Tobacco.org

• Beijing goes softly on enforcing smoking ban 

Beijing health chiefs are insisting they will use education and persuasion to discourage illegal smoking in public places, rather than use spot fines to enforce a ban that was passed to clean up the city's image for the Olympic Games next month.

A city health official reiterated the softly-softly policy just a day after national health authorities announced that more than 100,000 Chinese die every year from exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke. . . .

Smoking is the biggest contributing factor to cancer deaths in China, where 500 million are affected by second-hand smoke. The nation's cancer death rate has risen 80 percent in the past 30 years, Caijing Magazine reported Wednesday.

China Daily also reported in early June that half of youths who do not smoke suffer from second-hand smoke either at home or public venues.

Jump to full article »

Council considers bus shelter smoking ban  

Nambucca Shire residents could soon face smoking bans in parts of the region.

The local council is considering a draft policy that would ban smoking near children's playgrounds and council buildings, as well as within 10 metres of bus shelters.

Councillor Paula Flack says there is a strong feeling that bus shelters should be smoke free.

Jump to full article »

After going car-less, Army bans smoking  

AFTER adopting a two-day car-less policy within Army camps as part of cost-cutting measures, the military branch is also implementing a smoking ban.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Army spokesman, said the ban is a continuation of the "No Smoking Month" campaign last June.

Brawner said the smoking ban will be initially enforced in Camp O'Donell in Capas, Tarlac where the Army's Light Armor Division is based.

"The policy exempts no one, not even visitors and military officers and personnel inside the camp,"Brawner said.

Jump to full article »

Confusion abounds on smoking rules 

For government entities, the rules on enforcement of the Smoke Free Air Act that went into effect in Iowa on July 1 are still confusing.

Wally Miller, Jr., city attorney for Cherokee, informed the Cherokee City Council at their July 8th meeting that one clear requirement for the city is the need to post new signs at public areas where smoking is prohibited.

Greg Stieneke, city council member, said that money had been spent on new no-smoking signs at Gillette Park. However, these do not have the number (888-944-2247) or the email address (www.iowasmokefreeair.gov) for making a complaint as required by the new law.

Jump to full article »

A Smoke-Free Workplace Is Perfectly Legal  

Not only is it legal to enforce policies that promote a smoke-free work environment. Allowing smoking at work, if the effects are severe enough to threaten employee health, might constitute a violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Although there is no OSHA regulation prohibiting workplace smoking per se, employers could be liable for the negative effects of workplace smoking under the so-called "General Duty Clause" of the law, which states that each employer "shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees." More specifically, OSHA requires that employers provide employees with an acceptable level of indoor air quality, and the agency's written guidance states that employers must keep air contaminants within "permissible exposure limits." In addition, several states and localities have passed laws banning smoking, to varying degrees, in the workplace.

Jump to full article »

Smoking Ban Survey Results 

The Village of Weston is one step closer to a smoking ban in restaurants.

Taxpayers had their say in a village-wide survey.

About 700 residents responded.

Weston Village Administrator Dean Zuleger tells WFXS the results show that the majority of people say they want a ban at indoor public places, like offices and restaurants.

Jump to full article »

Dorms go smoke free in New York 

It looks like the only thing college students will be burning in their dorm rooms is the midnight oil, now that Governor David Paterson has signed a smoking ban for all college dormitories and student group residences in New York.

The new ban, which extends an existing prohibition in State University student dormitories and group residences to those of private colleges and universities, was one of 130 bills that Paterson signed into law on Tuesday, July 8.

Student residences of the City University of New York, like all municipal buildings, were already smoke-free under the New York City Health Code.

Jump to full article »

Libertarian Party Enters Smoking Ban Talk 

The head of the Libertarian Party of Kentucky said there is a rush to pass a no-smoking ordinance in Northern Kentucky and the public isn't being heard.

State party Chairman Ken Moellman said he hopes what he calls the "numbers and facts" appearing on his Web site help people see the effects a ban would have.

Moellman said the site includes information about past studies on social and economic effects of smoking bans elsewhere.

His group is also proposing that businesses which allow indoor smoking be required to post a symbol of a lighted cigarette in a green circle on exterior doors.

Jump to full article »

Local Business In Hot Water After Smoking Violations Found 

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A restaurant and bar is in hot water with city health officials after several smoking violations.

The restaurant in question is the Patio Bar & Grill on Sullivant Avenue on the city's West Side, NBC 4's Tom Brockman said.

Inspectors said while investigating complaints they found several smoking and smoking-related violations at the restaurant. And it's happened on more than one occasion.

Jump to full article »

Smoking ban takes effect Tuesday in Aiken City restaurants  

The Aiken City Council voted to ban smoking inside the city's restaurants and other public places. It takes effect Tuesday.

However, customers will be able to smoke in designated smoking areas outside restaurants.

Jump to full article »

Middleton smoking ban extended 

A smoking ban in Middleton, which already applies to restaurants, will be extended to taverns, bars and other public places.

The City Council approved the ban Tuesday on a 6-2 vote and it will take effect March 15,

Jump to full article »

Smoking ban creates talk, but no action 

Julie Johnson says a smoking ban at Eau Claire taverns has not only caused a huge dip in her bar's businesses, it's made for a mess.

"Eau Claire has become a city dump," the owner of the 5 O'Clock Club on Fenwick Avenue told the Chippewa Falls City Council on Tuesday. Drunks are going outside to smoke and leaving litter, she said.

"Do you want people and cigarette butts outside? " she asked the council.

The city's Transportation Committee, which oversees public safety issues, has spent three meetings looking into a potential workplace smoking ban, but so far has taken no action.

Jump to full article »

• Drinks suppliers on the smoking ban 

Adam Withrington finds out what they make of its impact on trade

It is not an exaggeration to call the smoking ban the biggest and most significant piece of legislation to hit the pub trade since the Beer Orders.

Yet ask suppliers across the industry their views on how it has impacted on trade and the response is really quite inexact. .. .

Let's hope if we ask the same people in another 12 months, responses are more revealing.

However, what we have gives a fascinating insight into drinking trends in the on-trade. Unquestionably lager has suffered - something backed by research undertaken by Pernod Ricard.

The research suggests opportunities exist in other sectors of the drinks market. But the performance of cask ale proves that all is not lost for beer.

Jump to full article »

EDITORIAL: Smoking bans 

The Issue: City, county take different paths.

Our View: But don't we all live in the county? . . .

This newspaper supported the countywide ban on smoking in workplaces and public places, for the purpose not only of making indoor air healthier for all residents, but of sending a message that this is a community committed to a healthier, more fit lifestyle.

We hold to that position, yet even the modest progress made two years ago may be at risk.

Jump to full article »

Park smoking-ban ordinance advances 

ALHAMBRA - Proponents of an ordinance banning smoking in city parks are now just one step from their goal.

In a long-awaited decision, City Council members voted 4-0 - with Councilman Gary Yamauchi abstaining - Monday night to approve a first reading of the new smoking-ban ordinance. It will return to the council for a final reading in two weeks.

The decision was met with roaring applause from the audience, which included representatives from the Asian Youth Center and the American Lung Association, who had lobbied the city for the ban for several months.

Jump to full article »