Parks’ smoking ban taking effect immediately

The Boston Parks and Recreation Commission approved a smoking ban Monday in city-run parks, immediately making it illegal to smoke cigarettes, marijuana, and other “lighted or vaporized” substances under the penalty of a $250 fine.

The ban covers the 251 parks, squares, cemeteries, and other spaces run by the Parks and Recreation Department, including Boston Common, the Public Garden, and Franklin Park.

“What this has really done is allowed people to understand that this is another place where smoking isn’t allowed, and there is good reason for that,” said Barbara Ferrer, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, who spoke in favor of the ban before the Parks Commission vote Monday.

“This amendment is necessary to maintain the health and safety of our public parks and ensure that these valuable resources can be enjoyed by all Boston residents,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino said in a letter supporting the ban. The City Council approved the ban in November.

No one spoke in opposition to the ban Monday, officials said.

Jacque Goddard, spokeswoman for the commission, said her department and others will launch an advertising campaign to alert people to the law. The Parks Department will post signs about the ban and the fine, and her department and the Health Commission will pass out informational materials.

The goal, officials said, is for people to enforce the ban themselves, by alerting others about the new ordinance.

Ultimately, Goddard said, police, who spoke in favor of the ban, and park rangers will enforce the measure. The ban is an expansion of an existing law that prohibited smoking at so-called tot lots.

Six other large US cities have similar bans, including Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, according to the Health Commission. In Massachusetts, 35 municipalities have banned smoking in parks, beaches, or some other public space.

Philip Morris International, Leading Maker of Cigarettes

Coca-Cola is a perfect model of a wonderful business. Altria Group and Philip Morris International are two tobacco companies that have so many important features with Coca-Cola that long-term investors ought to hold all three in the same regard Coca-Cola, Altria and Philip Morris International are leading companies in their respective markets. Coca-Cola has a

Total smoking bans effectively help smokers quit

To protect nonsmokers, many cities have banned smoking in public places, but a recent study shows that total smoking bans - in the home or public places - help smokers to cut back or quit completely.

The researchers, from the University of California-San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, published their results in the journal Preventive Medicine. Dr. Wael K. Al-Delaimy, from UCSD and study author, says that California was the very first state to ban public smoking in certain places in 1994.

According to the County of San Diego, California state law prohibits smoking within 20 feet of entrances, exits and windows of public buildings. And regarding private buildings and residences, many management companies put policies in place that prohibit smoking at their facilities. Many cities have also enacted smoking bans in recent years.

The city of Beverly Hills, for example, initiated smoking restrictions in outdoor dining areas in 2007 - deemed the "90210 Fresh Air Dining" ordinance. A year after it was put in place, the city reported positive feedback.

According to Smoke-Free San Diego, over 440,000 people in the US die each year from tobacco-related diseases, making it the leading cause of preventable death. Along with causing cancer and cardiovascular disease, smoking creates increased risks for infertility, preterm delivery, stillbirth and low birth weights.

Though the negative effects of first- and second-hand smoke have been widely reported, the issue of third-hand smoke has recently become a hot topic.

Third-hand smoke encompasses everything left after a cigarette is put out, including toxic particulates that stick to hair, clothing, cars and carpets, among other surfaces.

Warnings on Every Cigarette Encourage More Smokers to Quit

A research showed that health warnings on every cigarette would encourage more people to quit smoking. The talk is about timelines that demonstrate smokers that every cigarette shortens their life by 11 minutes and a list of toxic substances found in cigarettes that affect health negatively.The results of the study were published in Tobacco Control

Tax Collected on Tobacco

Last December, Treasury collected $423 million, while during the next seven months the combined take was $390m. The figures include both imported tobacco and excise from Imperial Tobacco's factory in Petone.

In December 2011 the amount of tax collected on tobacco, at $370m, was more than the following six months combined. Customs Minister Maurice Williamson was not concerned by the tactics. "As long as tobacco companies are abiding by the law then it's up to them how they behave," he said. Smokers interviewed on the subject were baffled to learn that increases in January did not necessarily go to the Government.

For Imperial Tobacco, which runs New Zealand's only cigarette factory, excise is triggered when product crosses a "bond line" in its warehouse, timed at the company's discretion. Brendan Walker, Imperial Tobacco's New Zealand manager, said the company's aim was to ensure it had product when customers wanted it, but he did not dispute there was a windfall opportunity each year.

"We, like any other business, will look at maximising any efficiency we can," he said. A spokeswoman for British American Tobacco, which has close to 75 per cent of the New Zealand market, all with imported products, said the company was focused on paying taxes which were due "in as efficient a way as possible".

US tobacco giant Philip Morris, the manufacturer of Marlboro Red cigarettes, has not replied to written questions. A tobacco industry source said some smokers did buy up large in December, as did retailers, with reports of dairy owners borrowing money from family members to maximise the potential windfall.

But the source conceded the companies used a similar tactic. "Everyone in the chain is speculating," the source said.

Wellington taxi driver William Dunn, who after about 40 years of smoking is struggling to kick his 10-cigarette-a-day habit, said he assumed that when the cost of a pack of cigarettes went up each January, the increase immediately flowed to the Government.

"I'll bet 98 per cent of people think that money is going to the government," Dunn said."You would have thought the tobacco companies are making enough money without having to do that."

Quit Smoking in 2014

Quitting smoking is a most popular New Year’s Resolution. Everyone knows that smoking is harmful to the body so every year more and more smokers promise to and successfully quit the habit. Secondhand smoke can cause allergic reactions and asthma in some people and stop healthy development of lungs in kids. Therefore, smokers should not

New tobacco regulations in Franklin

The Board of Health will hold a public hearing next month on whether to pass comprehensive new tobacco regulations. The three-member board scheduled the hearing for its Jan. 7 meeting, set to begin at 10 a.m. at the Municipal Building, 355 East Central St. Health Director David McKearney wrote the proposed regulations.

If passed, the controls would reshape how the town handles tobacco sales, raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 19 and establishing a tobacco and nicotine delivery products permit, administered by the board. Currently the town does not have a local tobacco permit for businesses, which still must acquire a license from the state Department of Revenue in order to sell cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Largely the board supported the rigorous regulations. However, two members protested increasing the purchase age to 21 — a stipulation included in the first draft of the regulations — and chose 19 as a compromise.

"I think (the age) should stay at 18," Philip Brunelli said, pointing out that if teenagers can go to war at 18, they should have the right to smoke a pack of cigarettes, as well.

Businesses that sell tobacco products would find themselves with a new fee to pay should the regulations pass. In addition to the state license, they would have to pay the board an annual fee of $150 for a local tobacco permit. The board can then make unannounced periodic inspections of the business.

The board also seeks to regulate how businesses sell certain tobacco products. Under the regulations, businesses cannot sell single cigars under $2.50, self-service displays of tobacco products are prohibited and roll-your-own cigarette machines are banned.

In addition, the regulations tighten the town’s rules on smoking in public places. The board intends to bar smoking at so-called hookah bars, membership and association clubs, such as the American Legion, as well as at any town buildings, parks or recreation areas. This includes marijuana and electronic cigarettes.

Tobacco Use Among Teens in West Virginia Declined

Experts say that tobacco use among young people in West Virginia is declining, Recently West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Division of Tobacco Prevention revealed data that demonstrates the percentage of high school students who said they have never used any kind of tobacco products has raised from 20.6% in 2000 to 46.1%

Georgia regents consider tobacco ban

SMOKERS' days may be numbered on many of Georgia's college campuses, as the state Board of Regents considers a total tobacco ban for all 31 institutions in the university system. The ban is being pushed by Regent Thomas Hopkins, an orthopaedic surgeon from Griffin who wants it to apply to students, staff and visitors.

The proposal, which he would like the regents to discuss early next year, follows a national trend of similar bans - promoted as health initiatives - implemented at schools, parks, around hospitals and in restaurants. Last September, the US Department of Health and Human Services launched a national tobacco-free college campus initiative to promote bans like Hopkins is proposing. The initiative counts more than 1100 colleges and universities in its smoke-free fold.

“Most of these kids start smoking at school because they think it looks cool and they're away from home and their parents,” Hopkins said. “But, it's not healthy and I would hope we would do something about that.” The board is likely to have some opposition from students. Student smokers see the ban as an intrusion on their rights.

“We're paying to go to school and we should be allowed to do this. We're not in high school anymore,” said Foster Bass, a botany student at Georgia Perimeter College. Bass and his friends were standing outside on a recent day, across from the cafeteria in an area where smoking is allowed on the college's Clarkston campus. Many in the group had been smoking about a quarter of their lives.

“This is not right and this ban would be ridiculous,” said Matthew, 19, a computer engineering student at GPC who didn't want to give his last name. “It would be just one more way of banning our freedom. I think they put too much emphasis on not smoking. This isn't illegal. We're not selling drugs.”

Smoking in all enclosed state-owned or -leased facilities - including dorms and classrooms - is already banned in Georgia. The proposal before the regents would apply to outdoor spaces on campuses, said Valerie Hepburn, a former college president who is leading the overhaul of the University System of Georgia's health benefits plan. Discussions about tobacco-free campuses have been ongoing since the university system launched its public health research and teaching programs in 2003, but this is the first time the regents will consider a system-wide ban.

Details of how to implement the ban have to be worked out, Hepburn said. A policy would have to be drafted, a compliance date would have to be set and the system would have to work with the schools and local health departments to provide students and staff with help to stop smoking and using tobacco.

Graphic Warning Labels on Cigarette Packs could Reduce Smokers in the US

A new study published in Tobacco Control journal demonstrates that graphic warning labels on cigarette packs resulted in decrease in smoking rates in Canada by 20% in 2009. The authors of the study say that if the USA introdused graphic warnings, it would help to decrease significantly number of smokers in the country. However, FDA

Alabama last SEC school without campus smoking ban

With The University of Alabama standing as the last SEC school without a smoking ban on campus, UA students are stepping up to voice their opinions on the matter. “The UA administration is evaluating a campuswide ban on smoking, based on input from constituents across campus,” Cathy Andreen, director of UA media relations, said.

For the past two years, UA students in the Student Government Association, Student Health Center groups and Smokefree UA have discussed their readiness to become a smoke-free campus and join the 1,178 campuses that have already passed a smoking or tobacco ban.

“SGA is not opposed to a smoke-free campus and would support any University policy that our student body feels might enhance their experience here,” Leela Foley, director of SGA media relations, said.

This year is the first time a petition for a smoke-free campus is being offered by the Tobacco Strategic Health Team, SHC Department of Health and Project Health. This gives students a voice to promote smoke-free awareness and support. Andreen said the current policy prohibits smoking in all campus buildings as well as 30 feet from building entrances.

“There are 45 million smokers in America, but 125 million people are impacted by secondhand smoke,” said Delynne Wilcox, assistant director of the the department of health promotion and wellness at the SHC. “Smoking is not one of those things that [is] limited to only the health risks of the smoker. It impacts people around them.”

The American Cancer Society created the Great American Smokeout in the 1970s to bring awareness to health complications related to smoking and tobacco use. Every year on the third Thursday of November, participating organizations hold events to connect people with various resources to encourage them to quit smoking.

Wilcox said the University has participated in the Great American Smokeout for more than 13 years. Project Health had a table in the Ferguson Center Nov. 21 to promote the national event and to offer the petition for students to sign.

“Ideally, it would be great if we had a smoke-free campus because it would be another environmental support for students on why not to smoke,” Wilcox said. “It would decrease the secondhand smoke complications as well.”

However, not all students on campus feel like smoking poses a threat to students on campus. “It doesn’t feel fair to tell people who smoke on the way to class that they can’t, but if everyone could be more courteous where they do it, then a lot of people would stop complaining,” Anna Neff, a sophomore majoring in advertising, said.

Graphic Warning Images On Cigarettes Reduce Smoking Among Young Adults

Recently in the USA there was made a new study on the effects of graphic health warning labels. The study was performed by Schroeder Institute for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies at Legacy and supported by FDA, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The results of the study

Will Smoking be Banned in Single-Family Homes?

Jesse Arreguin, the Councilman of Berkeley City, proposed to prohibit smoking in single-family homes. In her turn, Susan Wengraf, the Councilwoman, was appalled as she supports the proposal to prohibit smoking in multiunit homes. The major aim is to protect people living in multiunit buildings from secondhand smoke that is considered to have negative effects

College Students Feel Pull of Cigarette Ads, Study Finds

The influence of just one cigarette ad can last for seven days and increases the risk of smoking among college students, according to a new study.

Over three weeks, 134 students, aged 18 to 24, in Pittsburgh documented their exposure to cigarettes ads and other pro-smoking media messages. This included seeing positive depictions of smoking in movies, for example, the researchers noted.

The students, who included both smokers and nonsmokers, also recorded how these exposures affected their smoking intentions and ability to refuse cigarettes.

Immediately after seeing a cigarette ad or other pro-smoking media message, the students' smoking intentions rose by an average of 22 percent, the study found. Although their smoking intentions decreased with each passing day, they remained elevated for seven days.

All of the students said they were exposed to numerous smoking ads and pro-smoking media message multiple times during the three-week study. In total, the students reported more than 1,000 such exposures, according to the findings published online Nov. 18 in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

"We were surprised how long the influence of pro-smoking messages lasted," study co-author Steven Martino, a psychologist at the RAND Corporation, said in a news release from the nonprofit research organization. "The results suggest that positive media messages about smoking are likely to influence behavior even if opportunities to smoke occur infrequently," he noted.

"Our findings suggest that exposures that occur before the influence of a prior message 'wears off' could cause the risk of smoking to accumulate over the long term. This might explain why exposure to these media messages can have an enduring effect on people's attitudes and behaviors toward smoking," Martino explained.

He and his colleagues noted that the study results have important implications for policies that limit tobacco advertising and other efforts meant to reduce youth tobacco use.

Cigarette ads are banned from television and radio in the United States, but are still allowed at places where tobacco is sold, in newspapers and magazines, and on the Internet.

Children in the UK Call for Smoke-Free Footpaths

In the UK smoking is prohibited in most public places including concert halls, pubs and parts of sports grounds. Now kids want smoking to be banned on the footpaths they use to get to school. Pupils from Yeo Moor Primary School in Clevedon are discussing with authoroties and teachers the possibility to introduce a bylaw

Wythe County apartments going smoke-free

Longview and Longview Village Apartments are scheduled to go smoke-free on Jan. 1, 2014, along with a total of 246 properties managed by Partnership Property Management (PPM) of Greensboro.

“Smoke-free housing is an industry trend, and one that can save both lives and money,” said Rick Allen, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of PPM.

“The best way to protect our property and our residents from secondhand smoke and the risk of fire is to stop allowing smoking in our buildings.”
PPM manages properties in five states. Residents were notified starting in April of 2013 to prepare for the change.

“We have shared, and will continue to share, information and free resources to help any of our employees and residents quit smoking who would like to.” Allen said. “I’m pleased to say that many are looking at the new policy as an opportunity to adopt a healthier lifestyle.”

According to Allen, the costs of allowing smoking in a multi-unit building are well-known.

A smoking unit costs much more than a non-smoking unit does to prepare for a new tenant. And one fire caused by smoking materials can destroy large amounts of property and threaten the safety of residents, as well as employees and firefighters.

Other costs include dealing with complaints about drifting smoke, which is more than a nuisance to others, as secondhand smoke has been shown by studies to cause cancer, heart attacks and asthma attacks in nonsmokers.

“Our residents are the heart of our company,” Allen said. “We want to protect their health as well as the health and future of our properties.”

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College District to Ban Smoking on Campus

Coast Community College District wants to introduce smoking ban at its three campuses and asks its students and college staff for theirr opinion on the subject. The smoking ban to be voted in spring 2014 and it would touch such colleges as Golden West in Huntington Beach, Orange Coast in Costa Mesa and Coastline, which

Ban on smoking lighting the way

IN what's believed to be the first for a Queensland Surf Life Saving Club, Mooloolaba will ban smoking before the year's out. To them, I say "thank you" It's a bold move, but definitely the right one. In case you missed it, from December 1, the club's smoking area will become a designated tobacco-free zone.

This is fantastic. Finally, a real community, grassroots approach to dealing with a problem as big as smoking. It's a disgusting habit. I don't understand the thrill of it or why you'd want to put those toxins in your body. Then again, it's your body. I can only hope those who choose to light up are fully aware of what they're doing and most importantly, prepared to deal with the consequences of their actions.

I don't see anyone quitting just because they can't light up when they're having a beer at the club - but it's a start. The feedback from the ban has been overwhelming positive from what I can tell. We ran a poll on the Daily's website asking if all surf clubs should follow suit and the majority, 62%, said yes.

This was followed by 29% who believed the individual clubs should choose for themselves leaving the rest, 9%, who said they didn't care what they did. Sad. They should care. This is their health and the health of the general community we're talking about. Coincidentally, December 1 is also the date that the tax on smokes will rise by 12.5% each year for four years, raising $5.3 billion over the forward estimates.

Kevin Rudd raised tobacco prices by 25% back in 2010, a move attributed to an 11% drop in smoking rates. Of course back then, the money made off the increase was directed in to the health budget - to treat those who don't mind forking out a little bit extra to slowly kill themselves. Not all money raised will go towards treating tobacco-related diseases.

Honestly, I'd rather see a significant chunk of that money go to fund our firefighters who have to battle these life threatening blazes started by a cigarette butt flicked out the window. How about a bit more money for the environment? An estimated 4.5 trillion (Yes, with a t) cigarette butts are littered worldwide every year.

If you smoke you know the risk you're taking. Good on the Mooloolaba SLSC for banning the butt. I hope others follow in your footsteps.

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New York City to Ban Display of Cigarettes

New York plans to raise legal smoking age to 21 and besides this to ban dispay of cigarettes in the stores. These anti-tobacco measures to be adopted soon as Michael R. Bloomberg intends to make New York a smoke-free city. However, authorities of the New York city say that e-cigarettes escape display ban in their

Smoking Ban Rejected in Pleasant Hill

This week authorities of Pleasant Hill city rejected a suggestion to extend smoking ban to shopping centers and downtown. Michael Harris, the mayor of Pleasant Hill, has pushed rules that ban smoking in public places in the city. It is him who suggested the new restrictions. He got many complaints from citizens who were worried

Smoke-Free Homes Help Curb Habit

 Low-income smokers light up less often when cigarettes come with a high price tag and homes have a smoke-free policy, according to a new study. Tobacco use among low-income people remains high, the researchers said, but their findings could help shape public policies aimed at smoking cessation.

"What is important is that clinicians need to emphasize social norms concerning tobacco use and should encourage and discuss strategies for adopting smoke-free homes among all smokers," said the study's first author, Dr. Maya Vijayaraghavan, assistant clinical professor in the department of family and preventive medicine at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine.

"Additionally, there is a lot of interest in raising cigarette prices to reduce smoking," Vijayaraghavan said in a university news release. "While we have evidence that moderate increases reduce smoking behavior in all income groups, it is important to match such a policy with support to help lower-income smokers to quit successfully."

The study of U.S. Census Bureau data, which was published in the Oct. 17 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, suggested that people of all income levels smoke less when a pack of cigarettes costs $4.50 or more, said principal investigator John Pierce, professor and director of population sciences at the university.

"Living in a state where the average price paid for cigarettes is low ($3.20 or less per pack) means that all smokers, regardless of income, will smoke a lot more than those who live in a state with higher prices," Pierce said. The researchers also found that having a smoke-free home not only curbs tobacco use, but also helps prevent a relapse among those trying to quit.

"Price is a deterrent to smoking, but successful quitting -- 90 or more days -- was associated in this study only with a smoke-free home," Pierce said. The researchers said low-income smokers are less likely to have smoke-free policies at home since it's often the case that more than one person in the home smokes.

They noted, however, that anyone serious about quitting should consider a smoke-free rule in their home. Vijayaraghavan added that another way to deter smoking would be to boost regulation of secondhand smoke in public housing. "This may change norms around smoking among low-income populations living in public housing," she said.

For the study, the researchers examined information on 150,000 adults from a national survey on tobacco use conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau between 2006 and 2007. The participants provided information on their income and smoking habits.

Smoking Prohibited for Nursing Home Staff

In the near future Nursing Home workers from Franklin County will not be permitted to smoke cigarettes on facility grounds because a new state law comes into action in less than two weeks, on October 29. The law prohibits smoking on the grounds of hospitals and health-care facilities within 15 feet of the entrance. However,

Russia Introduces Fines for Smoking in Public Places

Lower house of parliament in Russia on Tuesday, October 15, approved the final reading of a bill which tightens anti-smoking legislation in the country by introducing fines for smoking in public places. The initiators of the bill say that it would help to prevent teens and kids from smoking. The bill is part of a

Alaska officials say smoking down among teens

Smoking among Alaska high school students has dramatically declined in recent years, health officials said Monday. A spring survey found 40 percent fewer students are smoking compared to six years ago — 10.6 percent this year compared with 17.8 percent in 2007. Officials said that means only one in 10 students in the state reported smoking at least one cigarette during the past 30 days at the time of the survey.

“These are great numbers. It’s wonderful news,” state chief medical officer Ward Hurlburt said during a briefing in Anchorage to announce the survey findings. “We also know that there remains much work to be done. The tobacco companies continue to aggressively target young Alaskans and we need to remain vigilant in our fight to combat that message.”The survey looked at nearly 1,250 students from 43 high schools that were randomly selected.

According to the survey, Alaska Native teens continue to have a rate of smoking more than twice as high as non-Natives — 18.5 percent among Alaska Native students compared with 8 percent among non-Natives in that age group. However, the figure shows improvement over the rate of 31 percent in 2007 and more than 50 percent in 1995, said Lincoln Bean, vice chair of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.

“Smoking tobacco is not a part of our traditional culture in Alaska,” said Bean, who is Tlingit. He said his ex-wife died this year of smoking-related cancer. More than half of young Alaska Natives still try smoking, but many decide before they are hooked that it’s not for them, Bean said. He noted how important tobacco prevention partnerships are for fighting the use of tobacco, including the smokeless kind.

“I’m tired of seeing our people wash their face with their tears because so many people die of cancer,” he said. Among all students, use of smokeless tobacco has not declined. The survey, however, showed a decrease in alcohol and marijuana use among all students. In this year’s survey, 22.5 percent of high school students said they had consumed alcohol within the past month, compared with 39.7 percent in 2007. Regarding marijuana, 19.7 percent reported using the drug within the past month in this year’s survey, compared with 23.9 percent in 2003.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey is conducted in U.S. schools every two years, and it was conducted in Alaska by the state Department Of Health and Social Services. Comparable national data is not yet available, and officials say Alaska’s survey results cannot be compared with other states.

In other behaviors, the Alaska survey showed that suicide remains a serious concern. In the past 12 months, 8.4 percent attempted suicide, compared with 10.7 percent in 2007. Another area of concern is obesity, although there was a dip in the rates compared with six years ago. In this year’s survey, 26.2 of youths polled were overweight or obese, compared with 27.3 percent in 2007.

59% of American Indians in Minnesota Smoke

Latest data shows that a lifestyle practice among American Indians in Minnesota caused a public health crisis which means they consume a lot of cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, pipes. In the Tribal Tobacco Use Project Survey started in 2009 and in it participated 3,000 American Indians aged 18 and older from 7 reservations in

Coronado to Consider No-Smoking Ordinance

The ordinance will ban smoking tobacco in public spaces, such as parks, beaches and sidewalks. Restaurants and cafes that uses city sidewalks as outdoor dining areas are also affected.

The Coronado City Council will consider an amendment to the municipal code to ban smoking on public properties, such as parks, beaches and sidewalks at the 4 p.m. public meeting Tuesday.

The city is considering the smoking ban after complaints from residents about smokers on sidewalks and outdoor dining areas, said Lorenzo Hitley, director of tobacco program at Communities Against Substance Abuse. The group has lobbying for the smoking ban.

Coronado is following steps that other cities in the county have taken. Del Mar and El Cajon both have passed no-smoking ordinances in recent years. So far there hasn’t been any opposition to the proposed law in Coronado, Hitley said.

“I haven’t seen any concerns,” he said. “No public testimony against it.”

According to Community Against Substance Abuse, 67 percent of residents who took the survey on the city’s website support the law.

Tuesday’s afternoon meeting is the first reading and public comment of the proposed ordinance. If everything goes well, then a second draft will be presented and voted on at the Oct. 15 city council meeting and the law would go into effect Jan. 1, Hitley said.

Students Should Lead the Way During Stoptober

Those who every morning do walk up the same stretch of pavement outside Farringdon station on their way to work in order to enjoy fresh air cannot enjoy it on the whole way as there is always a crowd of people puffing on cigarettes. You may wonder why? You see smokers everywhere; not only congregated

Kids Around World Recognize Logos of Cigarette Brands

The marketing of cigarette brands has successfully reached children most of all in low- and middle-income countries. Study made in 1991 revealed that 91 percent of 6-year-old children surveyed were able to precisely identify Old Joe, the cartoon character representing Camel cigarettes. The figure is equal to the number of children who precisely identified Mickey

Board of Health approves smoking ban on bar, restaurant patios

City council will soon debate whether to ban smoking on patios and other outdoor spaces across Toronto.

The city’s Board of Health approved a motion Monday that suggested the city ban smoking in:
-public building entrances and exits
-sports fields
-specific amenities in parks
-swimming beaches
-public squares
-bar and restaurant patios
-hospital grounds

Toronto Public Health said they spoke with bar and restaurant owners, property managers, the hospital sector, sports groups, health and community-based organizations, universities, colleges and students, members of the public and city staff.

The health agency said the goal of the motion was to “improve protection from second-hand smoke” and “decrease the visibility of smoking in public places.”

City council could debate the issue as early as October 8.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said Monday that he “hates the smell” of cigarette smoke but will not support a ban on smoking cigarettes in outdoor spaces.

“I don’t like it but I don’t like the government getting involved,” he said. “How far are they going to push this? Are they going to make the city like eventually one day smoke free? You can’t even smoke anywhere? That’s where it’s going.”

“No I’m not going to have a nanny state that the government’s going to come in and tell you, you can do this or do that, so no, you know, we have enough restrictions on smoking as is,” he added.

The Manitoba government became the first provincial government in Canada to ban smoking on all its public beaches and playgrounds in March 2013.

Tobacco Companies Should be Banned From Advertising at Labour Party Conferences

After a robacco company bought space at Labour Party conference, Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham said that tobacco companies should be banned from advertising at such events. He became angry when he found out that the party has taken money from Philip Morris, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, which has a stand in the exhibition

Is Hookah Less Harmful Than Cigarettes?

Smoking a "hookah" may be less harmful than a cigarette as it contains lower levels of four toxic metals, claims a new international study released here Monday.

A team of scientists, headed by Joseph Caruso of American Chemical Society and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, conducted the study on 12 different varieties of hookah tobacco manufactured in the US and Middle East and broke it down to liquid form.

"The test results revealed that hookah tobacco contained fewer toxic metals like arsenic, lead, cadmium and chromium as compared to cigarette tobacco," a spokesperson said.

The outcome of the research was presented to the American Chemical Society (ACS) at its recent meeting, the spokesperson added.

Unlike popular belief that the difference could be due to filtering smoke through water, the research team's finding points to the composition of the hookah shisha itself.

The tobacco for hookah contains molasses, honey and flavouring agents which have lower levels of toxic metals.

The researchers did not detect excess amounts of the toxic metals even in the hookah water.

A growing fad among urban youth, hookah parlours have been banned in several Indian states, including Maharashtra.

Hookah comprises a narghile, shisha and goza which is a water pipe with a smoke chamber, a bowl, a pipe and a hose.

Specially made hookah tobacco is heated in the bowl and smoke passes through water and is then drawn through a rubber by the smoker.

"The new study reiterates that hookah smoke is a less harmful option compared to cigarette smoking. But I would emphasise more on herbal hookahs which are free of tobacco or nicotine as the best alternative," said Shireen Parker, vice-president of Arabian Nights, a leading exotic lifestyle store in Mumbai.

She said that Arabian Nights has launched a range of herbal hookahs which have become very popular among the youth and health conscious young professionals.

Beijing in Top Smoke-Free Cities in China

A survey conducted in China shows that during past 12 months in Beijing there was significantly dropped number of smokers. Chinese Association on Tobacco Control made a poll in 800 colleges and universities. Today Beijing ranks number two in list of smoke-free cities while in 2011 it ranked number 23. Xu Guihua, deputy director of

100,000 People in the USA Quit Smoking Due to Anti-Tobacco Campaign

A study released by the CDC found that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s campaign “Tips From Former Smokers” made almost 1.6 million smokers try to quit smoking. The results of the study were published in the medical journal, The Lancet. During the three-month anti-tobacco campaign of 2012, more than 200,000 smokers in the USA

Cigarette sales to hit record low

Cigarette consumption is expected to reach a record low in the first half of this year due to increased regulations against smoking and heightened health awareness, according to industry data.

The consistently falling consumption of cigarettes is likely to further dent the bottom lines of tobacco giants such as KT&G, Philip Morris and BAT, market analysts said.

Korea’s aggregate sales amounted to 89.3 billion cigarettes in Korea last year, down almost 1 percent from 90 billion a year ago.

KT&G, Korea’s largest cigarette maker, saw its cigarette sales decline 1.5 percent to 26.6 billion, despite a market share increase in the first half of 2013.

This means that the Korean tobacco maker was able to grab a bigger slice of the shrinking market by luring customers away from other competitors, analysts noted.

KT&G’s market share is expected to decrease by about 1 percent to around 62 percent in the third quarter of this year after hovering around 58-59 percent in 2010-2011.

The rest of the market is shared by foreign brands ― BAT, Philip Morris and JTI.

The Korean company’s exports are also not faring well as analysts forecast about a 30 percent decrease in outbound shipments from July to September this year. Its top export destinations include the Middle East and Central Asia.

The four giants will face fiercer competition in the shrinking market as governments ― central, regional and city ― are moving to apply tougher rules against smoking both inside and outside of buildings, facilities and residential areas.

The Seoul government, for example, aims to make the capital a smoke-free city by 2020 in line with the World Health Organization’s policy encouraging its members to reduce smoking.

Also, a growing number of consumers are opting to quit smoking not only because of health reasons and regulations, but also due to an increase in cigarette prices. Therefore the best way to save money is to buy cigaretets online!

Quitting Smoking Leads Workers to Higher Wages

Researchers say that health improvement is not the only benefit of quitting smoking, because recently they found that your wages become higher. The latest study of American researchers showed that non-smokers are not as wealthy as their colleagues who gave up the habit. In the research there was used data about tobacco consumption of the

Oregon Leading the Nation in Selling Tobacco to Kids

"We need to do regular inspections and more volume of inspections," said Karen Wheeler , an Oregon Health Authority addictions administrator, "which will be happening."

But inspections alone might not solve the problem. Federal reports show the high violation rates predate budget cuts. In 2008, Oregon's 18.8 percent violation rate led the nation.

And while the OSP inspections resumed in 2012, they didn't make an immediate dent in the violation rate, which increased to 22.5 percent. At 23 percent, the federal government could withdraw 40 percent of its substance abuse treatment funding, or about $7 million.

The state could do more to improve, say advocates and state and federal officials.

•     No licensing: Oregon is one of only 13 states that does not require tobacco retailers to get a special license, which helps ensure tobacco sellers get special scrutiny.
•     Poor retailer list: Youth tobacco sales may well be higher than reported. Oregon's list of outlets subject to decoy stings last year was only 75 percent accurate, one of the worst marks in the nation, says anti-smoking coordinator Marsiglia Gray. State officials say it's improving.
•     Few inspections: The state doesn't use decoys to test all tobacco retailers the state knows about, only a sampling. In Minnesota, stings are conducted on every retailer at least once a year.
•     Weak penalties: Oregon's penalty for violating the youth tobacco sales law starts at $100, comparable to other states, according to a survey by the American Lung Association. State officials say typically the fine averages $450. However, the sales clerk is fined, not the store as in some other states. Oregon also doesn't mandate stiffer penalties for repeat offenders as many states do. Repeat offenders in Washington state can lose a tobacco sales license permanently.     
•    Federal funds: Oregon is one of only nine states that hasn't tapped federal funds to support youth tobacco enforcement, though the Legislature last year approved applying, and officials say they are discussing it. Since the program began in 2010, more than $91 million has been awarded. Washington state, for example, has received $3.1 million.

Oregon officials downplay the significance of the report, saying most kids don't get their tobacco from cigarette stores. According to a 2011 state survey, 16.1 percent of 11th graders reported using tobacco in the previous 30 days, and one-third of them purchased it from a store. Most obtained it from friends.

Officials also defend the effectiveness of the state's youth tobacco prevention program, and say youth smoking rates in Oregon, like the rest of the country, continue to go down.

Oregon's 11th grader smoking rate, in which 12 percent of students surveyed reported using tobacco in the previous 30 days, is well below the national average of 19 percent, says Dr. Bruce Gutelius of the Oregon Public Health Division. Among 8th graders, Oregon's figure is 6 to 7 percent; the U.S. average is 5 to 6 percent.

Gutelius thinks the biggest thing Oregon can do to discourage youth smoking is increase its tobacco tax, currently 29th in the nation at $1.18 a pack. That's failed in the Legislature and at the ballot in the past.

New Smoking Policy Came into Action in Beaverton

In the city of Beaverton, Oregon, from September 1 a new tobacco-free policy comes into effect. The new policy touches far more than just city’s buildings. Use of tobacco is going to be prohibited not only in city-owned buildings but in leased buildings too. Besides this, in Beaverton smoking will not be permitted on any

In Ireland More Employed People Smoke After the Smoking Ban

Since the smoking ban was introduced in Ireland, individuals who are unemployed do smoke much less. However, among the employed people the situation did not change at all. Recently there was published an ESRI working paper by Michael Savage. It reveals how smoking ban affected people who smoke cigarettes. To note that the numbers were

Smoking Ban Initiative Blocked in Powell City

This week the Powell City Council headed by Mayor Don Hillman was listening arguments of people who are against propsed smoing ban in the city. There were more than 40 people in the council room and all but one of the 12 speakers on the issue asked the council to refuse from smoking ban. The

Quebec takes advice from Australia on strict tobacco laws

The woman behind Australia’s strict tobacco laws is in Quebec City this week to advocate for plain cigarette packaging in the province.

On Tuesday, former Australian health minister Nicola Roxon will be briefing a national assembly committee, which is considering revisions to the Quebec Tobacco Act, telling members about Australia’s packaging restrictions.

Roxon says that while it’s too early to measure the long-term effect of the changes, Australia put into effect in December, she has already seen research suggesting the new packs encourage people to think about quitting more often.

Australia's new regulations mean cigarette packs are stripped of all advertising and logos and replaced with graphic health warnings.

The only differences between brands are the names and descriptions, which must all be written in the same plain font.

Roxon says some people have even reported their cigarettes tasted worse in the new packs. She hopes Quebec will take her advice and consider changing its packaging laws.

For many years, Australia followed the lead of Quebec and Canada when it came to tobacco control, but Roxon says they noticed tobacco companies were discovering loopholes.

“We saw the packs getting sexier and sexier, basically, and getting around our advertising laws by turning those packs themselves into a promotional tool,” Roxon told CBC’s Daybreak.

She said tobacco companies were becoming increasingly aggressive and targeting young audiences with colourful packaging.

“It means that a smoker, every time that they took a packet of cigarettes out of their pocket or out of their purse, were really advertising the product to their friends and colleagues,” Roxon says.

The former minister warns that tobacco companies will do everything possible to lobby against stricter regulation, but she says it’s worth it.

Scotland Plans to Introduce Plain Packs for Cigarettes

A new study suggests that hundreds of shops in Scotland will be forced to close and thousands jobs will be lost if the Scottish Government will introduce plain box packaging for cigarettes. A paper by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), supported by tobacco giant Philip Morris which produces Marlboro cigarettes, states that

Feds grant $1.5 million to help women quit smoking in Brazil

The federal government granted a Brazilian-born researcher at the University of Alabama a 5-year, $1.5 million grant to help women quit smoking in her native country, Judicial Watch reported.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) approved Isabel Scarinci’s grant in order to better understand “women and their tobacco-related issues” in the South American country, specifically in Miss Scarinci’s hometown of Parana,” the report said.

In the last two years alone, Miss Scarinci has received more than $560,000 for the initiative, with the goal being to ultimately “reduce tobacco use and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among women in Parana.”

“Although, historically, tobacco use among women in developing countries, particularly Latin America, has been relatively low as compared to men, the smoking epidemic is rapidly spreading to women in developing countries, and these three Southern states have the highest prevalence of women smokers in the country,” the project states.

“An understanding of women and their tobacco-related issues, as well as the need for the development of gender-relevant tobacco control efforts, have been highlighted as priorities in landmark guiding documents published in the past few years.”

South Africa Actively Fights Smoking

In South Africa governemnt will continue to actively fight smoking, said this week Aaron Motsoaledi, the Health Minister. He said that there is no study that proves that tobacco usage is healthy, therefore tobacco usage should be limited as much as possible. Motsoaledi made these declarations during his speech in Pretoria at the release of

Menthols Account for 5% of the EU Cigarette Market

A ban on "slim" cigarettes that was backed by the parliament but not by the national governments, which chose instead to ban slim cigarette packaging designed by cigarette makers to look like lipstick or perfume in an effort to appeal to younger women.

Also, the parliament's version of the legislation would require that 75% of the surface area of cigarette packaging contain pictorial health warnings. The version backed by national governments calls for just 65% of cigarette packaging to contain the warnings.

Menthols account for about 5% of the EU cigarette market and slim cigarettes about 6%, according to the European Commission, the EU's executive arm.

"We still believe that elements of the…proposal, such as enlarged health warnings and a ban on various products consumed by many millions of adults, remain disproportionate; are unlikely to succeed in addressing public health objectives; and potentially breach European Union Law," a British American Tobacco spokesman said.

Packaging restrictions aren't the most effective measures to cut smoking, said Rey Wium, a tobacco industry analyst at Renaissance Capital in London. Indoor smoking bans have a bigger impact, he said.

"The best way of curbing smoking is through excise tax increases," Mr. Wium said. "The biggest risk to the companies is abnormal, or 'shock' excise tax increases, substantially above inflation."

"The tobacco industry has been operating in a dark environment for quite some time," he added. "I don't think this European directive will make life extraordinarily different for them."

With the exception of menthol, flavored cigarettes are already banned in the U.S. Mitch Zeller, the FDA's tobacco czar, said in an interview last month the federal agency is "getting closer'' to completing its review of scientific studies on menthol's public health impact. Menthol represents about 30% of the U.S. cigarette market and antismoking groups argue the mint flavoring masks the harsh taste of cigarettes, making it easier to start and tougher to quit. Most industry observers don't expect an outright U.S. ban any time soon, however.

The FDA aims to propose regulations by October that would treat e-cigarettes as tobacco products. In 2011 a U.S. court slapped down an earlier government attempt to regulate them as drug devices, which would have required new products to go through a lengthy approval process. Mr. Zeller recently described the fast-growing e-cigarette industry as "the wild, wild West'' but most scientists also believe e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional smokes.

The FDA had planned to introduce graphic warning labels for cigarette packs last year but a U.S. court ruled the labels—which would have included pictures of diseased lungs and a dead body—violated the tobacco industry's constitutional right to free speech.

One issue policy makers around the world also have to weigh is how proposed regulations affect tax revenue and illicit trade.

A sizable black market has already taken root in the EU, at least partly in response to tobacco taxes. EU consumption fell 5.7% to 593 billion cigarettes last year, but counterfeit and contraband sales rose 0.4% to 65.5 billion cigarettes, KPMG estimated in a recent report.

Philip Morris International had a 38% cigarette market share in the EU last year, followed by British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco, which each had 21%, according to Citi Research.

New Signs Inform About Coming Smoking Ban at Cumberland County

Dozens of new blue signs which inform smokers about smoking ban were installed last week in Cumberland County. Starting from January 1 a number of county properties that will be going smoke-free. Donnie Robertson, the facilities management coordinator at Health Department, said that he didn’t want to make them red because the final signs will

Japan Tobacco Profit Rises 16%

Japan Tobacco Inc is a largest tobacco maker in Asia. Recently it announced about first-quarter profit rise by 16%. This is connected to cigarettes price increases and the weaker yen enhanced overseas income. The company representatives told about pure income that was 98.1 billion yen for the 3 months (April, May June). It shows an

War on tobacco worthy, but must not be rushed

IT was not so long ago that secondary school children were allowed to smoke in many of the more "advanced" schools around the country. Staff rooms were also often full of teachers puffing on pipes and cigarettes as pupils regularly entered and left.

Today, the idea of a 17-year-old taking a puff between classes seems as strange as quill pens or the regular floggings that were a feature of the Irish educational system for far too long. The world changes, and tobacco smokers have had to endure more change than most as their habit has moved from socially acceptable to pariah status.

The Government's latest plans to outlaw smoking anywhere in secondary school grounds and near creche facilities is another step in a long-term strategy to "de-normalise" smoking and ensure that fewer than one person in 20 smokes by 2025.

That is a noble objective, but like many others it is one to be pursued carefully.

The prohibition of alcohol in the United States during the 1920s did little more than cement the position of criminal gangs, and serves as a salutary warning. There is already plenty of evidence that high taxes in Ireland are a boon for crooks while also turning many otherwise law-abiding citizens into criminals.

There is also the question of equity. Many ordinary smokers deeply resent their outlaw status and insist, not without reason, that their behaviour is likely to be less lethal to others than speeding drivers or alcohol.

That is all true, but the truth is that most smokers wish they could kick the habit, and hundreds of thousands of smokers have done just that thanks to the policy of de-normalising smoking. The gradual escalation of this policy will undoubtedly save more people from premature death while also saving them money.

Health Minister James Reilly has had a mixed tenure in office, but he cannot be faulted for his commitment to fighting tobacco and the tobacco industry. He must now set himself measurable targets so he knows whether he really is on track with this grand ambition.

People Drive to Iowa to Buy Cigarettes

Cigarette taxes increase has made many people travel to Iowa to buy cigarettes that are cheaper than in their state The cigarette tax increase that took place this month has different effects on smokers. Reports of quitting smoking programs show that there were increased numbers of people who want to quit. However, those who want

Supreme Court of India Restricts Tobacco Advertising

The Supreme Court of India has canceled a lower court’s suspension of a law regulating the tobacco products advertising. The Supreme Court took a potentiality at Government saying it did nothing to cancel the law since it was issued in 2005. In 2003 the Indian parliament adopted an anti-tobacco law. Thus in 2004 were introduced

Now Cameron aide Lynton Crosby’s links to fracking industry are explored

David Cameron came under renewed pressure to sack his party’s elections adviser Lynton Crosby on Sunday night as environmental activists expressed concern about his links to the fracking industry.

Mr Crosby’s lobbying firm, Crosby Textor, represents the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, an oil and gas lobby group campaigning aggressively for fracking. The association’s chief operating officer, Stedman Ellis, has made headlines in recent months for his outspoken criticism of anti-fracking campaigners, telling one Australian paper: “The opportunity provided by shale gas is too important to be jeopardised by political scare campaigns run by activist groups.”

The association’s members include Dart, the company behind coal-bed methane extraction in Scotland, which holds a fracking licence. George Osborne announced tax breaks for the oil and gas industry just weeks after Mr Crosby’s appointment as a Conservative adviser was announced.

Labour will attempt tomorrow to exploit the Tories’ discomfort over their links to Lynton Crosby with a series of amendments to Coalition plans to bring in a statutory register of lobbyists.

The moves follow the disclosure that Mr Crosby’s company is employed by the tobacco giant Philip Morris, the manufacturer of Marlboro cigarettes. Questions have been asked about his role in the decision to shelve Government plans to require tobacco products to be sold in plain packaging.

Labour claimed yesterday that Mr Crosby chaired a meeting last year at which tobacco industry executives discussed how to block plans to force cigarettes to be sold in plain packets. The party alleged the session took place before Christmas, shortly before Mr Crosby was recruited to advise the Conservatives on election strategy.  Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said yesterday: “This is beginning to stink as bad as an old ashtray.”

Tobacco Companies Told British Government It Was Too Early To Tell If Plain Cigarette Packs Would Work

A leading tobacco company in the UK told the Government that it hurried up with conclusion that selling cigarettes in plain packages would keep people from smoking. Several months before ministers used the same argument. There were held a meeting on which participated authorities from Department of Health and representatives of Philip Morris International, the

Price Effects on Quitting Smoking Motivation

Rising cost of cigarettes in the USA is associated with increases in quitiing smoking. However, little is known about this connection at the level of individual smokers. The major aim of the study on this issue was to put on a behavioural economic approach to the relationship between the price of cigarettes and the likelihood

Warnings on Cigarette Packs in Australia

 Australia has been out in front in requiring graphic imagery on tobacco labels. European Union ministers agreed last month on new rules that would require a health warning that would combine pictures and text and cover 65 percent of the front and back of all cigarette packs, up from 40 percent. The rules require approval by the European Parliament.

In the United States, a 2009 law empowered the Food and Drug Administration to require large graphic and text warnings on the top half of the front and back of cigarette packs. But as federal courts have wrestled with the details of that law in challenges by the tobacco industry, the F.D.A. has not yet imposed a final set of labeling requirements.

Tobacco is taxed heavily in Australia, where smokers spend about 16 Australian dollars, or $14.70, for a pack of cigarettes. Partly as a result, smoking rates in Australia have declined. Last year, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 20.4 percent of adult men were smokers and 16.3 percent of adult women smoked.

In the United States, the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the smoking rate was 21.5 percent among adult men and 17.3 percent for adult women.

Smoking is also banned in nearly all enclosed public spaces in Australia, including restaurants, bars, sporting facilities and places of business.

Cigarette Tax Affects Retailers

E-Cig World reported recently that their business in Princeton yet had not felt the effects of cigarettes tax increase in Minnesota which now is $1.60 per pack. The new law came into action on July 1. However, other e-cigs businesses say they were affected in a big way. These are E-Cig Healthy Living and Prince

Lorillard Received FDA Approval for New Products

This week Lorillard Inc. declared that is has received from FDA a notification about two of its tobacco products (non-menthol cigarettes) that were found “substantially equivalent” to tobacco products previously permitted to be sold on the USA market. The finding made by FDA allows Lorillard to start marketing of the new products, which do correspond

New Law Bans Smoking on Hospital Grounds In New York

Last week a new law passed through the Legislature. It would ban smoking cigarettes on and around hospital grounds and nursing homes in the entire New York state. The law has the name of A.1115-a/S.1987-a and was proposed by D-Rockland, Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffe and Sen. Jack Martins, R-Mineola. The law is going to prohibit smoking

Plain Cigarette Packaging in European Countries

Last month, Ireland became the first European country to agree a ban on all branding on cigarette packs in favor of plain packaging and uniform labeling, following the example of Australia.

While the EU proposals stop short of a full ban on branding, ministers agreed that countries such as Ireland should be free to impose plain packaging if they choose.

The proposals must also get the approval of the European Parliament before becoming law, and the lawmaker leading the debate in the assembly has called for a total ban on branding.

Friday's agreement means the rules could be finalized before the start of European Parliament elections next May, allowing them to enter force in 2016.

The draft rules have been in development for more than two years and were the focus of intense lobbying by the tobacco industry.

They played a part in the October resignation of former EU Health Commissioner John Dalli, after one of his associates was accused of seeking bribes from Swedish Match, a producer of moist oral-snuff known as "snus", in return for lifting a sales ban on the product outside Sweden.

Under the agreement, the sale of snus would remain illegal across the EU except in Sweden. But a proposal that would have forced snus producers to reformulate their products to remove distinctive flavorings was dropped.

As concerns grow over the unregulated use of increasingly popular electronic cigarettes, ministers tightened proposed controls by agreeing that those containing 1 milligram (mg) of nicotine or more would be classified as medicinal products requiring prior EU marketing approval.

That also applied to e-cigarettes containing 2 mg or more per milliliter for those that mix nicotine with water.

Small increase in JT’s domestic volume

Japan Tobacco Inc’s domestic cigarette sales volume during May, at 10.2 billion, was increased by 0.4 per cent on its May 2012 volume, also rounded to 10.2 billion, according to preliminary figures issued by the company today.
Volume during April-May, at 19.8 billion, was increased by 1.8 per cent on that of April-May 2012, 19.5 billion.
The market share of Japan Tobacco, the maker of Winston cigarettes, stood at 60.6 per cent in May, at 60.4 per cent during April-May, and at 59.6 per cent for the full year to the end of March.
JT’s domestic cigarette revenue during May, at ¥55.8 billion, was down by 0.6 per cent on its May 2012 revenue, ¥56.1 billion.
Revenue during April-May, at ¥108.8 billion, was increased by 1.4 per cent on that of April-May 2012, ¥107.3 billion.

Camel maker plans big e-cigarette push

Reynolds American Inc., the maker of Camel cigarettes, is launching a revamped version of its Vuse-brand electronic cigarette in Colorado, with its sights set on expanding nationally.
The move being announced today at an event in New York City is the latest in an industrywide push to diversify beyond the traditional cigarette business.
Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid nicotine solution, creating vapor that users inhale.
The nation's second-biggest tobacco company says that while many smokers know about e-cigarettes and are trying them, few switch entirely.
Reynolds says its rechargeable Vuse e-cigarette has technology that monitors and adjusts heat and power to deliver the "perfect puff."
The Winston-Salem, N.C., company did not disclose the exact size of the Colorado retail distribution or a timeline for a national rollout.

Pack of cigarettes in Russia to bite smokers by 2020

Cigarettes can turn into even more expensive product in Russia and it will be more difficult to buy tobacco products, the Russian Ministry of Health alerts. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests Russia to increase the excise tax on tobacco products more than 5 times, precisely seven times. As outlined by the WHO demands, the

Cigarette Marketing Increases as Tobacco Use Drops

Cigarette volumes have been dropping for many years, but that has not prevented cigarette makers from launching their wallets for advertising and promotion dollars. As outlined by the Federal Trade Commission, the biggest tobacco firms invested $8.37 billion in 2011 on advertising and special offers in comparison to $8.05 billion in 2010. The boost primarily

Aberdeen airport opens pre-flight smoking zone

The chief at Aberdeen International Airport has decided to establish a special airside smoking zone at the busy airport to enable smokers to use a cigarette before boarding their planes. The smoking zone was opened to the travellers on May 9, along with the major departure area, for customers who have been processed through security

British cigarette branding plan retains

The British authorities is still looking at banning branding on cigarette packages despite the fact that it disregarded recommendations from its legislative agenda presented in parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said. Britain had seemed to become the first European nation to make tobacco companies to remove brand names and to use standardized packaging,

Supermarkets launch ban to display cigarettes

Supermarkets were banned from displaying cigarettes and other tobacco products after new rule became effective on April, 29. Public Health Minister Michael Matheson states that this step is the “right step” to discourage the younger generation from start smoking. The open display ban was implemented as part of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland)

Why Cigarettes Are so Expensive in New York

Smokers in the USA will certainly tell about the enormous price inconsistencies for cigarettes state to state. The key cause for high cigarette prices is the varying excise taxes (SET) that each state sets on a pack of cigarettes. Citi’s Tobacco team directed by Vivien Azer expects SETs to only turn into an growing trouble

Altria to Enter E-Cigarette Market

Altria Group Inc. made an announcement that it would create its own variation of e-cigarettes in the second half of 2013 amid signs the battery-powered gadgets, which turn heated, nicotine-laced liquid into vapor, are starting to go sales of regular cigarettes in the U.S., less than 10 years after appearing. The CDC reports that more

Alternative tobacco use up in teenagers

Children younger than 18 are using different types of tobacco products more often across the state of Ohio.

Instead of smoking cigarettes, some students are chewing tobacco, or smoking cigars or flavored tobacco from a hookah, according to the American Lung Association in Ohio.

But these students who are expanding their tobacco use aren't just high school students. According to the study, 4.5 percent of middle school students have smoked cigarettes, compared with 16.7 percent of high school students.

The numbers are comparable to these figures throughout the different types of tobacco use. Between 3.5 percent and 3.9 percent of middle school students have used chewing tobacco, smoked a hookah or cigars or used Snus, a chewless tobacco. For high school students, the percentages are lower for chewing tobacco and Snus, 8.8 percent and 7 percent, respectively, with a spike for hookah use, at nearly 20 percent.
Locally, there isn't much going on in terms of prevention for students outside of the school walls.

Students are introduced to the harms of smoking in their health classes and through the D.A.R.E. or P.L.U.S. anti-drug programs, if their school districts use them.

The Peers Learning Usable Skills program will be cut because of lack of funding for the coming school year. The program is conducted by the Lake County Narcotics Agency.

Funding has been a problem across the county for youth smoking prevention programs, said Ron Graham, Lake County deputy health commissioner.

The Lake County General Health District is looking to partner with Lake Health in hopes of beginning programming, he said.

"We tend to be more of a smoking community in Lake County than in others," he said, adding he thinks it's time to create more options that address young smokers.

The conversations between the health district and Lake Health are just beginning. Graham said he hopes the partnership will make cessation programs affordable for adults and minors.

New data was collected in 2012, but it is unknown when that will be released. The latest statistics from the American Lung Association are from 2010.

Cigarette use has actually dipped from previous available records from 2008, as students seemingly favor other methods of using tobacco.

JTI worried about impact of illegal cigarette sales, cheaper local brands

JT International Bhd (JTI) is expecting the industry to “remain extremely challenging” this year due to the continued sale of illegal cigarettes and the impact from certain local brands being sold below the Government-mandated minimum cigarette price.
The company, which has the second-biggest cigarette market share in the country and is the maker of Winston cigarettes, cited a recent Goldman Sachs intelligence report that stated that illicit trade in Malaysia was the second-highest in the world.
“If you look at the illicit trade situation in the market today, total illicit trade (of the entire market) last year was at 34.5%, which is just a marginal decline from 2011's 36.1%.
“These are still very high figures, and we are the second-highest in the world,” JTI's chief financial officer Thean Nam Hooi told journalists after its AGM.
While acknowledging the enforcement agencies' efforts to reduce the trade, he said any further drastic increases in excise duties might result in undesired outcomes for the industry.
“Any further drastic excise hikes would probably push total excise revenues down, so I can't gauge what the Government would do. But we are hopeful that there would be a pragmatic approach to excise taxation moving forward,” Thean said.
The company's managing director Robert Stanworth hopes that any increase in the excise duties would be done in an organised manner.
“The important thing with excise duties, as we have experienced in many organisations in many markets, is that it be moderate and predictable.
“We understand that the Government might want to increase it from time to time, but it is important that it is moderate and predictable to a certain degree so that the market can absorb it,” he said.
“Any large and sudden increase almost inevitably causes a decline in the legitimate market, resulting in lower revenues for the Government at the end of the day,” Stanworth added.
Meanwhile, JTI said that while it did not have a formal dividend policy, any excess liquidity on top of its working capital needs would be returned as dividends.
On another matter, the company will rebrand its Mild Seven cigarettes to Mevius by the middle of this year.
This would involve the full range of the Mild Seven brand, an official statement said.
According to the Nielsen Retail Audit Report, JTI recorded a market share of 19.6% in 2012, compared to 19.9% the year before.
Its Mild Seven recorded an increase in market share to 4.4% last year from 4.1% in 2011. Winston's market share, in the meantime, declined to 9.8% last year from 10% in 2011.

Camel Centenary "Celebration"-April 2013

Munich Airport display for 100th anniversary of Camel: Note the delicious opportunities for parody with "Every Camel Tells a Story" (of death and disease) and "100 Years of Inspiring Creativity" (and ingenious marketing and product design methods of keeping smokers hooked and attracting children)

BAT sales up 5 pct, driven by global brands

British American Tobacco, the producer of Dunhill, Kent and Lucky Strike cigarettes, reported revenue growth of 5 percent at constant rates of exchange in the first quarter ended March 31, adding that global drive brand cigarette volumes grew by 1 percent.
The report stated:

• Revenue growth of 1 percent at current rates of exchange.
• Cigarette volumes from subsidiaries fell 3.7 percent to 160 billion, with a decrease of 3.4 percent for total tobacco volumes.
• Board confident of another year of earnings growth in line with long term strategic goals.
• Pricing environment remains strong despite difficult trading conditions in many parts of the world, notably southern Europe.
• If current exchange rates persist for the rest of the year, the currency headwind that adversely impacted the quarter will reverse.
• Group has sufficient financing and facilities available for the foreseeable future.
• There have been no material events, transactions or changes in the financial position of the Group since the year end.
• -Shares closed Wednesday at 3548 pence valuing the company at £68.25 billion.

Altria plans e-cig sales, Marlboro demand falls

Altria Group, the largest seller of tobacco in the U.S., plans to introduce an e-cigarette this year, chasing smaller rivals as demand for traditional smokes declines.
The e-cigarette will be sold in an undisclosed market starting in the second half of 2013, Richmond, Virginia-based Altria said today in a statement. The company declined to provide additional information until a conference call with analysts today, according to a story in Bloomburg News.
CEO Martin Barrington is trying to catch up to smaller rivals such as closely held NJOY and Lorillard Inc., which says its Blu e-cigs brand controls more than 40 percent of the U.S. market. Reynolds American Inc. said this week it plans to expand its Vuse e-cigarette this year.
First-quarter cigarette shipments fell at Altria, Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based Reynolds and Greensboro, North Carolina-based Lorillard. Altria’s U.S. volume tumbled 5.2 percent, with top-selling and most popular cigarettes, known as Marlboro, slipping 5.5 percent.
Lorillard CEO Murray Kessler told analysts yesterday the company estimates that e-cigarette sales displaced consumption of about 600 million cigarettes in the first quarter. That translates to an annual rate of about 2.4 billion cigarettes, accounting for about 1 percent of the U.S. market, according to Kenneth Shea, a Bloomberg Industries analyst in Skillman, New Jersey.

Kiosks to obtain new look as tobacco display ban takes effect

Cigarette kiosks in Scotland’s bigger stores and markets will soon enough obtain a very distinctive look The Scottish authorities’ ban on the cigarettes display, and other tobacco products, takes effect on April 29 this year. According to the new regulations, which are part of The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010, bigger shops

Pipes, bongs and hookahs could disappear

Pipes, bongs and hookahs could soon disappear from shelves in Florida Rep. Darryl Rouson is supporting HB 49 that takes away exclusion in existing law that permits cigarette stores to sell smoking pipes. His bill would prohibit the selling all pipes in Florida. Nevertheless, the St. Petersburg Democrat’s bill does not presently present any exclusion

Japan Tobacco celebrates Camel 100th Anniversary

 Japan Tobacco International will start celebrating Camel 100th Anniversary in Latin America this month

Cigarette brands for women

Nearly 250 million women in the world are smokers. Around 22% of women in developed countries and 9% of women in growing countries smoke tobacco products.

Nowadays tobacco companies manufacture a wide range of cigarette brands particularly for women. The tobacco industry is marketing cigarettes to women taking advantage of alluring images of vitality, elegance, modernity, slimness, and emancipation.

In the 1990s, cigarette makers promoted cigarettes as “torches of freedom” as they wanted to extend their markets throughout the world. Tobacco companies used the concept of modernity and liberation in new markets. The use of this vision when promoting cigarettes is particularly used to promote to females in nations where women are developing more equality and freedom. Cigarette manufacturers promote tobacco products to women all over the world, demonstrating cigarettes as icons of upward liberty, gender equality and freedom. The effects of cigarette companies targeting women can be observed by the boost in the amount of women who have took up cigarettes recently.

Most remarkable are the “women only” cigarette brands: these female-targeted cigarettes are long, extra-slim, low-tar, and light-colored.

The most popular and best-selling cigarette brands for women are:

Esse

Esse is a popular cigarette brand produced by KT&G, the major cigarette maker in South Korea, especially for women. Esse cigarettes are distinctive and absolutely feminine ones. Women-targeted Esse cigarettes deliver soft and nice taste. Menthol line provides a pleasant aftertaste on lips, reminding of enjoyable minutes of smoking. These cigarettes will remain feminine for all times. Esse cigarette brand has been produced so as to meet the women requirements at the cigarette market.

Glamour

The word “glamour” often signifies beauty and sensuality. Glamour represents fashionable and sophisticated cigarette brands created particularly for women who possess the above noted qualities. This slim smooth tobacco product attracts the women’s attention. Women who smoke Glamour cigarettes would easily recognize the high quality and eye catchy slim style of this brand. The manufacturer of this cigarette brand has involved all the necessary components that would make this an invaluable product for women. This brand of cigarettes is produced by Gallagher Tobacco Company, which is the second biggest cigarette manufacturer in Britain.

Karelia

Karelia cigarettes are manufactured by Karelia Tobacco Company in Kallarnata, Greece. Stylish design and softness of tobacco focuses on female customers. Women consider this brand extremely eye-catching. The tobacco product is soft and mild, the cigarette packaging is very stylish and attractive. Karelia cigarette with a beautiful, tiny shape and unique package style seduces smokers, primarily women, who like beauty and high quality cigarettes.

Kiss

Kiss cigarettes are created for women who prefer smoking something outstanding. This brand is trendy, has a wonderful taste and is sold at an affordable price. This brand is the proud product of Innovation Tobacco Company. Kiss is definitely the preferred cig brand of lots of smokers. Its high quality tobacco and smooth texture makes them alluring to female smokers.

Style

Produced under the control of the German company Reemesma Tobacco factories GMBh, this top-quality cigarette brand is widely known for its series of slims and super slims cigarettes. The feminine design of the packs of Style cigarettes has gained its popularity with the sophisticated chromatic aberrations and flavor varieties. The package design incorporates also the elements of floral design. Women prefer these cigarettes because of the romantic elements they present.

Virginia Slims

Virginia Slims is a cigarette brand that is owned by Philip Morris. In the 1990s Virginia Slims presented its brand’s image as ”more pretentious, more image conscious, more self-absorbed, and older” than that of following ”It’s a Woman Thing” Virginia Slims campaign introduced in 1996. The campaign tried to make ”statements about today’s women that are universally understood”. Virginia Slims brand’s uniqueness developed by Leo Burnett stated, ”Virginia Slims… helps instill confidence in women by creating a ‘sense of belonging’ through relevant insights”.

Vogue

Vogue cigarettes are manufactured under British American Tobacco company license. For the first time this cigarette brand appeared in Germany, being a local brand aimed at women-smokers. The popular pop diva Madonna used Vogue brand name as the title of one of her very popular song and appeared smoking a Vogue cigarette in a music video that she launched particularly to advertise these cigarettes. Vogue cigarettes have various styles that will meet any woman’s needs. The gorgeous pack design with its white color and little lines in different colors produces a romantic image for Vogue Cigarettes that is very attractive to many of its female smokers.

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Tobacco companies’ profits and countries’ fight against smoking

Tobacco companies’ profits won’t increase as U.S. markets shrink.

Today China has more smoking people than the United States has people, with over 340 million smokers, mainly men, as outlined by the World Health Organization. India has about 280 million tobacco users, whereof 205 million are the users of smokeless tobacco.

Russia presents the top smoking rate among men, at 61%, and the top smoking rate among young adults.

The Tobacco Atlas reports that tobacco companies’ profits figure up to a half trillion U.S. dollars yearly. If Big Tobacco were a country, it would have the major domestic product of nations like Poland, Saudi Arabia, Sweden and Venezuela.

The Chinese government controls tobacco production and owns 39% of the world tobacco market. Philip Morris International commands twice as little.

China National Tobacco gained $91.7 billion in income and $16 billion in profits in 2010.

Tobacco companies take advantage even of revolution. As outlined by WHO’s Global Adult Tobacco Survey, when Hosni Mubarak’s government in Egypt was overthrown and smoking restrictions dropped by the wayside, tobacco companies began to advertise smoking as a way to show newly won freedom.

The New York Times published in 2010 that tobacco companies, such as Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco, fought against limitations on advertisements in Britain, larger health warning labels in South America and increased cigarette taxes in the Philippines and Mexico. The tobacco companies are investing hundreds of thousands on lobbying and advertising campaigns in Africa and Asia.

Russia will impose ban on smoking in restaurants and cigarette advertising at the beginning of June 2013.

In 2011 China has introduced smoking ban in restaurants and bars and intends to ban smoking in all public places by 2015.

India prohibited smoking in most enclose public spaces in 2008.

To fight smoking in the growing countries, the Centers for Disease Control proposed the identical initiatives that have decreased cigarette consumption in the USA - reduce exposure to passive smoke, provide stopping smoking centers, information about the risks of smoking, impose bans on marketing and increase taxes on tobacco products.

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Italy prohibits electronic cigarettes for youngsters

Youngsters to be prohibited from using electronic cigarettes in Italy Youngsters have been prohibited from using electronic cigarettes in Italy, a world leader in the growing start-up industry. Last week the health ministry approved an ordinance banning the sale of e-cigarettes to those under 18, the same age limit for tobacco products, modernizing a prior

There are a lot of types of tobacco products. However, some of them are unknown to many people. Let’s see the most popular types of tobacco products among smokers.

Types of tobacco products

There are nine most popular tobacco products

Bidis

Bidis are little, slender hand-rolled smokes brought in to the USA mostly from India and other Southeast Asian locations. This tobacco product contains tobacco covered in a tendu or temburni leaf, and may have a colorful line at one or both ends. Bidis are available in the following varieties: flavored or unflavored.

Cigarettes

A cigarette is a tobacco product that contains cured and finely cut tobacco, reconstituted tobacco and other ingredients filled into a paper-wrapped cylinder. Nowadays almost all cigarette companies manufacture filtered cigarettes. The non-filtered cigarette brands, such as Astra, Leana and Nistru, are produced by Tutun-CTC, a Moldavian tobacco company.

Cigars, Cigarillos and Little Cigars

The majority of cigars are composed of a single variety of air-cured or dried tobacco. Tobacco leaves for cigars are cultivated for around a year and then fermented in a multiple stage process lasting 3-5 months. Fermentation leads to chemical and bacterial reactions that modify the tobacco. This is what gives cigars a distinct taste and smell from cigarettes.

Standard cigars are bigger than cigarettes and do not include a filter. Little cigars or cigarillos are quite identical in size and shape to cigarettes, include filters and are stuffed with pipe tobacco. Little cigars are usually flavored. They are sold singly or in packs of 20 items.

The nicotine level in cigars is higher than in cigarettes.

Dissolvable Tobacco

Dissolvable tobacco is carefully processed to dissolve on the tongue or in the mouth. Types involve strips, sticks, orbs and compressed tobacco lozenges. Dissolvable tobacco is available in mint or candy varieties.

Since this product is presented to the market not long ago, studies have not been carried out on the health effects. This product does include nicotine.

Electronic cigarette or E-cigarette

The electronic cigarette is a battery-powered gadget that consists of a cartridge stuffed with nicotine, flavor and other substances. The e-cigarette is not considered a tobacco product but a nicotine delivery system. The e-cigarette converts the nicotine and other substances into a vapor that is then inhaled. The user gets a vaporized solution of propylene glycol/nicotine.

The e-cigarette often seems like a regular cigarette. Other models resemble a ball point pen. Most electronic cigarettes can be reused.

Re-fillable and replaceable cartridges are offered with various nicotine levels and flavors. It is considered that cartridges contain no nicotine, however the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carried out research displaying that these cartridges do contain nicotine.

Shisha or Hookah

Shisha is a combination of tobacco that is heated, the smoke of which is filtrated through water and inhaled by the user. Hookah involves a head, body water bowl and hose. The tobacco is heated in the hookah often by means of charcoal. As outlined by a World Health Organization advisory, hookah smoking during an hour exposes the user to 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from one cigarette.

Kreteks

Kreteks are often known as clove cigarettes. Kreteks are brought in from Indonesia, and usually comprise a blend made up of tobacco, cloves, and other ingredients. Just like bidis, standardized machine-smoking studies show that kreteks deliver more nicotine, carbonmonoxide, and tar than regular cigarettes.

Pipe

Pipes include a chamber or bowl, stem and mouthpiece. They are considered to be reusable. Tobacco is put into the bowl and lit. The smoke is then drawn through the stem and mouthpiece and inhaled.

Smokeless Tobacco

The two major varieties of smokeless tobacco are chewing tobacco and snuff. Chewing tobacco is available in the form of loose leaf, plug, or twist. Snuff is carefully ground tobacco that can be dried out, moist, or in pouches.

Some varieties of snuff can be inhaling by the nose. Many smokeless tobacco users put the product in their cheek, then suck on the tobacco and spit out the tobacco juices. The nicotine in smokeless tobacco is absorbed mostly through the skin in the mouth.

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