Adolescent smoking - to stop smoking must focus on several factors..

September 14, 2009 -
PAPER: Determinants of First Puff and Daily Cigarette Smoking in Adolescents Jennifer O'Loughlin, Igor Karp, Theodoro Koulis, Gilles Paradis and Joseph DiFranza, American Journal of Epidemiology 2009 170(5):585-597; ABSTRACT...

There is no one-size-fits-all explanation for why teenagers take up smoking, hint findings of a Canadian study. Therefore, focusing on one single risk factor is not likely to help adolescents resist peer pressure to smoke, or help advance the understanding of why young people smoke.

O'Loughlin, at the University of Montreal in Quebec, therefore suggests that efforts to prevent smoking should take into account "individual-level factors such as age, self-esteem, alcohol use, and academic success." Those involved should also bear in mind "contextual factors such as smoking in parents and friends, and school smoking policies," she told Reuters Health in email correspondence.

Her group investigated how numerous factors altered smoking initiation among 877 students (half male), who were pushing 13 years of age at the start of the study and had never smoked. Every 3 months for the next 5 years, the researchers surveyed students' smoking habits and other factors potentially linked with starting to smoke. During this period, 421 (48 percent) of the students started smoking, and 87 (21% of these) took up daily smoking.

Living in a single-parent family and poor academic performance in school all increased smoking risk. Using alcohol and other tobacco products upped risk nearly 3- and 5-fold. Having siblings and friends who smoked raised an adolescent's risk for smoking about 2- and 3-fold. Having a parent or teachers and school staff who smoked increased the risk of beginning to smoke by about half or more.

Feeling the need for a cigarette raised smoking risk 6-fold. Adolescents who felt stressed, acted impulsively, and showed susceptibility to tobacco advertising were also more likely to begin smoking.

By contrast, gender, parents' education, feelings of depression, worry about weight or being overweight, seeking novel experiences, physical activity or playing sports, and television watching were some of the factors not linked with increased risk.

Prevention and cessation programs that target social, home, and school smoking, as well as tobacco advertising, may have a positive impact on adolescent smoking, O'Loughlin and colleagues surmise. They call for further investigations into factors linking alcohol use and smoking, and genetic variables tied to smoking risk.

Reference: Multiple factors impact adolescent smoking risk by Joene Hendry, Reuters, 9/11/2009.

Read more...

Malaysia - smoking civil servants in Penang to receive free nicotine treatment..

September 14, 2009 - Civil servants who smoke are eligible to receive free nicotine treatment provided by the Malaysian state government in a move to turn Penang into a smoke-free state. State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said he hoped to encourage people to quit smoking by starting with civil servants. Penang...

“It will be an abuse of human rights if we were to hire only non-smokers as civil servants. To make Penang a smoke-free state, we have to put more effort in encouraging the people to stop smoking.

“Our special committee have approved the plan for all advertisement billboard in Penang to bear the slogan ‘No Plastic Day’ and ‘Penang Smoke-Free’.

“We are in the midst of discussion with the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) to materialise the plan,” he said when contacted Sunday.

On the state’s effort to gazette certain recreational areas as non-smoking zone, Phee said the state was currently waiting for approval from the Health Ministry on the proposed list.

It was reported in July that the state was considering gazetting part of the Gurney Drive promenade as a smoke-free zone to create a greener environment for Penangites and tourists.

Other recreational spots which Phee had proposed earlier were Penang Hill, Penang Botanic Gardens, Mengkuang Dam, Teluk Bahang Dam, Penang National Park in Pantai Acheh, Bukit Panchor State Park, Hutan Lipur Bukit Penara in Balik Pulau, Hutan Lipur Air Itam Dalam in Sungai Dua, Hutan Lipur Malindo in Teluk Bahang, Hutan Lipur Relau and Hutan Lipur Bukit Mertajam.

“We are also looking at restaurants since cleanliness is very important to attract tourists in visiting our restaurants. “Last week, two Chinese restaurants were closed down and only allowed to reopen after complying with the cleanliness rules within 14 days,” he said.

Phee said a lot of people at the ferry terminal still ignored the no-smoking signs put up and smoke while waiting for the ferry to arrive. “We are enforcing strict regulation at the terminal and our enforcement officers will conduct checks from time to time to ensure the smoking ban is not flouted,” he said.

Reference: Smoking civil servants in Penang to receive free nicotine treatment by ANN TAN, the Star online, 9/13/2009.

Malaysia - related news briefs:
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...
Read more...

Malaysia - illicit cigarettes, BAT wants government to slow excise duty increases..

September 14, 2009 - The Government will lose about RM1.5bil in the form of unpaid taxes each year based on the increasing illicit cigarette trade reaching a record 36.7% of the country’s total cigarette industry. Currently, one of three cigarette packs in Malaysia is illegal contraband compared with one of four less than a year ago. (Peninsular Malaysia - one of three cigarette packs is either contraband or fake..)

British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd (BAT) is pleading to the Government to look into the matter and take necessary action to combat the crime. Managing director Jack Bowles said legal cigarette manufacturers had lost a significant 11% in volume during the first half of this year to illegal operators.

Jack Bowles: “It is also proven that cigarette excise duty increases have direct correlation to the swelling in illegal cigarette trade which could clearly be seen in Hong Kong and Singapore. Thus, in order not to further fuel the crime in Malaysia, we hope that the Government will seriously consider implementing a moderate and gradual excise regime. The industry has seen excise increases every year since 2002 and the excise increases in the last two years make up 50% of the increases from 2002 to 2006.”

He said it appeared that the annual and large excise increases had caused the tobacco industry to reach a tipping point, accelarating the growth of smuggled cigarettes at the expense of the legal cigarette industry with no change in overall consumption.

It is also estimated that more than US$40bil in tax revenue is lost by governments worldwide each year due to the illegal cigarette trade.

Bowles said almost all illegal cigarettes in Malaysia were contraband or smuggled and fortunately there were no counterfeit cigarettes in the local market. “But, the large profits for organised crime syndicates come from contraband cigarettes because they exploit the large price difference compared with legal cigarettes.”

The pressing situation would have been far worse if not for the commendable efforts of enforcement agencies, particularly the Royal Malaysian Customs, he said, adding: “Seizures of illegal cigarettes have increased by 76% in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year.”

BAT’s revenue in the half year ended June 30 fell 2.5% to RM1.98bil from RM2.03bil in the previous corresponding period. However, its net profit for the period under review increased to RM407.2mil from RM406.6mil previously.

Reference: Govt loses RM1.5bil annual loss because of illicit cigarette trade, theStar online, 9/11/2009.

Related news briefs - Malaysia:
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...

Image of Malaysia's Coat-of-Arms; click on image to get to the Malaysian government's official portal..

Read more...

Ireland - tobacco vendors must register by October 1, 2009..

September 14, 2009 - The Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) has urged all tobacco vendors to register with it before October 1st.

Anti-smoker legislation implemented (went into effect) on, July 1, 2009 when a ban was introduced on the advertising and display of tobacco products in retail shops. At the same time, under new provisions of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004, tobacco retailers will have to sign up to a retail register and tighter controls will be imposed on the location and operation of tobacco vending machines. (Ireland - Office of Tobacco Control 2008 annual report - Positive..)

Retailers who do not register by then will not be legally entitled to continue selling tobacco products.

CEO of the OTC, Eamonn Rossi said any registered retailer who was convicted of an offence under the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts would be removed from the register for up to three months, as well as having to pay any fine imposed in court. “Removal from the register means that tobacco products cannot be sold from the premises during the period specified by the court,” he said.

Retailers can register with the Office of Tobacco Control online at www.tobaccoregister.com or request an application form by calling 1890-333-100.

Reference: Tobacco vendors urged to register, Irish Medical Times, 9/10/2009.

Some Ireland related news briefs:
Ireland - tobacco companies not helping small retailers - display ban..;
Tobacco control initiatives starting Wednesday, July 1, 2009..;
Ireland - Office of Tobacco Control 2008 annual report - Positive..;
Ireland - modest penalty for cigarette smuggling..;
Ireland - to amend tobacco legislation to to include pictoral warnings..;
Ireland - as of July 1, 2009 no advertising or display of tobacco products will be permitted in retail outlets..;
Ireland - cigarette tax abandoned over smuggling fears..;
Ireland - may raise tax on cigarettes as part of emergency budget..;
Ireland - ban smoking in cars when kids are present..;
Ireland - further provisions of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004 are to be commenced on 1 July 2009.;
Ireland - 80% of smokers want a ban on tobacco advertising in shops to stop youngsters starting the habit..;
Ireland to ban tobacco displays..;
Ireland - reduction in admissions for acute coronary syndrome...
Read more...

Altria - Copenhagen long-cut wintergreen, more sites for Marlboro snus, L&M Bold Menthol..

Background: Altria Group Inc said on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 it completed its $10.4 billion acquisition of UST, Inc. greatly expanding Altria's presence in the faster-growing smokeless tobacco segment. Michael E. Szymanczyk - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Altria has indicated a little tweaking is necessary for the UST's premium brands - Copenhagen and Skoal to return these brands to some modest share growth. (Altria Group, Inc. Agrees to Acquire UST Inc. - Altria Group and UST Conference Call, Seeking Alpha, 9/10/2008.)

Ten years ago, UST owned more than 80% of the smokeless tobacco market. By late 2004, the company's market share had slipped to 68%. Today, it's less than 60% and trending down.


Grizzly, the nations number one moist snuff brand, in the second quarter 2009 expanded its market share to 25.5 percent, up 2.2 percentage points, according to data from Management Science Associates Inc., a research group. Conwood's overall market share was up 1.9 percent to 29.4 percent. By far the best selling type of Grizzly is the long cut wintergreen. Skoal already has this type of moist snuff but Copenhagen does not. The new product could drive Copenhagen's share of the segment from 23% to 32%, according to an Altria spokesperson.

Philip Morris USA plans to make a bigger push into the still-uncertain market for snus, a Swedish-style oral tobacco, expanding an experiment it is now running in three cities. The nation's No. 1 cigarette-maker will market snus, using its flagship Marlboro brand name, more broadly this fall, said Michael E. Szymanczyk, chairman and chief executive of Philip Morris' parent, Henrico County, VA-based Altria Group.

Snus is a moist powdered tobacco, cured by steam instead of heat, that some analysts and public health advocates experts believe will be the focus of tobacco industry attention, especially now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is regulating tobacco.

Chesterfield County-based Swedish Match North America hopes to convince the FDA that snus can reduce harm to tobacco users and is an effective way to get smokers to quit.

Szymanczyk gave no details about the size of Philip Morris' push on snus.

Szymanczyk said Philip Morris wants to boost its share of the market for menthol cigarettes, where it now has a 28 percent share, as opposed to more than 50 percent for the overall cigarette market. He said the company will launch an L&M (Love the Moment) Bold Menthol this year to boost its offerings in the "full-flavor" menthol sector, the one area where he said the company does not think it has a strong position. Blend No. 54 is also described as a "bold" flavor, which smokers describe as offering a particularly strong tobacco taste.

References: Altria plans expansion of Marlboro snus by David Ress, Richmond Timdes_Dispatch, 9/10/2009; Altria Blazes On by Colleen Paulson, The Motley Fool, 9/11/2009.



Read more...