Tobacco.org

• The science behind moving smoking bans outside  

Reflecting on the existing scientific research on second hand smoke exposure outdoors, William Saletan of Slate.com sifts through the most relevant points from two major studies on the subject (the 2006 California Air Resources Board study, and a 2007 study from Stanford). Among the findings: outdoors, second hand smoke levels vary widely and quickly, depend on the individual's distance from a smoker (farther than 6.5 feet or 2 meters, generally reduces exposure to "background" levels), are influenced by how confined the outdoor space is (if there are walls or fences), and the concentration of smokers in a given area. The data, Saletan concludes, point to the need for a measured approach for crafting policy to reduce second hand smoke exposure outdoors. He writes:

"If you want to argue for parkwide smoking bans based on asthma or on an analogy to noise pollution, go ahead and make that case. But let's not cloud that debate by invoking the general harm of secondhand smoke. Studies of secondhand smoke have indeed moved outdoors. Their findings support restrictions on lighting up within a few feet of other people. But they don't warrant more than that."

A new study published in the November issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene may contribute to the debate. Researchers from the University of Georgia measured second hand smoke exposure among people sitting in the outdoor areas of bars and restaurants where indoor smoking was banned in the city of Athens, Georgia. . . .

generally speaking, hanging out in an outdoor smoking area exposes you to less second hand smoke than being in an indoor, confined space with smokers, and the more space you have between yourself and smokers, the lower levels of exposure you will have. So, this particular study doesn't ring the death knell for outdoor smoking. But, the researchers point out, wielding the official trump card of the public health argument:

Although the increment in cotinine concentrations and, thus, the [second hand smoke] exposure levels were relatively low at the sites of interest, the current view is that there is no level of personal exposure to [second hand smoke] that can be regarded as safe. This study demonstrates the ongoing exposure of nonsmokers to [second hand smoke] outside restaurants and bars, and the limitations of indoor smoking bans alone in protecting the public from exposure to [second hand smoke] outside these establishments.

In other words, the movement to ban smoking in outdoor spaces is here to stay.

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• Study raises concerns about outdoor second-hand smoke 

Indoor smoking bans have forced smokers at bars and restaurants onto outdoor patios, but a new University of Georgia study in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that these outdoor smoking areas might be creating a new health hazard.

The study, thought to be the first to assess levels of a nicotine byproduct known as cotinine in nonsmokers exposed to second-hand smoke outdoors, found levels up to 162 percent greater than in the control group. The results appear in the November issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.

"Indoor smoking bans have helped to create more of these outdoor environments where people are exposed to secondhand smoke," said study co-author Luke Naeher, associate professor in the UGA College of Public Health. "We know from our previous study that there are measurable airborne levels of secondhand smoke in these environments, and we know from this study that we can measure internal exposure.

"Secondhand smoke contains several known carcinogens and the current thinking is that there is no safe level of exposure," he added. "So the levels that we are seeing are a potential public health issue."

Athens-Clarke County, Ga., enacted an indoor smoking ban in 2005, providing Naeher and his colleagues and ideal environment for their study.

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• Wear | Hospital smoking shelters U-turn 

Sunderland Royal Hospital is "reluctantly" reinstating shelters for smokers in its grounds.

Health bosses admit they are unable to stop people disobeying the no-smoking rule and lighting up just outside the hospital's main doors.

This had led to complaints by patients and staff about second-hand smoke drifting into the building.

Purpose-built shelters, which were dismantled two years ago, are to be set up again.

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• Anti-smoking laws being violated  

Smokers violating the law of complete ban on tobacco use at work and public places have still continued this practice in the federal capital. Citizens complained that after withdrawal of Statutory Rules and Orders (SRO), all public and work places have become smoke-free, therefore, smokers should not be allowed smoking or using tobacco in any other form in any public place.

They said individuals and offices are clearly violating the ordinance. They said complete implementation of law would help protect the health of non-smokers and make the smokers abiders of the concerned laws.

It is pertinent to mention here that earlier, all public and private offices were allowed to designate a separate place for smokers to smoke within office premises with adequate arrangements to protect the health of non-smokers.

However, such permission was being misused

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• ACT govt cracks down on smoking outdoors  

Smokers will be banned from lighting up in outdoor areas where food and drinks are served under new laws being proposed by the ACT government.

It will force smokers to move at least two metres away from eating and drinking areas if they want a cigarette.

The move - mirroring similar measures in Queensland and Tasmania - is about ensuring a smoke-free workplace for waiters and waitresses, the ACT government says.

But Health Minister Katy Gallagher concedes businesses have a tough time ahead should the laws be passed.

Under the draft laws, any outdoor area where food or drinks are served must remain smoke-free, with restaurants, cafes, clubs and pubs - not the smokers - facing fines if they don't toe the line.

Ms Gallagher said she expected opposition from industry groups, but maintained no worker should be exposed to smoke in their workplace.

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• VIDEO: Hockney calls for 'smoking rooms' 

British artist David Hockney is backing calls for a review of the smoking ban which he says is destroying "bohemia".

The 72-year-old lifelong smoker is supporting moves by a cross-party group of MPs to amend the UK smoking laws.

They want people to be able to light up in designated smoking rooms to prevent pubs that are losing trade closing.

Mr Hockney told the BBC's Politics Show he missed being able to smoke in his favourite cafe in East Yorkshire while admiring the view.

He accused former Prime Minister Tony Blair and his successor Gordon Brown of interfering in his life and said: "I loathe them for it."

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• Stringent anti-smoking measures needed 

Convincing teenagers to stop smoking is a tough issue for both parents and authorities at their educational institutions. Most of the teens who smoke don't show the habit while in educational institutions or at home; a majority of them smoke in public places where there are no restrictions.

"I have a right to smoke in public places, as do non-smokers to be in those public places," said Khalid Ahmed, a 23-year-old student from India.

"I took up smoking when I was 15. Since I could not smoke at home for fear of getting caught and there is no such places where we can smoke freely near my residence, like the Smokers Area at airports, I have to stick to smoking in public places," said 17-year-old Rizwanur Rahim also from India.

The setting up of smoking zones in public places has also sort of legalized smoking, a situation teenage smokers have taken advantage of, according to 19-year-old Tanweer Chowdhury from Bangladesh.

Smoking places are now located in shopping complexes, restaurants, hospitals and other public places. . . .

Saudi Arabia ranks fourth in the world in tobacco imports and consumption. More than 15 billion cigarettes, worth $168 million, are being smoked by Saudis and expatriates every year, according to figures of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Health Ministers Council.

The Saudi Ministry of Health said that there are currently 35 anti-smoking clinics in the Kingdom

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• Stringent anti-smoking measures needed 

Convincing teenagers to stop smoking is a tough issue for both parents and authorities at their educational institutions. Most of the teens who smoke don’t show the habit while in educational institutions or at home; a majority of them smoke in public places where there are no restrictions.

“I have a right to smoke in public places, as do non-smokers to be in those public places,” said Khalid Ahmed, a 23-year-old student from India.

“I took up smoking when I was 15. Since I could not smoke at home for fear of getting caught and there is no such places where we can smoke freely near my residence, like the Smokers Area at airports, I have to stick to smoking in public places,” said 17-year-old Rizwanur Rahim also from India.

The setting up of smoking zones in public places has also sort of legalized smoking, a situation teenage smokers have taken advantage of, according to 19-year-old Tanweer Chowdhury from Bangladesh. Smoking places are now located in shopping complexes, restaurants, hospitals and other public places.

“Smoking has been legalized ever since, and it is quite impossible to make people give up smoking because of the presence of these zones,” he said. . . .

Even in Saudi schools, authorities are unable to stop students from smoking despite round-year anti-smoking campaign. According to a Saudi Ministry of Health survey, 62 percent of Saudis begin smoking between the ages of 10 and 20; 27 percent between the ages of 20 and 30 and nine percent before the age of 10.

While the debate rages on the topics of quitting smoking, smoking in public places, and smoking in legalized zones, the import of tobacco and cigarettes continues to rise in the Kingdom.

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• New Law Bans Smoking In Outdoor Dining Areas 

Beginning September 12th, smokers will not be able to light up when they are eating or drinking outside at restaurants.

The new state law bans smoking in outdoor dining areas. That includes restaurants, bars and snack bars. The law is modeled after Portland's smoke-free outdoor dining ordinance

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• Smokers face ban from pub doors and gardens 

SMOKERS may soon be banned from their last refuges of pub beer gardens and doorways.

Experts have found that bar staff are in just as much danger from passive smoking on patios as indoors.

Scientists measured air quality in areas outside bars and found extremely high concentrations of cancer-causing chemicals.

They say only a complete ban will adequately protect workers from second-hand smoke.

The team from Toronto University in Canada carried out a sample of 25 bars with outdoor patios in the city and found that levels of cancer-causing particles in outside smoking areas were potentially enough to cause heart problems. . . .

The study published in the US journal Preventive Medicine said: "Bar workers are not adequately protected from second-hand smoke exposure where smoking is permitted on outdoor patios.

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• Shanghai may become China's first city to ban smoking in public places  

Shanghai may become one of the first Chinese cities to ban smoking in public places. A smoking ban is supposed to be implemented in the city by the end of the year. How strict it will be, depends on city lawmakers who are set to discuss a draft that outlines several options which could be adopted.

The draft includes four types of smoking bans: The most strict bans smoking both indoors and outdoors in kindergartens, schools and hospitals and public transportation waiting areas. Venues such as restaurants, gyms, and work places would be required to set up designated smoking areas. While owners of other public venues would be required to adopt their own smoking bans.

Officials say more discussions are needed on how to divide space in restaurants and hotels.

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• Smoking rooms light up pubs  

Chungwa is just one of the few but growing numbers of restaurants and pubs in the NCR that have opened designated spaces for smokers after the ban came into effect in October, 2008. TGI Friday's in Saket and Vasant Kunj, Hard Rock Cafe in Saket, Cafe Morrison in South Extension, Tabula Rasa in Saket and Buzz in Gurgaon are some other joints that are saying, "Come on baby, light my fire.''

Some have invested anywhere between Rs 2 and 2.5 lakh in setting up a smoking lounge; Cafe Morrison, for instance, has installed a state-of-the-art smoking exhaust. Hard Rock Cafe's 100 sq ft smoking space has a window and a separate exhaust system. The puffing room at Tabula Rasa has graphic art covers on the walls and bar stools. One corner is dedicated to a cigar humidor.

Restaurants are reaping the rewards.

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• Nothing but withdrawal of order to appease anti-smoking campaigners 

With World No-Tobacco Day just nine days away, expectations run high because nothing short of withdrawal of the controversial Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) legitimising the creation of designated smoking areas in Pakistan will be acceptable to anti-tobacco networks, alliances, and campaigners working at both the national as well as the global levels.

"Important announcements will be made on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day," a high official of the Ministry of Health was recently reported as having stated. It is about time the ministry also realises that the only announcement that is important enough from the perspective of anti-tobacco lobbies at home and abroad, as well as the World Health Organisation (WHO), is repeal of the SRO that promotes smoking in designated areas.

Pakistan shocked the international community in September 2008 when its Ministry of Health decided to legitimise the long-disputed smoking lounges by issuing guidelines for their establishment. The SRO projected the country in a negative limelight, given that Article 8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the Guidelines adopted by the WHO FCTC Conference of Parties, makes it legally binding for all signatories to adopt and implement effective legislative measures for protection against exposure to tobacco smoke.

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• Tougher Smoking Policy Puts Union in Tight Spot 

The General Services Administration will no longer allow smoking lounges after June 19 in the 1,500 federal buildings it manages.

But a Federal Communications Commission facility in Columbia is not a GSA property, so its regulations do not apply to the small, nondescript room where FCC workers can go to scar their lungs.

The FCC wants to follow the GSA's lead and make those employees find other air to pollute, but it's not as simple as posting a no-smoking sign. The smoking room was negotiated with the National Treasury Employees Union and shutting it down requires negotiations too.

That puts the NTEU in a tricky situation. . . .

But what happens when those it represents feel they have rights that are in conflict? Should a union protect the right of unionized smokers when those smokers trample on the right of nonsmokers, also in the bargaining unit, to smoke-free air?

Research leaves no doubt that the nonsmoking side easily wins this debate.

Yet, the union that so forcefully stands up for its members in other ways is a bit weak in the knees when it comes to the smoking room.

"It is important that they [smokers] have a place to go that is away from other employees and safe for them as well," NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley said in December. . . .

Galosky isn't alone in opposing the smoking room.

Evelyn Cherry, who was a local union officer in the 1990s, says only a few people at the FCC facility smoke. "Is it better to cut out the small room or jeopardize the majority?" she asked.

She wants the smoking room closed. "Even though they may have a room that they may call ventilated," she said, "it's still not ventilated to the extent that you can't inhale it but because you can still smell it."

By the way, the National Institutes of Health, where people know something about the ill effects of smoking, does not allow it anywhere, inside or outdoors, on its 311-acre Bethesda campus.

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• Bar owners fear new anti smoking laws 

Bar owners are warning of a massive drop in customer numbers as a new anti-smoking law comes into effect tomorrow (Wed).

Local media have reported bar owners fear they could lose as much as 50 per cent of their customers as new laws mean that people will only be able to smoke on terraces or in specially designated rooms in bars and restaurants.

Media said hardly any bars have built or prepared special rooms for smokers.

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