Tobacco.org

FREELAND: Climate Change and Cigarettes 

I smoke cigarettes. I'm not proud of it, but it's a fact. At least I don't throw my butts on the ground. My favorite brand of cigarette is Newport™ brand cigarettes. I'm fully aware of the reasons why I should quit. The studies on carcinogenic pesticides used in the Lorillard fields in Greensboro, NC and their toxic effects is alarming. The pictures of smoker's lungs hanging about in schools other constant advertisements remind me that it's not good for my health. But all these facts mean absolutely nothing to me when I hear the soothing click of a lighter, smell the faint tinge of toasted paper as the tip turns red, as my cheeks pucker with a savory draw of cool mentholated smoke dancing over my tongue as I inhale that first puff deeply with a calming sigh.

I will quit someday, that is known. But whether I quit because I contract cancer and die, or because I take a conscientious effort to stop smoking is the true unknown. Draw all the parallels you like.

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Mums-to-be cut ciggies  

The number of mothers who admit smoking during pregnancy has fallen by nearly 12%, according to a study at the Coombe hospital, Dublin.

The proportion dropped from just over 23% to just under 21%, less than the smoking rate in the general population, which was 27% last year, but still higher than in other countries. In Massachusetts, America, for example, only 7% of pregnant women admit to smoking.

"When you compare the rates of smoking in pregnant women who attended the Coombe before and after the [smoking in public] ban, it's a significant reduction," said Luke Clancy, director-general of the Tobacco Free Research Institute (TFI).

"We are not saying the ban necessarily caused it, but we hope it influenced them . . .

The survey was published in BJOG, an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology.

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Reliability of self reported smoking status by pregnant women for estimating smoking prevalence: a retrospective, cross sectional study (FULL TEXT) 

In conclusion, reliance on self reporting to measure smoking during pregnancy significantly underestimates the number of pregnant smokers in Scotland, with more than 2400 unrecognised pregnant smokers a year who will not be offered smoking cessation services. Reliance on self reporting resulted in twice as many undetected smokers in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived areas. Overall, these figures call for more accurate methods of identifying pregnant smokers, especially when such data are used to inform policy and provide patient care.

What is already known on this topic

Self reported smoking during pregnancy is known to be an inaccurate method of identifying smokers Self reported smoking in Scotland is used to generate smoking prevalence and, largely, to target smoking cessation services

What this study adds

Reliance on self reported smoking during pregnancy underestimates the true smoking prevalence in Scotland by 17% Each year in Scotland twice as many pregnant smokers from more deprived areas go undetected compared with pregnant smokers in the least deprived areas Reliance on self reporting results in a failure to detect over 2400 pregnant smokers each year in Scotland who are therefore not offered smoking cessation services

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Majority of Indians favour ban on smoking 

A year after the ban on smoking in public places came in force, a study has found that an overwhelming majority of Indians favour the regulations prohibiting smoking at workplaces and public arenas. More than nine out of 10 Indians surveyed in four cities favour the regulations prohibiting smoking in public places.

Support for regulations to ensure the ban is also strong in each city, with a large majority of those interviewed in Delhi [ Images ] (90 per cent), Mumbai [ Images ] (98 per cent), Chennai (92 per cent) and Kolkata [ Images ] (93 per cent) favouring it. Citizens in the four major metros also understand that second hand smoke is a serious risk to people's health. Ninety-two per cent believe exposure to second hand smoke is a serious health hazard for the non-smoker.

In addition, 91 per cent majority indicate that it bothers them a lot when they are exposed to second hand smoke, according to the study conducted by NGO, the Voluntary Health Association of India.

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• New Survey Finds One in Three Sports Fans Smoke, Five Out of Six Smoke While 

A new survey conducted by the American Legacy Foundation(R) (Legacy) finds that the majority (63 percent) of sports fans surveyed are current or former smokers and 76 percent of them have smoked while watching or attending sporting events. The study examines whether sports fans were exposed to secondhand smoke while watching sports; smoked while watching sports at certain venues; or whether those who quit smoking relapsed while watching a game. The survey also examined whether watching sports was a trigger for fans who smoke.

The survey also indicated that 60 percent of sports fans have been exposed to secondhand smoke in the past year while watching or attending sporting events and that 36 percent of sports fans who smoke or used to smoke are extremely or very tempted to smoke while viewing sporting events in their own homes. When the score of the game is close, nearly one third are extremely or very tempted to light up.

Starting this week and through the winter, many smokers will be exposed to new quit smoking messages through the EX(R) national smoking cessation campaign. Legacy, along with the National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation (NATC), announced today that the next round of new ads in its two-year old EX campaign are now being featured during FOX Sports' broadcast of Major League Baseball's American League Championship Series (ALCS) and World Series.

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Survey of Irish Retailers on impact of POS Ban on Tobacco Products (PDF) 

Survey was conducted “on behalf of Heneghan PR” (ie Philip Morris was not named to respondents) . . .

Conclusion

• Overall, the majority of retailers believe the ban has had an negative impact on sales

• While most might support the objective of the ban, they believe it should be lifted (both because they believe it won’t work and because of the impact on their businesses)

• Retailers found it confusing at the start, but it seems to have settled down with customers and staff becoming used to the ban

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HBO Poll: Smoking In Idaho Bars 

Fine-particulate air pollution in Boise bars that permit smoking is 36 times worse than outdoor pollution levels in the valley, according to a new study by the Roswell Park Cancer Institute released today by the Coalition for a Healthy Idaho, and four times the EPA's standard for annual exposure. . . .

Yes 41% (43 votes)

No 59% (63 votes)

Dunno 0% (0 votes)

Total Votes: 106

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Support grows for bid to put cigarettes under counter 

THOUSANDS of people in the North East have signed postcards calling on MPs to vote in favour of putting cigarettes under the counter.

Parliament will vote later this month on new measures in the Health Bill to put tobacco out of sight in shops and restrict cigarette vending machines, both aimed at cutting the number of teenagers who start smoking each year.

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Singapore Health Promotion Board receives support for proposed amendments to Smoking Act 

The Singapore Health Promotion Board (HPB), in partnership with Health Science Authority (HSA), conducted a public consultation exercise, from 3 - 28 August 2009, on proposed amendments to the Smoking (Control of Advertisements and Sale of Tobacco) Act and other smoking control measures.

The public consultation exercise on the proposed changes to the Smoking (Control of Advertisements and Sale of Tobacco) Act received 171 responses. Respondents included individuals, tobacco manufacturers, importers and retailers, healthcare professionals and majority were in support of the proposed changes, with many providing suggestions to enhance smoking control measures.

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Bloomberg Has 16-Point Lead In Mayoral Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Most Voters Back Mayor's Bid To Ban Butts In Parks  

By a 52 - 43 percent margin, New York City likely voters support a proposal to ban smoking in city parks and beaches. This smoking ban wins 56 - 39 percent approval from Democrats. Independent voters split with 48 percent in favor and 47 percent opposed. Republicans oppose it 52 - 44 percent.

Women support the outdoor ban 57 - 38 percent, while men oppose it 49 - 44 percent. Support ranges from 55 - 38 percent in favor in The Bronx to 52 - 43 percent opposed in Staten Island, New York City's greenest borough.

"We ban smoking in saloons. We ban smoking in baseball stadiums. We ban smoking in all sorts of places, but in the open air in parks? New Yorkers are still puffing on that idea. Let's see what happens after the election," Carroll said.

From September 16 - 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,513 New York City likely voters

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READER POLL: Should revenue from the tax on cigarettes be used for smoking cessation programs?  

Yes 57.3%

No 42.7%

votes: 124

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• Electronic Cigarettes Find Fans, but Most Want Regulation  

A strong majority of Americans want to see electronic cigarettes regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (59%), but nearly half (47%) say the smokeless devices should be an option available to people trying to quit smoking, similar to patches, gum and lozenges currently on the market, and that number increases to 57% among those who have heard about ecigarettes prior to taking the poll.

The Zogby Interactive poll of 4,611adults was conducted August 28-31 and carries a margin of error of +/- 1.5 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub groups.

In the hunt for a safer cigarette, electronic cigarettes, often referred to as ecigarettes, are becoming a popular option among those either trying to quit or who are looking to replace standard tobacco smokes with an alternative that manufacturers claim to be safer. Ecigarettes vaporize a solution often containing nicotine, but there is no smoke, just odorless water vapor, and produce almost no dangerous carcinogens.

Almost half of all respondents (48%) say they have heard of electronic cigarettes. About a third of those polled (35%) say that because electronic cigarettes produce no smoke, they should be allowed in places where smoking is currently prohibited, while about half (46%) say they should not.

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Americans give electronic cigarettes mixed reviews 

Should electronic cigarettes be a new option for smokers trying to kick the habit? Reactions from Americans are mixed.

More than half of people questioned in a poll think electronic cigarettes should be regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but 47 percent believe the devices should be available to smokers who want to quit.

"In the hunt for a safer cigarette, electronic cigarettes, often referred to as ecigarettes, are becoming a popular option among those either trying to quit or who are looking to replace standard tobacco smoke with an alternative that manufacturers claim to be safer," Zogby International, which conducted the poll, said in a statement.

About half of the 4,611 adults who took part in the poll had heard about ecigarettes . . .

Nearly a third of people questioned in the poll think that e-cigarettes, because they don't produce smoke, should be allowed in places where smoking is forbidden, but 46 percent disagreed.

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VIDEO: Statistics Stack Up for Smoking Ban  

The odds seem to be stacking up for those in favor of a smoking ban in Topeka. A study was released Tuesday that links smoking bans to a drop in heart attacks. The study found a 26 percent drop after one year and a 36 percent drop in heart attacks after three years in areas with a smoking ban.

"Almost all of the effects or benefits occur in non-smokers, but there is some effect for smokers because smoking bans get some of them to stop smoking," said David Meyers, MD, MPH at the University of Kansas Medical Center who is the lead author of one of the studies.

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Dearer smokes means less smokers: survey 

Increasing the price of cigarettes will help smokers kick the habit, according to a poll conducted by lobby group Quit.

The findings support a key recommendation of the Rudd government's preventative health taskforce, which earlier this month called for the average price of a packet of cigarettes to be increased from $13.50 to $20.

The Quit poll, released on Wednesday, reveals 53 per cent of recent quitters believe price is a "helpful" factor in giving up.

Cigarette cost was the biggest factor in making the decision to quit, while public smoking bans were most effective in helping people stay off cigarettes.

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