in the United States..

2011-04-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

April 8, 2011 - This study utilises an ecological design to analyse the relation between concurrent temporal trends in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) rates and prevalence of smoke-free households with infants in the USA, controlling for an important risk factor, infant supine sleep position.

For every 1% absolute increase in the prevalence of smoke-free homes with infants, SIDS rates decreased 0.4% from 1995 to 2006, controlling for supine sleep position.

PAPER: Increasing prevalence of smoke-free homes and decreasing rates of sudden infant death syndrome in the United States: an ecological association study, Ilan Behm1,
Zubair Kabir Gregory N Connolly Hillel R Alpert, Tobacco Control Published Online First 7 April 2011 ABSTRACT..

Malaysia - cigarette makers charging less than the minimum for a pack of cigarettes..

2011-04-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

anti-smoking..
April 8, 2011 - Cigarette makers have reminded retailers that it is illegal to sell packs of cigarettes below the RM7 (2.32 USD) minimum price following reports that it was a common practice. The Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers (CMTM) said today selling 20-stick packs for less than the minimum price was an offence and that retailers risked action by the Health Ministry if they did so.

Directly related news brief: Malaysia - sets minimum price for cigarettes..

The CMTM, representing British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd, Philip Morris and JT International Bhd, was responding to reports in The Sun on Monday that cigarettes were being sold below the minimum price, sometimes as low as RM3.50 to RM4 (1 MYR = 0.330961 USD).

The tobacco industry body said that based on its own observations, cigarette packs being sold below the required minimum had genuine Customs security markings and were therefore not likely to have been smuggled from neighbouring countries.

It pointed out that for each 20-stick pack, cigarette makers have to pay about RM5 in taxes prior to distribution to retailers.

“As such, CMTM is significantly perplexed as to how these products... can be retailed not only below the minimum cigarette price but also below the mandatory tax payable amount,” CMTM chief executive Shaik Abbas Ibrahim said in a statement.

“It is clear that selling cigarette packs below the minimum cigarette price does make such packs much more affordable and increase their sales.”

The CMTM was established in 1980 to manage various issues of common interest between cigarette makers and act as a general source of information on the Malaysian tobacco industry.

Reference: Respect minimum price, say cigarette makers by Yow Hong Chieh, themalaysianinsider.com, 4/7/2011.

Malaysia - some related news briefs:
Malaysia - Study reveals Malaysian Indians are least likely to quit smoking compared to the Chinese or the Malays..:
Malaysia - 8% drop in tobacco industry volume projected in 2011..;
Malacca, Malaysia - smoke free zones to be expanded..;
Malaysia - public are strongly advised not to purchase any e-cigarettee..;
Malaysia - sets minimum price for cigarettes..;
Malaysia - if you smoke you lose..;
Penang, Malaysia - specific areas for smoking..;
Malaysia - BAT wants gradual, moderate increases in the cigarette tax..:
Malaysia - horrific graphic warnings on cigarette packs, cartons..;
Malaysia - one out of three packets of cigarettes was smuggled;
Malaysia - doing a better job of seizing smuggled cigarettes..;
Malaysia - best way to get teenage girls to stop smoking is through education..;
Malaysia - ban on 14-stick cigarette packs delayed worry about increase in illicit cigarettes..;
Malaysia - slight decrease in illicit cigarettes; JTI Malaysia q1 2010 market share increases..;
Malaysia - Health Ministry's proposal to ban the sale of 14-stick cigarette packs beginning June 1, 2010..;
Malaysia - increase in number of women smoking..;
Malaysia - new strategy to penalize retailers who sell contraband cigarettes..;
Malaysia - youth and student smokers may not receive aid from government..;
Malaysia - two tobacco control regulations starting January 1, 2010..
Malaysia - about 368,000 teenager smokers in the country, 50-60 added per day..;
Malaysia - sale of cigarettes in packets of less than 20 prohibited as of June 1, 2010..;
Malaysia - stepping up efforts to curb the trade in illicit cigarettes..;
Malaysia - BAT plans to dispose of a parcel of industrial land..;
Malaysia - ban on cigarette sponsorship for sports will not be withdrawn..;
Malaysia - cigarette-shaped sweets packaged like cigarettes;
Malaysia - Penang consumer group ban cheap cigarettes and increase price on premium..;
Malaysia - Kelantin State Government may not promote staff who smoke..;
Malaysia - excise duty increased on tobacco - another increase could be coming this month..;
Malaysia - smoking limits your quality of life..;
Malaysia - smoking civil servants in Penang to receive free nicotine treatment..;
Malaysia - illicit cigarettes, BAT wants government to slow excise duty increases..;
Peninsular Malaysia - one of three cigarette packs is either contraband or fake..;
Komtar, Penang, Malaysia smoking ban strictly enforced..;
Malaysia student forced to smoke 40 cigarettes in two hours..
Malaysia - PSD and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government departments and agencies..;
Malaysia: Are tobacco control measures working? - WHO thinks so...;
Malaysia - slowdown in cigarette consumption..;
Malaysia - January 1, 2009 pictorial cigarette warnings..;
Malaysia to hike cigarette prices..;
Malaysia - 25% of all cigarettes sales are illegal...Peninsular Malaysia - one of three cigarette packs is either contraband or fake..;
Komtar, Penang, Malaysia smoking ban strictly enforced..;
Malaysia student forced to smoke 40 cigarettes in two hours..
Malaysia - PSD and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government departments and agencies..;
Malaysia: Are tobacco control measures working? - WHO thinks so...;
Malaysia - slowdown in cigarette consumption..;
Malaysia - January 1, 2009 pictorial cigarette warnings..;
Malaysia to hike cigarette prices..;
Malaysia - 25% of all cigarettes sales are illegal...

RAI to host first-quarter 2011 earnings conference call on April 21st, 2011..

2011-04-08T08:24:00.000-07:00

April 8, 2011 - RAI to host first-quarter 2011 earnings conference call
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – April 7, 2011 – Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE: RAI) will host a conference call and webcast following the release of first-quarter 2011 financial results on April 21, 2011.

Details of the call are as follows:
Date and Time: Thursday, April 21, 2011, 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Speakers: Daniel M. Delen, president and chief executive officer
Thomas R. Adams, chief financial officer
Morris L. Moore, vice president of investor relations
Webcast registration and access:

The RAI conference call will be available online on a listen-only basis at http://www.reynoldsamerican.com/events.cfm. Registration will be available as of April 7, 2011. All remarks made during the conference call will be current at the time and will not be updated to reflect subsequent material developments. A replay will be available on the website for 30 days. Call-in Numbers: (877) 390-5533 (toll-free) (678) 894-3969 (international)

While news media representatives will not be permitted to ask questions during the call, they are welcome to monitor the remarks on a listen-only basis. Following the call, media representatives may direct inquiries to Jane Seccombe at (336) 741-5068.
Web Disclosure

Reference: RAI to host first-quarter 2011 earnings conference call/a>, 4/7/2011.

Altria - April 20, 2011 to discuss its 2011 first-quarter business results...

2011-04-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

April 8, 2011 - Altria Group, Inc. will host a live audio webcast on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its 2011 first-quarter business results.

Reference: Altria to Host Webcast of 2011 First-Quarter Results.

PMI buys more shares of Medicago Inc.

2011-04-08T07:40:00.000-07:00

Apil 8. 2011 - Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) bought more than $9 million worth of shares in Medicago Inc., roughly half of the equity offering from the Canadian biotech company.

Philip Morris said Tuesday, April 5th that the offering gives it 9.86 percent of Medicago's issued and outstanding shares. Medicago uses tobacco leaves to make influenza vaccines for the pandemic and seasonal flu.

Background news briefs:

October 29, 2010 - Philip Morris International Update on Its Medicago Inc. Holding..;
September 23, 3008 - Philip Morris International buys shares in biotechnology company - Medicago.

Reference: Phillip Morris buys stake in vaccine company, Bloomberg Business Week (Associated Press) 4/5/2011.

U.S. Convenience Store Sales Show Strong Growth in 2010..

2011-04-07T17:34:00.000-07:00

April 7, 2011 - CHICAGO -- Convenience store in-store sales grew 4.4% in 2010, reaching a record $190.4 billion, according to figures released today by NACS. Combined with $328.7 billion in motor fuels sales, total convenience store sales in 2010 were $575.6 billion, or one out of every 25 dollars of the overall $14.624 trillion U.S. gross domestic product.

The industry's 2010 numbers were announced in Chicago today, April 6th at the annual NACS State of the Industry Summit, a two-day conference that reviews and analyzes the industry's key economic indicators.

The 4.4% growth rate of convenience store in-store sales surpassed the growth rates of other competing channels, including warehouse stores/clubs (4.0%), restaurants (3.4%), drug stores (2.4%) and grocery stores (2.3%), based on U.S. Department of Commerce numbers.

Part of the sales growth can be attributed to an increase in stores. The number of U.S. c-stores grew 1.2% over the past year and stands at a record 146,341 stores, according to the NACS/Nielsen TDLinx 2011 Convenience Industry Store Count, released in January 2011.

Nearly three-quarters of in-store sales are from the top five categories:

1. Cigarettes (35.8% of in-store sales).
2. Packaged beverages (14.2%).
3. Foodservice (12.9%).
4. Beer (8.3%).
5. Other tobacco products (4.0%).

While motor fuels revenues are closely tied to price volatility, the 17.2% growth in motor fuels sales outpaced the overall 14.4% increase in prices in 2010, meaning that c-stores, which sell an estimated 80% of the country's motor fuels, also picked up some volume in 2010. Overall, 69.3% of total c-store sales dollars were from motor fuels. Even with an increase in motor fuels gross margins to 15.8 cents per gallon, motor fuels margins remain slim and motor fuels still only account for 26.4% of pretax profits at c-stores.

As a result of these strong sales, c-store pretax profits reached $6.5 billion in 2010, a remarkable turnaround from just 20 years ago, when the industry reported a loss of $220 million in 1990. As a percentage of total sales, pretax profits in 2010 were 1.1%.

"Our strong performance in 2010 shows that our convenience offer--especially one-stop shopping and speed of service for refreshments, food and fuel--continues to resonate with customers," said NACS vice chairman of research Fran Duskiewicz, senior executive vice president of Canastota, N.Y.-based Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes.

Despite the strong sales and profit numbers, concerns remain for the industry, especially with credit-card and debit-card fees jumping a staggering 21.6% to hit a record $9 billion. Total credit- and debit-card fees surpassed overall c-store industry profits for the fifth straight year. As a percentage of overall sales, credit- and debit-card fees increased from 1.45% to 1.56% of total industry sales dollars, factoring in all forms of payment, including cash and check. Just looking at motor fuels sales, credit- and debit-card fees added 4.7 cents to every gallon of gasoline sold at c-stores in 2010.

In-store sales have shown significant growth at c-stores over the past decade, growing 82.9% since 2000. This year's in-store sales alone topped total sales--combined in-store and motor fuels sales--for every year through 1998.

Reference: Convenience Store Sales Show Strong Growth in 2010 Daily News
4/6/2011`

Australia - conducting research into the prevention of smoking for young people through mass media.

2011-04-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

April 7, 2011 - CANBERRA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Social media is a powerful weapon in the fight to lower smoking take-up rates in young people, Australian researchers said Sunday, April 3rd.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the University of South Australia and Brisbane Royal Children's Hospital are conducting research into the prevention of smoking for young people through mass media. Researchers said existing mass-media messages, such as billboards and radio spots, had little impact on the youth market.

"There is a great deal of peer pressure in schools and the community for young people to smoke," a researcher at Adelaide's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kristin Carson told Australia Associated Press on Sunday. "Yet in the new forms of social media, like Facebook, there is a tag that encourages people to declare themselves smoke-free and to say they would not date somebody who smokes.

"That is exactly the opposite of what is happening in school yards, and we know young people are increasingly turning to things like My Space, Facebook and Twitter to communicate with each other. "

In that case, Kristin said researchers are now conducting trials to assess the potential of directing the anti-smoking message through online communication forums.

Tobacco manufacturers deny YouTube links..

References:internet to lower smoking rates among young people: researchnews.xinhuanet.com, 4/6/2011; Internet to lower smoking rates among young people: research marketreportchina.com,

John Middleton Co. branching into the untipped cigarillo market..

2011-04-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

April 7, 2011 - Already a market leader in tipped cigarillos, John Middleton Co., a division of Altria Inc., is branching into the untipped cigarillo market. After extensive test runs in Ohio and Tennessee, the tobacco giant is rolling out nationally two new profiles, Black & Mild Classic and Black & Mild Sweets.

"Classic is for adult cigar smokers interested in a classic Black & Mild pipe tobacco taste, while Sweets is a more traditional cigarillo taste made from primarily air cured tobaccos," Altria spokesperson Greg Mathe told CSP Daily News. "Both products are available in five-packs and singles."

The rollouts extend Altria's continued expansion into the other tobacco products (OTP), most notably in cigars and moist smokeless. Alluding to last year's test markets of untipped cigarillos, Mathe noted, "Middleton found...that there is significant interest and product appeal among both competitive and Black & Mild adult cigar smokers. The test market results exceeded Middleton's expectations and business objectives."

Because of growth in the untipped cigarillo segment, Altria views this foray as a natural step in ratcheting up its total-tobacco portfolio across all segments, from cigarettes to moist smokeless, cigars and snus. Since its acquisitions of USST and John Middleton, Altria has focused on brand extensions by offering a greater variety of tastes and blends..

Pointing to this latest move, Mathe said the company was buoyed by some key findings during its testing in Ohio and Tennessee, including that 20% of smokers who had bought and tried Black & Mild untipped cigarillo ranked it better than their regular brand, and that 75% rated it equal to or better than their regular brand.

John Middleton's cigar brands include Black & Mild, Middleton's Cherry Blend, Gold & Mild and Prince Albert's Cigars. Pipe-tobacco brands include Prince Albert, Carter Hall and Middleton's Cherry Blend.

Reference: Black & Mild Going Sweet
John Middleton enters untipped cigarillo market with Classic, Sweet flavors by Mitch Morrison, Csp Daily N ws, 4/4/2011

What was Pfizer thinking? Another family, Another drug, Another murder-suicide...

2011-04-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

April 7, 2011 - Killer dad Andrew Case was taking powerful anti-smoking drugs, Was this man informed when he went to the doctor to get something to help him stop smoking, that chantix tops the list of “31 prescription drugs associated with violence”??? 33-year-old’s body Andrew Case, along with his wife Vicki, 31, and two little girls Phoebe, two, and Nereya, 18 months, were discovered at their home in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, on Monday July 26 2010.

Of the 31 drugs, “the worst offender with the strongest association to uncontrollable, murderous violence–within days of ingesting the drug–is the smoking cessation drug, Chantix (varenicline), which increases dopamine: it ranks 18.0 in the proportional reporting ratio (PRR) with 408 cases of violence–including murder. There are two other smoking cessation drugs that do NOT pose serious risks of violence.”

Refeence: Killer dad Andrew Case was taking powerful anti-smoking drugs, leoniefennell.wordpress.com&, 4//2011.

Some Chantix (Champix) related news briefs:
Chantix (Champix) risks out weigh the benefits - the story of Dr. Brenda Wells..:
Japan - demand for Chantix (Champix) soars while more and more lawsuits pile up in the U.S..;
Champix (Chantix) - Health Canada issues stronger warnings..;
Champix (Chantix) - Canada class-action lawsuit started..;
Champix (Chantix) - more serious psychiatric reactions and death..;
Smoking Cessation - Chantix (Champix) vs. Cold Turkey..;
Chantix - Pfizer faces three lawsuits surely many more to come..;
Champix (Chantix) - the risks are greater then the benefits..;
Chantix - another wrongful death lawsuit filed..;
Anti-smoking drugs (non-nicotine) - Chantix and Zyban to carry mental health warnings..;
Another Chantix Warning in Canada..;
Operators of any form of transportation warned on the use of Pfizer's smoking-cessation drug Chantix..;
Pfizer Changes Chantix Label..;
Chantix Reports of Suicidal Thoughts and Aggressive and Erratic Behavior..;

Rosendale Community Center - ULster County -p

2011-04-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

April 7, 2011 - State Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah had a message for people who want to smoke outside in public places – Don’t!

Shah was at the Rosendale Community Center Tuesday, April 5th to speak in support of smoke free outdoor spaces in Ulster County and throughout the state.

Second hand smoke can be just as bad,” he said, “children exposed to second hand smoke, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, are subject to have much higher rates of asthma and respiratory problems.”

Those problems are totally preventable, noted Dr. Shah, and they can be avoided by passing laws such as the ones on the books in Rosendale, and many other municipalities throughout Ulster County, which create smoke free outdoor environments.

Reference: tate health commissioner supports ban on outdoor smoking in public places, midhudsonnews.com, 4/5/2011.

Australia - first look at the plainer, uglier cigarette packets..

2011-04-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

April 7, 2010 - Health Minister Nicola Roxon says she wants all cigarette packaging to be olive green, because research shows it is the least attractive colour for smokers. Under proposed legislation aimed at reducing smoking rates in Australia, all logos will be removed from cigarette packaging, and tobacco companies will be required to print their brand name in a specific font.

VIDEO- Watch Health Minister Nicola Roxon interview with Lateline..

CONSULTATION PAPER Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 Exposure Draft 7 April 2011

Some background:
January 16, 2011 - Australia - Philip Morris (PMI) searching for ways to prevent plain packaging of tobacco products coming in 2012..;

October 14 , 2010 - Australia - world set to follow Australian tobacco policy..;

September 19, 2010 - Australia - plain cigarette packaging will legislation be written to avoid any legal challenge..;

August 4, 2001 - Australia - big tobacco fighting back against plans to introduce plain cigarette packaging..;

April 29, 2010 - Australia - plain packages on all tobacco products within 2-years...

The Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 is due to be introduced during the winter sitting of Parliament, after a 60-day period for public comment on the draft legislation.

If all goes to plan, the changes would come into effect on January 1, 2012 and all products on sale will be required to comply with the new laws within six months.

Ms Roxon said the new packaging had been consumer tested on smokers around the country and found to be the least appealing.

"We want to get the Australian smoking rate down to 10 per cent by 2018," she said.

Ms Roxon said tobacco companies would be able to use certain markings to stop counterfeit issues.

"We might be breaking ground but we are on firm ground and others will follow us," Ms Roxon said.

References: Roxon to unveil no-frills cigarette pack plan, ABC News, 4/7/2011; No-frills fight against Big Tobacco: Cigarette packets to be ugly olive green by Andrew Banks and AAP, 4/7/2011; Australia gets tough on cigarette packs, News24, 4/7/2011.

India - pictorial warnings on tobacco products unclear....

2011-04-06T17:58:00.001-07:00

Even as the government is delaying the notification of new pictorial warnings on tobacco products, a health ministry official Monday, Arpil 4th said they have received feedback that the present pictorial warnings are unclear to people.

India makes critical decision on education that will help convince children not to use tobacco. The government on Thursday, April 1st brought into force a new law that makes education free and compulsory for every child from age 6 to 14—the latest government initiative aimed at harnessing the economic potential of its young population. About a third of India's 1.2 billion people are under the age of 14, one of the highest ratios in the world. (Joining hands in the interest of children, Kapil Sibal, The Hindu, 1/31/2010)

The present pictorial warnings on tobacco packs feature lungs X-ray, a cross section of lungs with related cancer, and a scorpion. 'Globally, pictorial warnings have proved to be deterrent to tobacco use,' he said.

When asked about the new pictorial warnings which were supposed to be enforced from December last year, the senior official said: 'New warnings will come, consultations are going on,' he said, without giving a time frame.
Desraju, however, said he was unaware of any pressure from tobacco lobbies behind the delay in the implementation of new pictorial warnings.

'Many of the buyers in urban areas understand the meaning of the symbols but they still buy. Ultimately, it's the people who will have to understand that it's bad for them,' he added.

A survey done by an anti-tobacco advocacy group last year said that only 20.6 percent of cigarette smokers, 15 percent of bidi smokers and 13.2 percent of smokeless tobacco users either read or looked at the warning labels.

More current news briefs on pictorial warnings on tobacco products:

December 24, 2010 - India - cigarette/bidis companies resume tobacco production..;

December 9, 2010 - India - will delay for a year the use of scarier pictorial warnings on cigarette and bidi packs..;

December 4, 2010 - India - cigarettes and bidis manufacturers halt production seek clarification on pictorial health warnings..

November 30 2010 - India - revised pictorial warnings on tobacco products will be implemented from December 1, 2010..

More previous news briefs on pictorial warnings:

^*India - still confusion pictorial warnings on cigarette packs..;
^*Mumbai, India - NGO activists want closure of hookah bars..;
^*India - gutkha and bidi companies NOT pictorial warnings..;
^*India - cigarette packs with pictorial warnings are here..; ^*ndia - NO graphic pictorial warnings yet..;
^*India - Still no pictorial warnings on cigarette packs..;
^*India - pictorial warning on cigarettes and tobacco products effective May 31, 2009..;
^*India - pictorial warning on cigarettes and tobacco products will be implemented from May 31 - no doubts about it..;
^*India - will pictorial or graphic health warnings be implemented from May 30, 2009..;
^*India - placing pictorial warnings on tobacco products delayed again..

Reference: Present tobacco pictorial warnings unclear: Health ministry, thaindian.com, 4/4/2011.

Indonesia Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo skips trial..

2011-04-06T17:45:00.000-07:00

April 6. 2011 - A clove cigarette lobbying group on Tuesday vented their anger against Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo for ignoring their courtroom challenge of the regulation banning smoking rooms from public buildings.

“We cannot accept that the governor, who resides in Jakarta, did not appoint anyone to represent him in court,” said Habiburrahman, a lawyer for the plaintiffs who call themselves Komunitas Kretek, or Clove Cigarette Community. “Meanwhile, the case has reached a third month without any progress,”

Governor Fauzi Bowo Governor of Jakarta for the 2007-2012 term) continues to come under from pro-tobacco campaigners. The gubernatorial decree, which makes smoking inside buildings or even near entrances and exits a fineable offense, has been a sore point not just for smokers across the capital, but also the entertainment and tourism industries who believe it will adversely impact their business. (Protesters Rail Against Indonesia Smoke Ban, Arientha Primanita, thejakartaglobe.com 11/2/2010; City starts scrapping smoking rooms, —JP/ Indah Setiawati, Jakarta Post, 10/14/2010; City to warn errant building owners about smoking ban. Andreas D. Arditya, The Jakarta Post, J12/22/2010.

Background:
Background: The Smoking Ban decree, signed on May 6, 2010 (Governor Regulation No. 88/2010), stipulates smoking is not allowed inside buildings, and people who want to smoke must do so outside. The regulation is an extension of a smoking ban which had allowed smoking in designated smoking areas in workplaces and public spaces. The decision came after a joint survey, by BPLHD, Swisscontact Indonesia Foundation (SIF) and the University of Indonesia Demography Institute, showed smoking rooms in buildings did not prevent smoke infiltrating non-smoking areas. (The Jakarta Government, through the Governor Regulation No. 88/2010, New Bylaw Designate All Public Buildings as Smoke Free Zones

"Non-Smoker Jakarta citizens are now able to breath freely. Starting from this year forward, citizens will be free from exposure to 4000 types of deadly toxins contained in a cigarette. The Jakarta Government, through the Governor Regulation No. 88/2010, ensure that they will protect citizens from second-hand smoke (Asap Rokok Orang Lain [AROL]) in buildings throughout Jakarta" Based on the second-hand smoke test conducted in 34 buildings in Jakarta by the Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (Badan Pengelola Lingkungan Hidup Provinsi DKI Jakarta [BPLHD]), smoking rooms were simply ineffective to protect citizens from second-hand smoke. Jakarta Government took the initiative to revise Governor Regulation No. 75/2005 to Governor Regulation No. 88/2010 which firmly prohibits the existence of smoking rooms in buildings.
Aside from eliminating smoking rooms in buildings, other important changes in the new gubernatorial decree include adding administrative sanctions by making public announcements through the media based on building inspection results

Governor Regulation No. 88/2010 represents a strong support by the City Government, specifically Jakarta's governor Fauzi Bowo, towards the realization of 100% Smoke Free Jakarta as was declared by Fauzi Bowo in closed hearings between the Jakarta Government and Smoke Free Jakarta Program partners. Fauzi Bowo stated that this new gubernatorial decree is a "first step of a long journey towards 100% Smoke Free Jakarta". This step will be followed up with the dissemination of the new gubernatorial decree to building managements. The Jakarta Environmental Management Agency will conduct routine monitoring and violation complaints of no-smoking areas in buildings through Smoke Free Jakarta Zwebsite. ;Swisscontact Indonesia Foundation (SIF)

Komunitas Kretek has filed a lawsuit seeking to withdraw a 2010 gubernatorial regulation that bans smoking rooms inside public buildings. At the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday, Habiburrahman argued that the decree was in conflict with a city regulation passed five years earlier that mandated smoking rooms in public buildings.

The overlapping regulations are taking their toll on “ethical smokers” who only enjoy their cigarettes without harming others, the attorney said.

“The case should have seen a verdict by now but the judges again adjourned because the governor failed to show up,” Habiburrahman said. “We will lodge our protest with the Judicial Commission.”

“We fully understand that the Jakarta governor does not have much time to spare, but he could at least appoint a lawyer.

“Judges must take firm measures regarding his absence, otherwise the case will never get settled,” he appealed to the bench, which consisted of presiding judge Enid Hasanuddin and his colleagues Supardja and Sapawi.

The gubernatorial regulation reflects the government’s ambiguity toward the tobacco issue, Habiburrahman argued. On one hand the state legalizes tobacco, levying taxes and earning big money from it, but at the same time criminalizes smokers, the he said.

Daru Supriono, another lawyer and member of Komunitas Kretek’s Yogyakarta branch, said the judges should have reached a verdict without the presence of the defendant, because the case had already gone through four hearings.
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“According to procedure, a decision can be made after the defendant fails to appear three times without explanation,” Daru said.

Reference; Tobacco Lobbyists In a Huff After Fauzi Skips Trial, Eddy Pratama, thejakartaglobe.com, 4/6/2011.

Directly related news briefs:
Indonesia - Jakarta’s entertainment industry complains about city's smoking ban..;
Indonesia - planning to file a judicial review against a joint ministerial decree regulating smoke-free zones..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - lawyers mount bid to challenge city's anti-smoking decree..;
Indonesia - by banning smoking inside buildings smokers could be considered criminals.

Reference: Nightlife Reps Say Smoking Ban Will Hit City’s Economy, Dessy Sagita, TheJakartaGlobe.com. 3/17/2011.

Indonesia some related news briefs:
http://snus-news.blogspot.com/2011/03/indonesia-planning-to-file-judicial.html;
Indonesia - court heard from officials and experts that say that tobacco is not addictive..;
Kudus, Central Java, Indonesia - 75% of town employed in cigarette industry..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - lawyers mount bid to challenge city's anti-smoking decree..;
Indonesia - at least one court still debatng whether tobacco is addictive..;
Indonesia - by banning smoking inside buildings smokers could be considered criminals.;
Indonesia - govt to raise cigarette excise up to 10 percent starting January 2011..;
Indonesia - tobacco companies provide volcano rescue relief..;
Indonesia - health minister drafting regulation on tobacco advertising ban..;
Indonesia - police drop tobacco graft case, sparking suspicions..;
;
Indonesia - Australian bands (2) will they perform at tobacco sponsored musical festival??;
Indonesia - confusion regarding possible suspects regarding the missing clause from the health bill passed in September 2009..;
Indonesia - 2-year old kicks the habit - COLD Turkey..;
Indonesia - agrees to ratify the WHO FCTC public health treaty..;
WTO - US rejected call by Indonesia to rule on dispute on ban of clove cigarettes in the US..;
Indonesia - on June 22nd will ask WTO to rule on US ban on clove cigarettes..;
Indonesia - PT Djarum Tobacco to sponsor badminton events..;
Indonesia - CNN Video on 2-year old nicotine addict..;
Indonesia - more on the 2-year old addicted to nicotine..;
Indonesia - paradise for smokers and paradise for tobacco companies..;
Indonesia - House Finance and Banking Commission opposes govt plan to lower cigarette production..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - more on the Kelly Clarkson tobacco sponsored concert April 29th..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - Singer Kelly Clarkson will she perfom concert sponsored by major tobacco company..;
Indonesia - launches formal dispute with WTO over U.S, ban on clove cigarettes..;
Indonesia - parents encourage 4-year old boy to continue smoking habit..;
Hemoglobin obtained from pigs may be used in cigarette filters..;
Indonesia - government may raise cigarette tax and cut cigarette output..;
Indonesia - Muhammadiyah-owned university students demonstrate against edict against smoking..;
Indonesia - kretek cigarette maker Gudang Garam's 2009 net profit jumps 84 percent..;
Indonesia - persons accused of eliminating clause designating tobacco as addictive..;
Indonesia - second largest Muslim organization launched a fatwa against smoking..;
Indonesia - RATIFICATION OF FCTC MAY RAISE INDONESIA'S BARGAINING POWER.. ;
Indonesia - 18 tons of illegal cigarettes destroyed..;
Indonesia - Government to limit cigarette production..;
Indonesia - BAT, Bentoel shareholders approve planned merger..;
Indonesia - another protest rejecting the new cigarette excise tax..;
Indonesia - workers from small cigarette producers protest excise tax increase..;
Indonesia - cigarette industry has pledged to stage a demonstration to protest a government plan to increase excise tax.;
Indonesia - the last paradise for a puff in Southeast Asia..;
Indonesia - trade minister officials want to meet with US counterparts to discuss ban on clove cigarettes..;
Indonesia - PT BAT Indonesia to merge with PT Bentoel International Investama Terbuka..;
Indonesia - missing tobacco regulation in approved Health Law..;
Indonesia - section on tobacco in health bill disappears..;
Indonesia - Constitutional Court by close vote rules that tobacco ads can continue..;
Indonesia - parent smoking can negatively affect the nutrition of children..;
Indonesia - new council member suspect in cigarette fraud case..;
Indonesia - an NGO commission assists cigarettes must be banned in films..
Indonesia - a paradise for tobacco companies..
Indonesia - after buying cigarettes very little left for food..;
Indonesia - will they ratify the first world public health treaty..;
Indonesia - last paradise to smoke in public places in Southeast Asia..;
Indonesia - Industry minister to close tobacco to new foreign investment..;
Indonesia Finance Ministry to cap tax deductions for tobacco companies..;
Indonesia - Smoking hits poor families the hardest, making the poor even poorer..;
Indonesia - Cigarette makers defy crisis, grows stronger..;
Indonesia - government may raise cigarette excise tax next year..;
WHO - Indonesia is crying out for your help..;
Indonesia - dispute with U.S. over banning the use of clove in cigarettes..;
Indonesia 'cash cow' for Philip Morris International..;
Tobacco industry has long targeted young people as "replacement smokers";
Indonesia - district court dismisses request to ratify FCTC..;
Asean Countries - Tobacco Industry Blocking Global Treaty On Tobacco..; Indonesia - farmers hold rally protest tobacco controls..;
Indonesia - tobacco farmers reject Islamic council's edict..;
Indonesia - Ulema Council - debate results is split on smoking..;
Indonesia - Withdraw Sponsorhip of Another Rock Concert..;
Indonesia to increase tax on tobacco products..;
Semarang, Indonesia - Cigarette Smoking Areas to be Prepared..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - Malls help enforce non-smoking ban..;
Indonesia - federal anti-smoking laws in one year - MAYBE..;
Indonesia - NGO's (non-government organizations) Demand the Government Ratify WHO's FCTC.;
Indonesia to raise cigarette tax by 6 to 7% in 2009..;
Surabaya, Indonesia - anti-smoking bylaw 10/2009 - FOR REAL??
Indonesians smoking more than ever before..;
Indonesia further rise in the excise tax would hurt the cigarette industry..;
Alicia Keys - Jakarta Concert (July 31st) tobacco companies forced to withdraw sponsorship.. and
Most Indonesians support moves to ban tobacco advertisements..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - lawyers mount bid to challenge city's anti-smoking decree..;
Indonesia - at least one court still debatng whether tobacco is addictive..;
Indonesia - by banning smoking inside buildings smokers could be considered criminals.;
Indonesia - govt to raise cigarette excise up to 10 percent starting January 2011..;
Indonesia - tobacco companies provide volcano rescue relief..;
Indonesia - health minister drafting regulation on tobacco advertising ban..;
Indonesia - police drop tobacco graft case, sparking suspicions..;
;
Indonesia - Australian bands (2) will they perform at tobacco sponsored musical festival??;
Indonesia - confusion regarding possible suspects regarding the missing clause from the health bill passed in September 2009..;
Indonesia - 2-year old kicks the habit - COLD Turkey..;
Indonesia - agrees to ratify the WHO FCTC public health treaty..;
WTO - US rejected call by Indonesia to rule on dispute on ban of clove cigarettes in the US..;
Indonesia - on June 22nd will ask WTO to rule on US ban on clove cigarettes..;
Indonesia - PT Djarum Tobacco to sponsor badminton events..;
Indonesia - CNN Video on 2-year old nicotine addict..;
Indonesia - more on the 2-year old addicted to nicotine..;
Indonesia - paradise for smokers and paradise for tobacco companies..;
Indonesia - House Finance and Banking Commission opposes govt plan to lower cigarette production..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - more on the Kelly Clarkson tobacco sponsored concert April 29th..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - Singer Kelly Clarkson will she perfom concert sponsored by major tobacco company..;
Indonesia - launches formal dispute with WTO over U.S, ban on clove cigarettes..;
Indonesia - parents encourage 4-year old boy to continue smoking habit..;
Hemoglobin obtained from pigs may be used in cigarette filters..;
Indonesia - government may raise cigarette tax and cut cigarette output..;
Indonesia - Muhammadiyah-owned university students demonstrate against edict against smoking..;
Indonesia - kretek cigarette maker Gudang Garam's 2009 net profit jumps 84 percent..;
Indonesia - persons accused of eliminating clause designating tobacco as addictive..;
Indonesia - second largest Muslim organization launched a fatwa against smoking..;
Indonesia - RATIFICATION OF FCTC MAY RAISE INDONESIA'S BARGAINING POWER.. ;
Indonesia - 18 tons of illegal cigarettes destroyed..;
Indonesia - Government to limit cigarette production..;
Indonesia - BAT, Bentoel shareholders approve planned merger..;
Indonesia - another protest rejecting the new cigarette excise tax..;
Indonesia - workers from small cigarette producers protest excise tax increase..;
Indonesia - cigarette industry has pledged to stage a demonstration to protest a government plan to increase excise tax.;
Indonesia - the last paradise for a puff in Southeast Asia..;
Indonesia - trade minister officials want to meet with US counterparts to discuss ban on clove cigarettes..;
Indonesia - PT BAT Indonesia to merge with PT Bentoel International Investama Terbuka..;
Indonesia - missing tobacco regulation in approved Health Law..;
Indonesia - section on tobacco in health bill disappears..;
Indonesia - Constitutional Court by close vote rules that tobacco ads can continue..;
Indonesia - parent smoking can negatively affect the nutrition of children..;
Indonesia - new council member suspect in cigarette fraud case..;
Indonesia - an NGO commission assists cigarettes must be banned in films..
Indonesia - a paradise for tobacco companies..
Indonesia - after buying cigarettes very little left for food..;
Indonesia - will they ratify the first world public health treaty..;
Indonesia - last paradise to smoke in public places in Southeast Asia..;
Indonesia - Industry minister to close tobacco to new foreign investment..;
Indonesia Finance Ministry to cap tax deductions for tobacco companies..;
Indonesia - Smoking hits poor families the hardest, making the poor even poorer..;
Indonesia - Cigarette makers defy crisis, grows stronger..;
Indonesia - government may raise cigarette excise tax next year..;
WHO - Indonesia is crying out for your help..;
Indonesia - dispute with U.S. over banning the use of clove in cigarettes..;
Indonesia 'cash cow' for Philip Morris International..;
Tobacco industry has long targeted young people as "replacement smokers";
Indonesia - district court dismisses request to ratify FCTC..;
Asean Countries - Tobacco Industry Blocking Global Treaty On Tobacco..; Indonesia - farmers hold rally protest tobacco controls..;
Indonesia - tobacco farmers reject Islamic council's edict..;
Indonesia - Ulema Council - debate results is split on smoking..;
Indonesia - Withdraw Sponsorhip of Another Rock Concert..;
Indonesia to increase tax on tobacco products..;
Semarang, Indonesia - Cigarette Smoking Areas to be Prepared..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - Malls help enforce non-smoking ban..;
Indonesia - federal anti-smoking laws in one year - MAYBE..;
Indonesia - NGO's (non-government organizations) Demand the Government Ratify WHO's FCTC.;
Indonesia to raise cigarette tax by 6 to 7% in 2009..;
Surabaya, Indonesia - anti-smoking bylaw 10/2009 - FOR REAL??
Indonesians smoking more than ever before..;
Indonesia further rise in the excise tax would hurt the cigarette industry..;
Alicia Keys - Jakarta Concert (July 31st) tobacco companies forced to withdraw sponsorship.. and
Most Indonesians support moves to ban tobacco advertisements..

Russia - still in discussion mode - significant tax hike should be coming..

2011-04-06T17:02:00.000-07:00

April 6, 2011 he Finance Ministry is proposing that tobacco excises be increased to 3,000 rubles per 1,000 cigarettes from the current 270 rubles by the year 2015, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Kudrin, who is also finance minister, told the State Duma on Wednesday.

January 30, 2010 - Russia - Finance Ministry skeptical about raising taxes on tobacco..

"If Russia chooses to reach the level where tobacco tax represents 70 percent of the retail price, up to 2.7 million tobacco-related deaths among the Russian population can be avoided. Furthermore, the government would collect an additional RUB 153 billion (US$ 6 billion) in excise tax revenue per year." (Economics of Tobacco Taxation in Russia, Hana Zarubova Ross, PhD, Samina Shariff, MPH, Anna Gilmore, PhD, One of a series of reports on tobacco taxation funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as part of the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, 2008.)

Plans for next year include raising tobacco excises by 60 percent and then moving to a more significant increase, he said. "When tobacco excises are growing at a rate of 50 percent, that, of course, will alter the behavior of smokers and enterprises planning their production capacity, so, I think, we cannot immediately triple excises but need to move at a rate of 50 percent to 70 percent and effect a doubling in a few years," Kudrin said. "That is sufficiently strong excise growth," he said, adding that this would generate substantial budget revenue. The budget will take in an additional 100 billion rubles ($3.54 billion) just from tobacco excises in as little as a year. There will be a discussion next month about the rate at which tobacco excises are hiked, Kudrin said.

Reference: Kudrin Confirms Cigarette Tax Hike, The Moscow Times, 4/6/2011

Russia related news briefs:
Russia - smoking ban coming- do you believe it??;
Russia - seeing is believing, legislation coming to restrict spread of cigarette smoke..;
Russia - accepting funds from PMI to improve technical colleges..;
Russia - govt talks the talk but can't walk the walk..;
Russia - KT&G Corp. completes construction of plant..;
Russia - launches anti-smoking program, maybe they're serious this time..;
Russia - electronic cigarettes to be banned..;
Russia - strong plans to reduce the burden of tobacco use - will it come true??;
Russia - finance minister urges citizens to smoke and drink more to lift tax revenues..;
Russia - BATR has an alternative instead of banning cigarette sales from kiosks or by street vendors..;
Russia - health warnings on cigarette packs..;
Russsia - 73 percent of boys and 65 percent of girls smoke..;
Russia - Finance Ministry skeptical about raising taxes on tobacco..;
Russia - tax on tobacco may be quadrupled..;
Russia - tobacco epidemic with no solution in site..;
Russia - public health official discusses tobacco control..;
Russia - making it more difficult for servicemen to smoke..;
Russia - draft tobacco law being considered by Duma..;
Russia among top-10 smoking nations..;
Russian lawmakers discuss smoking ban for restaurants and bars..;
Russia passes new restrictions on tobacco..;
British American Tobacco (BAT) Misleading Russian Consumers..;
Russian State Duma (Parliament) ratified the framework convention of the World Health Organization (WHO) on tobacco control...
a

South Korea - smokers face uphill battle in Supreme Court..

2011-04-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

April 6, 2011 - Will smokers be compensated for the cancer they develop after smoking cigarettes for decades without knowing its harms?

Background:

South Korea - lung cancer patients taken tobacco suit to the Supreme Court..;
South Korea - appellate court upholds lower court ruling rejecting claims of compensation for smoking lung cancer patients..

Moreover, will the court find tobacco firms guilty of selling carcinogens without appropriate warnings? The answers now depend on the Supreme Court justices as six smokers and 25 of their relatives have filed a suit against KT&G, the tobacco manufacturer here, over the prevalence of cancers believed to have been caused by decades-long smoking habit. They have demanded a total of 360 million won ($320,000) in compensation.

Bae Keum-ja, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. “It seems the court is taking the side of a poison maker.” Bae, who graduated from Harvard Law School with studies on cigarette litigation, admitted that the struggle will be long and might not produce the result they are looking for.

The answers now depend on the Supreme Court justices as six smokers and 25 of their relatives have filed a suit against KT&G, the tobacco manufacturer here, over the prevalence of cancers believed to have been caused by decades-long smoking habit. They have demanded a total of 360 million won ($320,000) in compensation.

The Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul High Court took 12 years to rule in favor of the tobacco maker, acknowledging that smoking increases cancer prevalence but requiring individuals to verify that smoking was the direct cause of their cancer. To successfully sue, the patients must also show that tobacco firms have concealed information about the harm that cigarettes have on human health.

“KT&G has refused the court’s settlement offer to establish a public foundation dedicated to antismoking campaign. Unless a whistleblower turns up to reveal crucial facts that support our claims from the inside, the chances are not so high,” she said.

Reference: Herald Interview] Smokers face uphill battle in Supreme Court by Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldm.com). Korea Herald, 3/27/2011.

South Korea - some related news briefs:
South Korea - KT&G’s Esse is queen of the super-slim cigarettes..;

South Korea - lung cancer patients taken tobacco suit to the Supreme Court..;
South Korea - One out of every 10 female high-school students smoke cigarettes habitually..;
South Korea - appellate court upholds lower court ruling rejecting claims of compensation for smoking lung cancer patients..;
South Korea - more tobacco control measures to be implemented - wants positive results by 2014..;
South Korea - govt serious about getting smokers to quit..;
South Korea - charge enough for cigarettes smokers will quit..;
South Korea - BAT Korea launching Dunhill Nanocut 1 mg, next week..;
South Korean tobacco company KT&G signs deal to sell cigarettes in the Middle East and Russia..;
South Korea - BAT releases Dunhill Orient as a limited edition..;
http://snus-news.blogspot.com/2010/11/south-korea-end-of-next-year-teenagers.html;
South Korea - stop people from smoking go ahead and triple the price of cigarettes..;
South Korea - Smoking Manner Campaign - promoting cigarette butt-free streets..;
South Korea - in 2007, world's 12th largest cigarette exporter..;
South Korea - study finds higher prices most effective method to discourage smoking..;
South Korea - a new Raison line extension..;
next month enforcement of ban on smoking by taxi drivers..;
South Korea - fines collected for dumping cigarette butts are down.. ;
South Korea - BAT launches new cigarette seems similar to Camel Crush..;
South Korea - rate of male smokers probably higher than any other OECD country..;
South Korea - BAT to further invest in Sacheon factory..;
South Korea - a look at KT&G Corporation with 63% of the market..;
South Korea - streets and parks of Seoul City could be designated as non-smoking areas..;
PMI - slide presentation South Korean Cigarette Market..;
South Korea - KT&G forms alliance with Imperial Tobacco Group..;
South Korea - more smokers in 2009 than in 2008..;
South Korea - remote island going smoke-free, car-free and night lights-free..;
South Korea - Stressed-out Koreans smoking more..;
South Korea - to ban smoking in public places from 2011..;
Korea - BAT - winning the hearts and minds of customers based on tactics tailored to local tastes..;
Korea - sets target to reduce smoking 10% in 5-years..;
Korea - stricter regulation of the tobacco industry coming..;
South Korea - tobacco imports surge 396-fold over 10-years..;
Korea - slight increase in men smoking.. ;
South Korea - anti-tobacco campaign - body painting..;
Korea - smoking ban just about everywhere by end of 2009..;
Tobacco marketing in South Korea has been deliberately aimed at girls and young women..;
Korea - smoking rates fall for men and women...
(passive smoking, environmental tobacco smoke, ets, involuntary smoking, sidestream smoking)

Conflicting Studies - does nicotine promote tumor growth..

2011-04-06T10:22:00.000-07:00

March 6, 2011 - Back August 2010 researchers from Taipei Medical University looked looked at both breast cancer cells and normal cells to see if nicotine promoted tumour growth at a cellular level. It is the first time nicotine has been implicated as one of the chemicals in cigarettes that can trigger the development of breast cancer. Dr Yuan-Soon Ho and his team found that when normal cells were treated with nicotine in the laboratory it promoted the development of cancer characteristics. Likewise reducing the level of nicotine inhibited tumour growth. The findings, published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, could be a major blow to makers of nicotine-based products that help smokers to quit. The research could have a negative impact on companies that make nicotine gum, patches and electronic cigarettes that are promoted as a 'healthy alternative' for smokers. (PAPER: Nicotine in cigarettes linked to breast cancer..)

Now we found- nicotine at doses similar to those found in most nicotine replacements therapies did not increase lung cancer tumor incidence, frequency or size, according to results of a mouse study presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held here April 2-6.“If you take our data and combine it with epidemiological data from Europe, even in people who quit smoking and maintain the use of nicotine replacement therapy for months or years, there does not appear to be increased lung cancer incidence,” said Phillip A. Dennis, M.D., Ph.D., senior investigator at the medical oncology branch of the National Cancer Institute. “This suggests that nicotine replacement therapy is probably safe and is certainly safer than smoking.” Nicotine Does Not Promote Lung Cancer Growth in Mouse ModelsAmerican Association of Cancer Research, 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held here April 2-6. 4/4/201.

Nicotine Promotes Growth Of Tumors Already Established By Tobacco Carcinogens

Spain - cigarette smuggling after tax hike..

2011-04-06T06:32:00.000-07:00

April 6, 2011 - The sale of smuggled cigarettes in Spain has soared since the government raised the tax rate on tobacco, a spokesman for Franco-Spanish tobacco producer Altadis said Monday.

Directly related:
November 6, 2010 -Spain's Biggest Ever Counterfeit Cigarette Network Dismantled..

The company estimates smuggled cigarettes accounted for around six percent of Spain's total cigarette consumption during the first three months of the year, compared to just one percent in all of 2010, the spokesman said.

The problem is especially high in the southwestern region of Andalusia as a significant amount of smuggled cigarettes enter Spain from the nearby British territory of Gibraltar, he added.

The prices of cigarettes in Spain have risen by around 40 percent since June 2009 due to a series of tax hikes, with a packet of Marlboro now costing 4.25 euros ($6.04) from 3.10 euros.

Altadis is a unit of Britain's Imperial Tobacco Group, Europe's second-biggest tobacco company. Altadis (Alliance Tobacco Distributors) born from the merger of Spain's Tabacalera and France's Seita SA (F.STA) state tobacco monopolies..;
Imperial Tobacco successfully concludes acquisition of Altadis...

Imperial Tobacco makes Davidoff, West, Drum, Golden Virginia and Lambert & Butler cigarettes while Altadis manufactures Fortune, Gitanes and Ducados.

Reference: Cigarette smuggling soars in Spain after tax hike: company, expatica.com, 4/4/2011

Spain - related news briefs:
Spain - hostelry sector to present 1 million signatures against smoking ban..;
Spain - the govt is serious - smoking ban holding this time..:
Spain - Spanish Hotel and Catering Association (FEHR) complains about loss of business..;
Palencia, Spain - hotels and restaurants protest anti-smoking law..;
Spain - anti-smoking law goes into effect Sunday, January 2, 2010.;
Spain - new smoking ban goes into effect January 2, 2011 - how many jobs will be lost??;
Paper: Spain - cost of each pack of cigarettes up to $150..;
Spain - doctors call for tobacco sales banned in vending machine in bars and from kiosks..;
Spain - the Basque Governing Council gives green to the latest anti-smoking bill..:
Spain - ban smoking legislation wins unanimous support in parliament..;
Spain - tougher smoking restrictions not until 2011..;
Spain - Indonesia`s clove cigarettes popular in Spain..;
Spain - health minister believes society mature enough to accept total smoking ban..;
Spain - cigarette sales are up - so what else is new!!;
Spain - zero tolerence smoking ban this year or next??:
Spain - in June 2010 government will present a law to congress to ban smoking in closed public places..;
Spain - government postpones debate on tougher smoking legislation..;
Spain - smoking ban to be implemented on January 1, 2010 still being delayed..;
Spain - still some hesitation on total smoking ban for country..;
Spain - hotel and catering industry protests plan to ban smoking next year..;
Spain - hopes next year to expand ban on smoking in enclosed public places..;
Spain - impact of 2006 law banning smoking in public places..;
Spain - ready for expansion and enforcement of Anti-Smoking Act..;
Spain - ready for full smoking ban in public places..;
Spain - ban smoking public places - a lot of talk no action..;
Spain plans gruesome images on cigarette packs sometime in future..

New York City - loosies still being sold in New York City..

2011-04-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

April 5, 2011 - New York City selling single cigarette - call loosies on the street..
But with cigarette prices up and the number of smoke-friendly places down, the black market for loosies is now thriving on the streets.

Reference: A Cigarette for 75 Cents, 2 for $1: The Brisk, Shady Sale of ‘Loosies’ by JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN, The New York Times, 4/4/2011.

Kids using loosies..
Philadelphia, PA - teen-smoking rate is among the worst of big cities..

NYC directly related:
New York City - fewer smokers entering free quit smoking program..;
New York City - Should condos and co-ops be able to ban smoking inside owners' apartments?;;
New York City smoking ban includes city golf courses..;
NYC Mayor Bloomberg making the case for banning smoking at city bus stops..;
New York City - Mayor Bloomberg signs legislation into law that bans smoking in parks and on beaches..;
New York City Council votes to ban smoking in parks, beaches and other outdoor public places..;
New York City - tomorrow is the day, ban on smoking in parks, beaches, marinas, boardwalks and pedestrian plazas should pass..;
New York City - expects vote soon on smoking at beaches and park..;
New York City - . U.S. Court rejects NYC law for shops to have anti-smoking signs..;
New York City - suing tobacco company in Washington State..;
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gives $500,000 to defend anti-smoking laws in Uruguay..;
New York City - decreases in tobacco related disease..;
New York City - smoking-related deaths drop by 17% in 8-years..;
New York City - does it the RIGHT WAY, bans most forms of flavored tobacco products..;
New York City - City Council moves one step closer to extending smoking ban to parks and beaches..;
New York City - Poospatuck Reservation stores (2) caught selling cigarettes to bootleggers..;
New York City - smoking ban enforced, club fined and closed for letting patrons smoke inside..:
New York City - Mayor Bloomberg still mulling over smoking ban at NYC parks, beaches..;
New York City - Department of Health cracking down on smoking at outside areas at bars and other places....;
New York City - more on the anti-smoking signs lawsuit against Department of Health..;
New York City - Mayor Bloomberg still considering smoking ban in parks and beaches.. - Get It Done Already!!;
Big tobacco companies file lawsuit contesting NY City's anti-smoking signs..;
New York City - federal judge rejects plaintiffs attempt to stop the law that blocks the sale of flavored tobacco products..;
New York City - moving closer to closing a nighclub that flouted smoking ban..;
New York City - VIDEO: starting March 1, 2010 stores, anti-smoking signs..;
NYC Lawsuit against Online Cigarette Vendor Dismissed..;
NY City - smokers kicking the addiction and living longer than ever..;
NY City Council not backing down as US Smokeless Tobacco files lawsuit against city..;
New York City - ban on flavored tobacco products becomes law..;
New York City bans the sale of flavored tobacco products..;
New York City - Mayor Bloomberg pushing ahead to ban smoking in city parks and beaches..;
New York City - all retailers selling tobacco will be required to post warning signs..;
New York City - to ask public opinion - smoking graphic warning signs; New York City - proposed pictorial warning signs to show the sickness and suffering caused by tobacco use.;
New York City - may ban smoking in parks and beaches..;
New York City - can't sue Internet cigarette retailers for lost taxes..;
New CDC Chief Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH..;
New York City Council ban candy-flavored tobacco, smoking outside of hospitals..;
New York - city and state officials back off plans to crack down on cigarette black market..;
New York City - nonsmokers exposed to cigarette smoke..;
New York City - cigarettes more than $10- a- pack..;
NYC can move forward with reservation cigarette lawsuit..;
Michael Rubens Bloomberg - ELF Award winner 2008;
NYC sues reservation smoke shops over bootlegging..;
NYC Fights Smoking With Reality Images in Matchbooks..;
NY City Can Proceed With Lawsuits Against 10 Online Cigarette Vendors..;
NYC Warns Parents of Smoking Lawsuits...
(NY City)

Hungary - for the health of the citizens smoking ban must not be delayed

2011-04-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

April 5, 2011 - March 10, 2011 - Hungary Smoking Ban May Be Delayed

Hungary shows the poorest cancer-related mortality rate within Europe, World Health Organisation (WHO) data released in Geneva on Friday, on World Cancer Day, show. (Hungary cancer-related mortality rate poorest in Europe by: MTI, caboodle.hu, 2/7/2011. Recent male Hungarian lung cancer mortality rates have been among the highest in history. (Lung cancer mortality rates at age 35-69 years,Hungary and 5 other countries: 1950-2005 (males))

The introduction of smoking ban in bars and restaurants would not cause the Hungarian state HUF 50 billion (1 USD = 185.552 HUF) in tax losses, the National Institute for Health Development (OEFI) said in response to a study by NAV that estimated severe losses related to the measure, online media site Index wrote

Consumption in establishments can drop up to 2-4% as a result of the ban, which would not cost more than HUF 7 billion if it was introduced this summer, OEFI said.

OEFI cites several international examples where smoking ban did not caused losses. The raise of excise duties and VAT usually has much more impact on consumption, the organization claimed.

Reference: Smoking ban would not hurt tax revenues, OEFI claims, Budapest Business Journal, 4/4/2011.

Related news briefs:
Hungary - smoking ban may be delayed..;
Hungarians must adjust to new anti-smoking ban or pay..

Sri Lanka - to strengthen amendments to the NATA Act..

2011-04-05T11:56:00.001-07:00

Prof. Fonseka..

April 5, 2011 - The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) has stated that the agency was going to closely advise the government and tobacco industry on implementing the Tobacco and Alcohol Act (Sri Lanka - NATA to advise government and tobacco industry..)

Authorities are set to introduce new legislation to ensure 100 percent smoke free public and work places shortly. They are also planning to enforce regulations relating to publishing pictorial warnings on tobacco product packagings to discourage smoking, especially among youth.

The new legislation would come into force as soon as the authorities ratify the amendments to the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Act, NATA Chairman Prof Carlo Fonseka said.

According to Prof Fonseka, the proposed amendments to the NATA Act which would enforce the above are with the Legal Draftsman of the Health Ministry.

Prof Fonseka expects that the proposals would be ratified by the authorities shortly.

Sri Lanka’s Current National Tobacco and Alcohol Regulations prohibit smoking in any enclosed public place except hotels, guest houses or lodges with 30 rooms or more; restaurants or clubs with a seating capacity of 30 or more people; and airports subject to allocating a separate place with adequate ventilation for smoking conforming to the prescribed air quality standards.

According to Prof Fonseka, NATA has proposed to delete the word ‘enclosed’ to prohibit smoking totally in all public and work places.

Public Health authorities worldwide have concluded that there is no safe level in secondhand smoke exposure.

Secondhand smoke has proved to cause lung cancer, heart disease, sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight and serious respiratory conditions. Scientific evidence is clear that the only effective way to protect workers and the public from secondhand smoke is to enact 100 percent smoke-free laws in all indoor work places and public places, according to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control FCTC.

NATA has also proposed to enforce Article (11) under their agreement with the FCTC which stipulates the inclusion of pictorial warnings in all tobacco packaging material. Sri Lanka which is a Party to the FCTC was the first Asian country which ratified FCTC.

At least 40 countries including India and Thailand belonging to South East Asia have finalized requirements for (Article 11), picture warnings.

Many other countries’ judiciaries are in the process of doing so or have stated that picture warnings are under consideration.

Although Parties to the Convention are required to implement Article 11 within three years from the date of Convention entering into force (the Convention entered into force on February 27, 2005), Sri Lanka has not been able to implement Article 11 up to date.
However, since the present regime led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed Office there has been high political commitment towards tobacco control in the country.

The country was the first in the South-East Asia Region to ratify the WHO FCTC. It enacted a Tobacco Control Act in 2006 for comprehensive tobacco control and established NATA to implement the Act.

The proposed amendments to the NATA Act are expected to further strengthen its efforts at discouraging smoking among the public.

Reference: Puffers smoked out", free public, work places, No safe level in secondhand smoke exposure, pictorial warnings in all tobacco packaging material, Rasika Somarathna, Daily News, 4/4/2011.

Sri Lanka - related news briefs:
Sri Lanka - flood of counterfeit cigarettes reduces the effectiveness of tobacco control program..:
March 8, 2010 - International Women's Day..;
Sri Lanka - ambiguity in Alcohol and Tobacco Act..;
Sri Lanka - NATA to advise government and tobacco industry..;
Sri Lanka - Industry gimmick to entice youth to smoking..;
Sri Lanka - huge drop in tobacco smoking..
(contraband, black market, smuggling)