Turkey - court overrules TAPDK on tobacco labels..

December 13, 2009 - The 13th Chamber of the Council of State (highest administrative court in Turkey) has ruled against a Tobacco and Alcohol Market Regulatory Agency (TAPDK) regulation which stipulates that a warning on one side of cigarette packaging must cover at least 65 percent of the available surface space, citing contradicting TAPDK regulations.

The Council of State said Law No. 4207 requires that at least 30 percent of one of the two main sides of tobacco product packaging -- where the banderole is located -- contain a warning about the effects of tobacco on health. The law further requires that other warnings must cover 40 percent of the rest of the package. The Council of State decision further stated that the TAPDK decision contradicts the law as it envisages warning labels on one surface and covering 65 percent of that surface.

British American Tobacco (BAT) previously filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the TAPDK regulation, which was issued on May 3, 2009.

In its decision the Council of State said regulations put in place to prevent the harmful effects, including public, social and medical, of tobacco and alcohol and making decisions concerning these issues are among the duties of the TAPDK.

The Council of State decision also noted that warning labels can include pictures and drawings.

The TAPDK has the right to appeal the Council of State decision.

Reference: Court overrules TAPDK on tobacco labels, Today's Zaman, 12/11/2009.

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South Carolina - with Gov. Sanford still in office most likely no tobacco tax increase in 2010..

December 13, 2009 - South Carolina House impeachment panel (seven members) rejected a measure to impeach Governor Mark Sanford, making it unlikely the governor will be removed from office.

In 2008, the South Carolina legislature passed a bill that would have raised the tax to 47 cents per pack of cigarettes. But Gov. Mark Sanford vetoed it, and lawmakers sustained his veto. Sanford has vowed to veto any bill that doesn't offset a cigarette tax increase with a cut in taxes. (South Carolina - governor disappears, maybe its time to slip through a cigarette tax..)

South Carolina is the only state in the nation that has failed to pass a recent cigarette excise tax increase. Currently the state has the shameful distinction of having the nation's lowest state cigarette tax, at 7 cents a pack, where it's been since 1977 (32 years).

SC General Assembly convenes second Tuesday in January of each year hopefully things will be different this time.

South Carolina fell six spots – from 42nd to 48th – in the 2008 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation. The state's best and worst category rankings: Prevalence of binge drinking – 14th, Immunization coverage – 17th, Children (under 18) in poverty – 42nd, Occupational fatalities – 43rd, Infectious disease – 43rd, Premature death – 44th, Prevalence of obesity – 44th, Infant mortality – 45th, High school graduation – 49th (60.1 percent of ninth graders eventually graduate), Violent crime – 50th. (How healthy is living in South Carolina?)

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Prevent breast cancer - stop smoking ASAP..

PREVENT
December 13, 2009 - Women taking the next puff of a cigarette might consider this: smoking 100 or more cigarettes may substantially increase their odds of developing breast cancer, researchers report. Previous studies linked regular exercise, limiting alcohol intake, and avoiding postmenopausal obesity as lifestyle changes that can reduce women's odds of developing breast cancer, notes the lead author of the current study - Dr. Ivana T. Croghan from the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Research Program.

PAPER: The Role of Smoking in Breast Cancer Development: An Analysis of a Mayo Clinic Cohort, Ivana T. Croghan, PhD (croghan.ivana@mayo.edu.), Sandhya Pruthi, MD, J. Taylor Hays, MD, Stephen Cha, MS, Ruth E. Johnson, MD, Marianne Kosel, AA, Richard Morris, BA, and Richard D. Hurt, MD, Volume 15 Issue 5, Pages 489 - 495 Volume 15 Issue 5, Pages 489 - 495 Published Online: 13 Jul 2009, ABSTRACT..

The current study provides new evidence that "a woman smoker can reduce her risk of breast cancer by stopping smoking as soon as possible. The investigators compared smoking history and other breast cancer risk factors among 1,225 women who developed breast cancer and 6,872 who did not during the first year after their initial visit to the Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic.

Surveys completed during this visit indicated just over 10 percent were current smokers, almost 9 percent were former smokers, and 81 percent had never smoked.
In addition to the link with smoking, women who had used oral contraceptives for 11 years or longer had a whopping 200 percent increase in the odds of developing breast cancer. Women who used postmenopausal hormone therapy showed 81 percent increased odds, while aging raised the odds of developing breast cancer by 2 percent per year.

On the flip side, Croghan and colleagues report that having a hysterectomy decreased women's odds by 35 percent. Also, they did not see a compounding increase in risk for breast cancer among women with more than one risk factor.

Croghan noted that prior investigations with contradictory results regarding smoking and breast cancer risk did not consistently define smoking as current, former or never. The current study defines anyone who ever smoked more than 100 cigarettes at any time as having a history of smoking. Those who smoked less were considered never-smokers. It was suggested further investigations using [use] similar smoking definitions to assess how pre- and post-menopausal duration of smoking, amount smoked, and exposures to second-hand smoke might alter a woman's odds of developing breast cancer.

Reference: Nearly any lifetime smoking ups breast cancer risk by Joene Hendry, Reuters, 12/11/2009.
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Smokers Face - Lady Gaga..

December 13, 2009 - She's known for pushing the boundaries on what people expect of a popstar, but this time Lady Gaga may have gone to far. For performing in Canada, the 23-year-old shocked attendees by lighting up a cigarette and inhaling deeply - despite the fact smoking indoors is illegal in British Columbia.

According to British Columbia law, smoking in all public spaces such as restaurants, pubs and private clubs, offices, malls, conference centres, arenas, community halls, government buildings and schools is banned. Those found guilty of breaking this law may be liable to a fine. However, as the singer clearly enjoyed the cigarette on stage last night, the potential consequences seemed to be the last thing on her mind.

A girl's guide to naturally beautiful skin.. Information provided by Dr. Joshua Fox - a leading dermatologist.

Tobacco smoking makes you old before your time..

Reference: Smoker-face: Lady Gaga faces potential fine after smoking onstage in Canada by Sara Mccorquodale, DailyMail.co.uk, 12/12/2009.
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Michigan - will be 38th state to ban smoking in public areas..

December 13, 2009 - On December 10th the Michigan Senate had approved (23-13) a smoking ban for restaurants, bars and all other workplaces. The House soon afterward voted 75-30 to concur with the Senate version, with some House members applauding as the tally was announced.

Now the bill has been sent to Governor Jennifer Granholm for signing a bill to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and all other workplaces, but allow smoking on the gaming floors of Detroit's three casinos. Granholm called the move a "terrific gift to Michigan."

The smoking ban would take effect May 1,2010 making Michigan the 38th state with some form of state ban on smoking in public areas.

The long-awaited smoking ban makes exceptions for the gaming floors at the three Detroit casinos, cigar bars, specialty tobacco shops, home offices and motor vehicles, including commercial trucks. The legislation won overwhelming passage in both chambers after more than a year of haggling over whether there should be exemptions.

Smoking will be banned in workplaces and food service establishments, including bars, restaurants, food courts at shopping malls, cafeterias and private clubs.

Violators face fines of $100 for a first offense and $500 for subsequent ones.

References: Public smoking ban heads to Granholm's desk by CHRIS CHRISTOFF, Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau, 12/10/2009; Michigan approves smoking ban Gov expected to sign bill; Detroit casinos, cigar bars exempt, Mark Hornbeck (mhornbeck@detnews.com) and Christine Macdonald, Darren A. Nichols contributed, The Detroit News, 12/11/2009.

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