HEALTH

Lifestyle Change Study
Study Discounts Genetic Theory of Lung Cancer

FEDERAL

Ban on Int'l Flights Passed
Health Care at The Mercy of PACs

LOCAL

OH: Columbus Smoking Ban Voided
MN: Blue Cross Joins Antitobacco Suit
CA: Town Bans Outdoor Smoking
CA: 7-Elevens Sued for Kid Cig Sales
CA: PM Spent $1.7 M on Initiative

INTERNATIONAL

SMOKE & SAND:
EUROPE: Butts on Beaches Banned
KURDISH IRAQ: Smugglers' Den
IRAN Bans Tobacco Advertising
SAUDI: Man Chooses Pipe Over Marriage
BAHRAIN: Tough Smoking Ban
JAPAN: High Bids on JT Shares
VIETNAM: ROTHMANS Opens Office

LIFESTYLE CHANGE STUDY

Montreal. August 11, 1994. A Canadian study of lifestyle changes has determined that quitting smoking can add 2-4 years to one's lifespan; in comparison, the study found reducing cholesterol only adds 11-146 days.

The computer analysis, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, was conducted by Dr. Steven Grover, an epidemiologist at Montreal General Hospital, and a team of physicians.

Increased Lifespan from lifestyle change:

Quitting Smoking Reducing cholesterol

Adult Men: 2.59-4.43 yrs 11-146 days
Adult Women: 2.6-3.68 yrs 4-58 days

STUDY DISCOUNTS GENETIC THEORY OF LUNG CANCER

London, August 12, 1994. Genetic factors play have little to do with a smokers' chance of contracting lung cancer, according to a comparison of lung cancer deaths in twins who smoke. The survey was performed by Dr. M. Miles Braun and colleagues of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md. and was published in the British medical journal Lancet

"For purposes of lung cancer prevention, the message of (the study's) findings is that smoking-induced lung cancer should be attributed to smoking, not inherited predisposition," Dr. Braun said.

The study of 681 male lung cancer victims who smoked and had twins who smoked found that:

--in the case of identical twins, lung cancer killed 282 individuals, but only 10 pairs
--in the case of fraternal twins, lung cancer killed 399 individuals, but only 21 pairs.

"I was somewhat surprised because the hunch was that even for a strong environmental carcinogen such as smoking, there would be some inherited predisposition," Braun said.

"A smoker might believe he won't get cancer because his parents smoked and didn't get lung cancer. But I believe that's a fatal mistake," he said.

The researchers ascribed earlier indications of a genetic correlation to shared lifestyle factors.

The study was accepted guardedly at least by one in the medical community. The AP quoted an appraisal by Dr. Harmon Eyre, chief medical officer of The American Cancer Society in Atlanta:

"Overwhelmingly the most important risk factor is whether you smoke. And then additional risk factors appear to be related to diet and thirdly is still the suspicion of a genetic link. This study would suggest this (genes) is not the case, but I don't think it's big enough to rule it out."

FEDERAL

BAN ON INT'L FLIGHTS PASSED

Washington, August 10, 1994. The House Aviation subcommittee has passed an ban on smoking on all international flights from or to the US. The ban would apply to the first leg of flights from the US, and the last leg of flights to the US.

The rule was proposed by subcommittee chairman James Oberstar, who said, "The easiest, the fastest, the cheapest way to improve air quality on international flights... is to stop the smoking."

Flight attendants fought for the bill. "Flight attendants are sick, diseased, dying and dead from illnesses caused by tobacco smoke," one testified.

The Air Transport Association, the airline industry group, said it would support full smoking bans on international flights so long as the rule would apply to all airlines.

The bill now goes to the full House Public Works and Transportation Committee, which may act on it by September. The ban would go into effect within 120 days after it becomes law.

HEALTH CARE AT THE MERCY OF PACS

Washington, August 13, 1994. A new advocacy group is running ads in the Washington area that portray a lobbyist running around Washington with a wheelbarrow full of cash.

"How much does it cost to kill health care reform in Congress?" the ad asks. "Wheelbarrels of cash -- all over Washington."

The ad, run by the Health Care Reform Project, asks politicians, "The insurance companies and the tobacco companies have spent $85 million to try to kill real health reform. Are you going to stand with the American people or take the money and run?"

The HCRP is making use of pooled resources from 180 labor, health, business, consumer and civil rights groups.

Other groups part of the HCRP effort--and running ads of their own in favor of reform--are the Universal Coverage and Shared Responsibility Alliance (USA), which placed ads in Sunday newspapers encouraging Congress to pass a health care reform bill, and the Children's Defence Fund, which is placing radio ads in 5 southern states considered "swing" states.

The NAACP is planning a campaign in several southern states along the lines of "African-Americans will never get sick of voting for senators who stand up for our interests."

Last week the 33-million member American Association of Retired Persons endorsed the Democratic Mitchell and Gephardt plans, and plans to run ads alerting its members.

Also last week, Senate Minority leader Bob Dole's alternative proposal to the health care bill was called by Paul Simon (D-IL) "an insurance and tobacco industry protection (bill)."

LOCAL

OH: COLUMBUS SMOKING BAN VOIDED

Columbus, OH. August 10, 1994. A state court judge struck down Columbus' smoking ban, saying that local health boards did not have the authority to limit the practical scope of the ban.

The court ruled that by considering practical issues of enforceability and economics, the boards had ventured into the domain of the legislature.

"If the power to discriminate in determining where the ban applies is to be exercised," the court said, "that power belongs to the legislative branch of government."

The ban was to have taken effect July 1, but was not enforced pending the outcome of Cookie's Diner Inc vs. Columbus Board of Health.

The case was brought by a number of bowling alleys and other businesses, with backing from the Tobacco Institute.

MN: BLUE CROSS JOINS ANTI-TOBACCO SUIT

August 18, 1994. For the first time, a private insurance company has joined with a state in suing tobacco companies. The suit charges the Big 6 tobacco companies with anti-trust violations, consumer fraud, conspiracy to hide the addicting nature and health hazards of cigarettes, and manipulation of nicotine levels.

The insurance company, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Minnesota, was able to join the suit because of a unique Minnesota provision that calls on the company to advance public health. Blue Cross seeks to recover health insurance costs resulting from tobacco-related illnesses.

The suit also seeks penalty payments, and all profits from the sale of cigarettes in Minnesota.

Attorney General Hubert Humphrey III said the suit was the first to focus not on the dangers of cigarettes, but on the behavior of tobacco executives.

"Previous lawsuits have said the tobacco companies should pay because their products are dangerous," said Humphrey. "This suit says they should pay because the conduct ... is illegal."

Humphrey referred to a 1954 newspaper ad in which the tobacco industry promised "promote the progress of independent scientific research in the field of tobacco and health" and to help "in efforts to learn and make known all the facts."

"Although the tobacco companies have renewed their pledge of honesty to the public over the years, they have never honored that commitment," Humphrey said.

"Instead they have conspired together to suppress and distort research, defraud the public and suppress the marketing of safer cigarettes."

"You and we have heard all this before," said an RJ Reynolds spokesperson, "and most of these arguments have been heard and rejected by juries consistently over the last 40 years."

"This case will be vigorously defended in the courts and our record there speaks for itself," she said.

The companies named in the suit are:

R.J. Reynolds
Philip Morris Cos.
Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp.,
Lorillard Tobacco Co.
American Tobacco Co.
Liggett Group Inc.
The Tobacco Institute

CA: TOWN BANS OUTDOOR SMOKING

Rolling Hills, CA. August 14, 1994. This quiet suburb (pop: 2,000) just outside Los Angeles is alerting residents and visitors that outdoor smoking is not allowed anywhere in Rolling Hills--not even out in one's own backyard or car.

The ban actually dates from 1978, and adheres to a Los Angeles county code prohibiting smoking in areas considered at risk from fire. LA County Fire Department signs at the entrances to the town announce "No smoking! No fires!"

The regulation has never been enforced, but that is about to change, according to advisory leaflets being passed out by officials.

City officials also sent the leaflets to the county sheriff's and fire departments, and requested strict enforcement.

Summertime fires in California have been particularly destructive in the last two years, and may be responsible for the increased concern of officials.

Outdoor smokers could be subject to a $1,000 fine and 6 months in jail.

CA: 7-ELEVENS SUED FOR KID CIG SALES

Oakland, CA. August 19, 1994. An antitobacco group has sued Southland Corp and the franchise holders of 120 stores in the northern California area for cigarette sales to minors working for the group.

Stop Youth Addiction, Inc. seeks a court-ordered ban on youth sales, and unspecified damages.

A spokesperson for Dallas-based Southland said the company is concerned about youth access, and has "safeguards in place to protect against the sale of these kinds of products to minors."

CA: PM SPENT $1.7 M ON INITIATIVE

Sacramento, CA. August 18, 1994. The public interest group California Common Cause said that Philip Morris spent $1.7 million getting the petition initiative, Uniform Tobacco Control Act (Prop. 188) onto the November ballot.

INTERNATIONAL

EUROPE: BUTTS ON BEACHES BANNED

Aug. 11, 1994. Europeans may soon be seeing fewer butts on the beach if the latest trend in smokefree sections grows.

Bournemouth Borough Councilor Bronwyn Bittlewood has proposed a nonsmoking section of Bouremouth Beach in southwest England.

"I am a smoker myself, but I believe that people should have the choice," she said.

Last year Ms. Bittlewood convinced the council to ban dogs from the beach.

And on the Baltic Coast outside Schleswig, Germany, officials have declared a 100 meter smokefree strip of beach at a resort in Damp a success.

"I've heard nothing but praise so far. This must be the first no-smoking beach in Germany, maybe even in Europe." said a resort director.

KURDISH IRAQ: SMUGGLERS' DEN

Dohuk, Iraq. August 17, 1994. Chris Hedges of the New York Times reports that in Kurdish Iraq there are severe shortages of medicine, milk, fruit, and spare engine parts--but not of cigarettes. In fact, there is an overabundance of black market cigarettes bound for other parts of the Middle East.

Calling the allied-established security area the "largest black market clearing house for cigarettes in the Middle East," Hedges claims the cigarettes are imported from Cyprus and Turkey, and are destined for southern Iraq, Iran--and back to Turkey.

While most of the 3.5 million Kurds in the area struggle for food, the cigarette barons have become rich, and "whiz about with armed retinues in gleaming new Mercedes," according to Hedges.

"It is a wonderful, wonderful business," said one merchant.

The trade is apparently supported by Kurdish guerrilla leaders, who get fees from the 100 trucks entering from Turkey each day.

Hedges quotes one as saying, "It says on the packages that cigarettes are bad for you, but they have been pretty good for us."

The smugglers face land mines, hijackers, nervous Turkish border guards and even the Iraqi military. One route to the south

crosses Saddam Hussein Lake, where the sounds of gunfire between smugglers and Iraqi troops "often keeps Kurds who live around the lake awake during the night."

Meanwhile, Saddam Hussein has announced a ban on the sale of alcohol in hotels, bars and restaurants.

The move is contrary to Hussein's secularist Baath Party's principles, but will please the more religious Shiite Muslims. The ban may have been imposed partly because of the displeasure of the impoverished middle class at seeing the fine liquor they once enjoyed before the embargo being imbibed by the only people who can now afford it: criminals and speculators.

IRAN BANS TOBACCO ADVERTISING

August 22, 1994. Iran has banned tobacco advertising, as part of a governmental anti-smoking campaign, according to Reuter. The Health Ministry has said that tobacco kills 40,000 Iranians a year.

SAUDI: MAN CHOOSES PIPE OVER MARRIAGE

Kuwait. August 18, 1994. Reuter reports that a Saudi newspaper covered the story of a man who was told by his wife-to-be that he must give up his "hubble bubble," a water pipe commonly used in the Mid-East, before she would marry him.

The man called off the wedding, and attempts by both sides' relatives to reconcile the couple were unsuccessful.

BAHRAIN: TOUGH SMOKING BAN

Manama. August 18, 1994. Reuter reports that the emir of Bahrain has decreed a ban on smoking in enclosed public areas. Also prohibited are smoking in industrial areas, vending machines, tobacco cultivation, sales to minors under 18, and cigarette sponsorship of sporting or social events.

A health committee will decided on the maximum tar and nicotine content of imported cigarettes.

JAPAN: HIGH BIDS ON JT SHARES

Tokyo. August 19, 1994. A crucially important auction of Japan Tobacco shares ended Wednesday, and though the results won't be known for 10 days, analysts are concerned the prices bid may have been too high.

The auction of 230,000 shares is being watched closely, as the prices fetched here will be used to set the price when another 666,666 shares go on sale in October.

Results won't be released until Aug. 29, but Robert Steiner of the Wall St. Journal cited rumors that individual investors may have bid far beyond the stock's value..

If the stock is sold in October at inflated values, it could plummet shortly after. Investor jitters then could bring down the rest of the Nikkei, as happened shortly after the disastrous $11 billion offering of East Japan Railway last year.

Steiner cites rumors that small investors bid from US$10,000 to US$12,000 a share, whereas a recent survey found knowledgable institutional investors value the stock at only a little over US$9,000 a share.

This sale of half the 2 million shares of Japan Tobacco is the latest in a continuing effort to privatize Japan's industry. Japan Tobacco controls 82% of the vibrant Japanese market, but is facing increasing competition from foreign manufacturers.

VIETNAM: ROTHMANS OPENS OFFICE

Hanoi. August 19, 1994. Rothmans of Pall Mall (Singapore) has opened an office in Ho Chi Minh City to market Dunhill cigarettes made by the Vietnam Tobacco Company, according to the official Vietnam News.

END OF DOCUMENT