Quebec, Canada - one-third of hospital beds occupied by smokers..

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Study suggests that smokers are taking up hospital beds and costing the Quebec health-care system millions a year. Researchers found that those who smoke, or used to smoke heavily, occupy 32.6 percent of hospital beds in the province. The report concludes that caring for smokers in hospital costs Quebec's health-care system $930 million a year.

"[Quebec is] certainly lagging behind other provinces, and behind ... measures taken by the United States [when it comes to efforts to curb smoking]," said Pierre-Yves Crémieux, a University of Quebec in Montreal economics professor and one of the study's co-authors. Crémieux said Quebec is behind despite recent efforts to regulate and reduce smoking.

Dr. Gaston Ostiguy, a physician at the Montreal Chest Institute, said most of the patients he sees started smoking a long time ago. "What we see at the moment, is that we are facing the hard-core smokers," said Ostiguy, who tells four people a day that they have lung cancer. Ostiguy said he hoped the study would force the province to do more to discourage young people from picking up smoking.

While provincial health officials are not promising any immediate changes in light of the study, the ministry acknowledged that tobacco-related illnesses are taking their toll on the system.

The Health Ministry is preparing to file a multibillion-dollar class-action lawsuit against the tobacco industry to recuperate some of its losses. (Quebec - intends to sue cigarette makers to recoup health costs..)

Officials are also looking into stronger anti-smoking legislation in the fall, including banning smoking in cars when children are around. (June 16, 2008 - Canadian province of Ontario bans smoking in cars with kids under 16..) The majority of Canadians (82%) say they support a ban on smoking in vehicles with children younger than 18 years of age, according to a national poll released today by the Canadian Cancer Society. The poll results also show that more than two-thirds of smokers (69%) support a ban. (Overwhelming majority of Canadians support ban on smoking in cars with kids — two-thirds of smokers also support ban, Canadian Cancer Society, 1/16/2008)

Reference: Smokers occupy one-third of hospital beds: study, CBCNews, 8/16/2010.

Some news briefs with Quebec in tittle:
Quebec, Canada - turning immigrant kids into smokers..;
Quebec - survey finds more teenagers are smoking..;
Quebec - push to stop trade in illicit cigarettes..;
Canadian - McGill University - light smoking damages arteries, reducing bodies' ability to deal with physical stress.;
Canada Ontario/Quebec - make it illegal for minors to possess tobacco products..;
Quebec - intends to sue cigarette makers to recoup health costs..;
Congratulations to the Canadian Provinces of Quebec and Ontario for Eliminating the Display of Tobacco Signs and Tobacco Products in Retail Outlets.;
Quebec - Teens Switch from Cigarettes to Cigarillos..;

Read more...

Philippines - President Aquino has stated he will prioritize increase in the tax on cigarettes..

August 18, 2010 - President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Monday, August 16th said he will most likely prioritize increase in the tax on cigarette as recently proposed by the Department of Health (DOH).






Health Secretary Enrique Ona has been pushing for a 400 percent increase in cigarette tax that would adjust price of a cigarette stick from P2 to P7 and a pack from P30 (0.67 USD) to P120 (2.67 USD). (Philippines - DOH pushing for hefty tax increase on cigarettes..)

“Most probably (because) it is sin taxes,” Aquino said in an ambush interview following the oath-taking of newly-appointed Supreme Court associate justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in Malacanang. Sin tax is a tax levied to socially proscribed goods and services such as tobacco and alcohol.

The President, who himself is a smoker, said he favored increasing taxes on sin products such as cigarettes, noting its benefits to public health. “This sin products have a health burden on the people, may peso value yung healt burden na yan tapos yung taxes versus the health burden are not equal,” he stressed. (Philippines - new president smokes but this should not slow tobacco prevention activities..)

This move intends to lessen smokers in the country especially among the youth and mitigate the health cost that would arise from cigarette use.

Reference: Aquino to support cigarette tax (3:30 p.m.), Jill Beltran/Sunnex, SunStar.com, 8/16/2010.

Philippines - some related news briefs:
;
Philippines - DOH pushing for hefty tax increase on cigarettes..;
Philippines - Muslim council says smoking is forbidden..;
Philippines - PMFTC has 90% of the tobacco market..;
Philippines - Philip Morris report sales higher than annual 2-3% growth..;
Philippines - National Tobacco Assoc. will oppose any move to reduce demand for tobacco unless govt..;
Philippines - tobacco industry has obtained temporary relief from placing graphic warnings on cigarette packs..;
Philippines - govt agencies and employees barred from unnessary interaction with tobacco industry..;
Philippines - Filipino Muslims forbidden to smoke, trade cigarettes..;
Philippine congress proclaims Aquino 15th president..;
Philippines - tobacco firms claim graphic warnings on cigarette packs are illegal..;
Philippines - new president smokes but this should not slow tobacco prevention activities..:
Philippines - Department of Health wants health warnings on cigarette packs within 90 days..;
Philippines - health groups want more protection from the dangers of tobacco..;
Philippines - DOH warns government agencies to avoid partnerships or accepting donations from tobacco manufacturers..;
Philip Morris Philippines..;
Philippines - DoH pushes for picture warnings on cigarette packs..;
Philippines - PMI - FTC merger may lead smokers continuing to smoke and lure children into a life of nicotine addiction..;
Philippines - PMI and Fortune Tobacco Corp. form new company called PMFTC..;
Philippines - Tanauan City names street Philip Morris..;
Philippines - DOH campaign for 100% smoke-free workplaces..;
Philippines - total tobacco industry could be down 10% to 15% this year..;
Philippines - 2003 ban on advertising and skirting the ban..;
Philippines - June is annually observed as 'No Smoking' Month..;
Philippines may be losing the war against smoking..;
http://snus-news.blogspot.com/2008/11/philippines-thai-cigarette-import-rules.html;
Philip Morris won't postpone Philippines Eraserheads Concert..;
Philip Morris could be criminally liable for its sponsorship of the event .in the Philippines..;
STOP PMI Sponsoring Concert in Philippines..;
Philippines - Smoker to be deported...
Read more...

Minnesota - thousands of untaxed cigarettes recently seized..

August 18, 2010 - Thousands of untaxed cartons of cigarettes were recently seized across the state, the Minnesota Department of Revenue announced today, August 13th. Nearly 10,300 cartons containing 2 million cigarettes were seized between May 2009 and June 2010 by state and federal authorities.

State law requires that payment of the tax imposed on each pack of cigarettes must be verified with a corresponding value of stamps attached to each package. None of the cigarette packs in the cartons seized had the proper stamps. The unpaid state tax on the cigarettes is approximately $159,000 with an additional unpaid federal tax of $104,000.

Possession of untaxed cigarettes may result in criminal penalty for the buyer.
Purchasing untaxed cigarettes from an unlicensed seller may result in criminal penalties for the reseller. Penalties could range from misdemeanors to felonies and buyers would be subject to tax, penalty and interest.

Minnesotans who purchase untaxed products that are shipped into the state must report the cigarette tax on the Consumer’s Cigarette Tax Return (CT203) and the tobacco tax on the Consumer’s Tobacco Tax Return (CT303). These forms can be found on our website at www.taxes.state.mn.us. Cigarette and tobacco taxes not paid by the 18th of the month following the month of purchase are subject to interest and penalty.

Most of the cigarettes were sold by American internet sites but manufactured in Ukraine. In many cases, cigarettes sold over the internet are counterfeit. Often times they are made in unsanitary facilities. (Ukraine - lost cigarettes flooding Europe..)

The Minnesota Department of Revenue has a 24-hour tip line for anyone who suspects an individual or business is violating tax laws, at (651) 297-5195 or 1-800-657-3500. Tipsters may remain anonymous and can also email the department at tax.fraud@state.mn.us. Last year, citizen tips resulted in 88 percent of the department’s criminal case referrals. For more information, contact the department’s Cigarette and Tobacco Unit at 651-297-1882.

References: Thousands of Untaxed Cigarette Cartons Seized in Minnesota, Lisa Waldrup, Minnesota Department of Revenue IRS), 8/13/2010; Government seizes untaxed cigarettes in Minnesota by John Vomhof Jr. (jvomhof@bizjournals.com) Staff writer, Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, 8/16/2010.

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Australia - Tony Abbott no friend of health care especially when it comes to your children..

Does he really care..
We were quite surprised that Tony Abbott was the best candidate for prime minister that the opposition party could come up with.

We got to know Mr. Abbott back in July, 2009.. New South Wales (NSW) had just introduced a series of new anti-smoking laws. One of the most important laws that were implemented was the law to make it illegal to smoke in a car when children are passengers. (New South Wales - July 1, 2009 - Great Day for Tobacco Control..)

During a debate on this subject at Sydney University, Tony Abbott claimed that NSW was playing nanny state politics with its ban on smoking in cars when children are present. Obviously this man did not prepare for the debate when he spouted off the comment that "smoking in front of children is a trivial issue and states should not intervene" just to gain attention. (July 2009 - New South Wales politician smoking comment totally inaccurate..)

Every parent wants their children to lead healthy and happy lives. There's an abundance of evidence that children are more susceptible to the negative effects of second-hand smoke. Mr. Abbott from what we gather, has three daughters that by now may have their own children. Doesn't he care if his loved ones are exposed to tobacco smoke that could possibly effect their health.

Just recently in the UK the chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners (GPs), Dr. Steve Fields has stated, parents that smoke in front of their children at home at in cars are "committing a form of child abuse".

As pointed out by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia in a February 2009 paper the evidence of second-hand smoke harm to children in enclose spaces is extensive and irrefutable. A 2004 survey of over 1300 Australians in 800 households showed over 90 percent (including 73 percent of smokers) support banning smoking in cars carrying children. A Harvard School of Public Health report indicated that secondhand smoke in cars can be up to 10 times more of a health risk than secondhand smoke in a home.

If this man is elected advances in tobacco control will most likely be weakened.

The National Preventative Health Strategy to make Australia the healthiest country in the world by 2020 would disappear.

From what we understand Mr Abbott had his chance to reform the health system when he was Minister for Health under the Howard Government instead citizens saw that government strip the public health system of millions of dollars of Commonwealth funding, starving communities' hospitals and limiting health care delivery. (Tony Abbott Taking Health Care Back To The 1800s, Australia, Australian Nursing Federation's Federal, Medical News Today, 2/15/2010)


Tony Abbott is the wrong person to be Prime Minister of Australia..
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England - teenage smoking rates dropped since legal age to buy cigarettes raised to 18..

August 17, 2010 - Teenage smoking rates in England have dropped since the legal age for buying cigarettes rose from 16 to 18, research by University College London suggests.

Researchers surveyed more than 1,000 teenagers aged 16 and 17 before and after the age rise in October 2007. (Legal age for buying tobacco raised to 18 from October 1, Patrick Wintour, political editor, The Guardian, 1/1/2007)

Smoking rates in this age group dropped significantly, from 24% before the law change to about 17% after it. Smoking rates in over 18s remained unchanged.

Cancer Research UK said it showed tobacco policy could make a difference.

Experts know that more than 80% of smokers start before the age of 19 and that half of all long-term smokers will die of cancer or other smoking-related diseases.

Stopping young people from starting smoking is vital if the death toll from tobacco is to be reduced, they say in the journal Addiction.

PAPER: RESEARCH REPORT: Changes in smoking prevalence in 16–17-year-old versus older adults following a rise in legal age of sale: findings from an English population study, Jennifer A. Fidler, Robert West, Article first published online: 17 AUG 2010, ABSTRACT..

Jenny Fidler, who led the study and is based at Cancer Research UK's health behaviour research centre at University College London, said: "The new law looks to have helped reduce smoking prevalence among younger age groups.

"This is good news for the future health of this generation of young people and shows that tobacco policies can make a real difference."

Before 2007 it was legal to sell cigarettes to anyone over the age of 16 in England, Scotland or Wales. a href="http://snus-news.blogspot.com/2008/09/september-1-2008-as-of-today.html">The same was true in Northern Ireland until 2008.

Jean King, Cancer Research UK's director of tobacco control, said: "This result is encouraging. We would like to have seen an even bigger drop in the number of young smokers but any measure that helps stops young people from smoking is a step in the right direction.

"We need to do more to protect young people. We urge the government to prevent more lives being lost to an addiction that will kill half of all long term smokers."

She said putting tobacco out of sight in shops and removing cigarette vending machines would be a good place to start.

A Department of Health spokesman said they were in discussions across government on how best to progress to tackle smoking.

He added: "We welcome these findings as nearly all adults who smoke get hooked when they are young. Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of death in England, causing over 80,000 premature deaths in England each year."

A Scottish cancer specialist (Dr. Jayant Vaidya) had called for the age at which people can buy tobacco be raised to 21.

Reference: Under-18 ban 'cut teenage smoking rates' by Michelle Roberts Health reporter, BBC News, 8/17/2010. Read more...