Tuolumne County Public Health Department along with Calaveras Public Health Services revealed the results of a new survey which demonstrated that the majority of residents in multi-housing units do support the reduction of exposure to secondhand smoke. 59% of Tuolumne County and 64% of Calaveras County residents favored smoking bans in outdoor common areas of
Monday, June 16, 2014
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Ireland Leads EU on Plain Packaging of Cigarettes
The Irish government approved draft laws which make tobacco companies use plain packs on tobacco products sold in the country. This is a great and important step towards the improvment of public health, which will improve country’s reputation as a global leader in tobacco control. If the law will be adopted, it will prohibit use
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Secondhand Smoke and Pregnancy
Every time, a pregnant woman is exposed to smoking, her foetus is precariously exposed to meet with intra-uterine deaths, say experts. The pulmonologists testify that in a state like Kerala where the prevalence rate of smoking is high, such premature deaths will definitely be a recurring phenomenon.
“Around 1.5 lakh people die of passive smoking in the country. Hence, it will not be wrong to presume that intra-uterine deaths are happening in the state which has topped the country with high prevalence smoking rate than the national average,” said Dr Babu John Mathew, consultant general physician, Medical Trust Hospital.
Intra-uterine deaths usually happen when the mother is an excessive smoker. “But here, the scenario is different. Here, the prevalence of smoking in women is not as high as it is in other parts of the country. But if the child’s father is an active smoker, it is beyond doubt that the mother will be highly exposed to smoking,” he pointed out.
Dr Praveen Valsalan, secretary, Cochin Thoracic Society, pointed out that, when the world scenario is taken into account, almost half of the children regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke in public places. “Over 40 per cent of children have at least one smoking parent and active smoking causes more than 6,00,000 premature deaths a year.
The scenario will not be much different in the state which is known for smoking. The curse of our state is that an in-depth study has not been initiated here so far,” he said. The medical literature states that intra-uterine foetal demise can happen due to smoking, said Dr Sheila Scaria, a gynaecologist based in Kochi . “Though we cannot identify such incidents easily, the chances of premature deaths in babies are high due to both active and passive smoking. The scenario will not be different in any part of the world which is exposed to smoking,” she said.
Asked if such deaths have been reported in any parts of the state, they said: “It is not easy to identify such deaths which is a major hurdle. No research or studies have been undertaken in this regard so far. Besides, it is a long-winding procedure. If any such death happens, the whole family history will have to be traced,” said Dr Babu John. He added that while most of the smokers are honest about smoking in Western countries, Keralites try to cover it up when it comes to initiating any study in this regard.
“Around 1.5 lakh people die of passive smoking in the country. Hence, it will not be wrong to presume that intra-uterine deaths are happening in the state which has topped the country with high prevalence smoking rate than the national average,” said Dr Babu John Mathew, consultant general physician, Medical Trust Hospital.
Intra-uterine deaths usually happen when the mother is an excessive smoker. “But here, the scenario is different. Here, the prevalence of smoking in women is not as high as it is in other parts of the country. But if the child’s father is an active smoker, it is beyond doubt that the mother will be highly exposed to smoking,” he pointed out.
Dr Praveen Valsalan, secretary, Cochin Thoracic Society, pointed out that, when the world scenario is taken into account, almost half of the children regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke in public places. “Over 40 per cent of children have at least one smoking parent and active smoking causes more than 6,00,000 premature deaths a year.
The scenario will not be much different in the state which is known for smoking. The curse of our state is that an in-depth study has not been initiated here so far,” he said. The medical literature states that intra-uterine foetal demise can happen due to smoking, said Dr Sheila Scaria, a gynaecologist based in Kochi . “Though we cannot identify such incidents easily, the chances of premature deaths in babies are high due to both active and passive smoking. The scenario will not be different in any part of the world which is exposed to smoking,” she said.
Asked if such deaths have been reported in any parts of the state, they said: “It is not easy to identify such deaths which is a major hurdle. No research or studies have been undertaken in this regard so far. Besides, it is a long-winding procedure. If any such death happens, the whole family history will have to be traced,” said Dr Babu John. He added that while most of the smokers are honest about smoking in Western countries, Keralites try to cover it up when it comes to initiating any study in this regard.
Monday, June 9, 2014
New Jersey to Increase Age to Buy Cigarettes
State committee in New Jersey proposed to increase to 21 legal age to buy tobacco products and e-cigarettes. If the proposal will be approved, the law will make New Jersey the first state in the USA who requires this age to buy cigarettes. Back in 2006 the state increased minimum age to buy cigarettes, cigars
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Tax Increase Will Not Reduce Tobacco Use
British American Tobacco Zimbabwe asked governments in Southern Africa to pay attention to the consequences of high taxes on tobacco products which were increased in order to reduce tobacco use among population. On May 31 the world celebrated No Tobacco Day and with this regard BAT Zimbabwe released a statement which says that the company
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
BAT Dislikes Increasing Tobacco Taxes
On World No Tobacco Day, British American Tobacco (BAT) called on governments across Southern Africa to carefully consider the unintended consequences of increased taxes on tobacco products with the intention of reducing tobacco consumption.
BAT, the maker of Dunhill cigarettes, says it does not believe that an increase in taxes on tobacco products will result in decreased consumption, instead smokers may continue to look for cheaper,often illicit products. What’s more is that the call for increased taxation on tobacco products is being made from within a context of already high tobacco taxes across Southern Africa, and an economic environment in which the disposable income of consumers remains stretched.
“Often, with an increase in taxes on tobacco products, a knee-jerk reaction by consumers under severe economic pressure is to unwittingly purchase cheaper cigarette brands in order to save money. Regrettably, these brands are often illicit brands that have a severe economic and social impact
We have observed a dramatic increase in the incidence of illicit trade in countries with higher excise rates on tobacco products, many of which are struggling to curb the problem despite concerted efforts from law enforcement authorities. Some research indicates that up to 660 billion cigarettes a year are illegal – smuggled, counterfeit or tax-evaded in other ways. That’s up to 12 percent of world consumption. Closer to home, illicit cigarettes are already widely available throughout both formal and informal retail channels across Southern Africa. In some countries, such as South Africa, the illicit cigarette incidence is nearly three times the global average, which is alarming,” read a statement from BAT.
BAT therefore urged governments seeking to reduce tobacco usage to broaden the scope of their considerations beyond increases in tax. “Public health objectives cannot be the sole aspect of consideration when determining fiscal policy. The unintended consequences as a result of increases in tax on tobacco products may, in fact, jeopardise the achievement of these public health objectives,” said BAT.
The WHO itself estimates that there are currently one billion smokers across the globe and that by 2050 this number could increase to 2.2 billion. Said BAT: “Given this estimation, we believe that it is going to be important for regulators to separate the issues around the sale of a legal, regulated but risky product and the unintended consequences that may arise from bad policy decisions. While we acknowledge the risks associated with smoking, we believe in a sensible approach to tobacco taxation that takes into account all the potential unintended consequences such as the illicit trade in tobacco products.”
BAT, the maker of Dunhill cigarettes, says it does not believe that an increase in taxes on tobacco products will result in decreased consumption, instead smokers may continue to look for cheaper,often illicit products. What’s more is that the call for increased taxation on tobacco products is being made from within a context of already high tobacco taxes across Southern Africa, and an economic environment in which the disposable income of consumers remains stretched.
“Often, with an increase in taxes on tobacco products, a knee-jerk reaction by consumers under severe economic pressure is to unwittingly purchase cheaper cigarette brands in order to save money. Regrettably, these brands are often illicit brands that have a severe economic and social impact
We have observed a dramatic increase in the incidence of illicit trade in countries with higher excise rates on tobacco products, many of which are struggling to curb the problem despite concerted efforts from law enforcement authorities. Some research indicates that up to 660 billion cigarettes a year are illegal – smuggled, counterfeit or tax-evaded in other ways. That’s up to 12 percent of world consumption. Closer to home, illicit cigarettes are already widely available throughout both formal and informal retail channels across Southern Africa. In some countries, such as South Africa, the illicit cigarette incidence is nearly three times the global average, which is alarming,” read a statement from BAT.
BAT therefore urged governments seeking to reduce tobacco usage to broaden the scope of their considerations beyond increases in tax. “Public health objectives cannot be the sole aspect of consideration when determining fiscal policy. The unintended consequences as a result of increases in tax on tobacco products may, in fact, jeopardise the achievement of these public health objectives,” said BAT.
The WHO itself estimates that there are currently one billion smokers across the globe and that by 2050 this number could increase to 2.2 billion. Said BAT: “Given this estimation, we believe that it is going to be important for regulators to separate the issues around the sale of a legal, regulated but risky product and the unintended consequences that may arise from bad policy decisions. While we acknowledge the risks associated with smoking, we believe in a sensible approach to tobacco taxation that takes into account all the potential unintended consequences such as the illicit trade in tobacco products.”
Monday, June 2, 2014
Durango Celebrating Smoke-Free Public Areas
On Saturday, May 31, the entire world celebrated No Tobacco Day. With that ocassion in Durango city, Colorado, local health activists organized a party. No Tobacco Day is celebrated to encourage smokers to refuse from their cheap cigarettes at least for 24 hours. Recently Durango City Council adopted an anti-smoking ordinance which prohibits smoking cigarettes
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