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The Fiji Cancer Society has today revealed that it is pushing hard to ban the sale of individual cigarettes.
President Marilyn Curtis said these steps need to be taken urgently due to the growing number of children smoking cigarettes in the country.
Curtis said parents should also play their part and take their responsibility
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THE sale of single cigarettes could be stopped as a way of curbing underage smoking.
The Tobacco Control Enforcement Unit said in a statement that tackling underage smoking was a complex issue, especially for enforcement officers.
The unit said that minors caught smoking in public transport in the past weeks bought the cigarettes from private homes and bean cart vendors.
Tobacco Control Unit enforcement officers Marika Bonner and Asivurusi Taganeredina at work at the Suva bus stand.
THE Tobacco Control Unit has arrested six students and five public service vehicle drivers last week for smoking at the Suva Bus Stand.
Enforcement officer Asivorosi Tuiqali said the 11 offenders were charged to pay $50 each within 21 days from the day they were booked. Failing that they could face the maximum penalty of $500 fine.
"The offenders were caught smoking at the Suva Bus Stand last week. "Six of them are secondary school students and I booked three bus drivers, a mini bus driver and a taxi driver," Mr Tuiqali said.
"Most of the people know that it is unlawful to smoke in a public place, but they just don't care to follow the law," he said.
The Fijian retailer has revealed that home-made cigarette brands helped spark a combined arrivals and departures sales increase in 2007
Fijian retailer Tappoo registered a 12% increase in combined arrivals and departures tobacco sales at Nadi International airport in 2007. Home-made brands such as Benson & Hedges and Rothmans were the best-selling products. Despite the increase, the tobacco category has not always performed well, according to the company.
Tappoo executive director Kaushal Tappoo told DFNIonline: "There was a time when customers could bring two sleeves of tobacco into the country and sales were not so high. Now they can only bring one, which has helped to improve our arrivals tobacco business. Customers are now paying a bit more for the sleeves compared with three years ago, which is making arrivals tobacco very strong."
THE newly established Tobacco Control Enforcement Unit wants the State to allocate an additional $1million a year to address smokers' rehabilitation.
Officer-in-charge Ifiremi Corerega said the State generated $59 million a year in taxes from the sale of cigarettes and it would be advisable that a portion of it assist those willing to give up smoking.
His comments follow news that 20 students, some in school uniforms, were caught and charged with smoking in no smoking zones during a two-day annual athletic competition a fortnight ago. . . .
"I'm not trying to tell the State where to direct its money but measures to curb cigarette smuggling and selling cigarette to minors as well as assisting those who want to give up the urge but find it hard to must be looked into," Mr Corerega said.
A licensing system over the sale of cigarettes is being proposed to control its sale, he said.
The Fijian Teachers Association is concerned about secondary students smoking in public places after school hours.
This concern comes after several students were seen smoking at the former Fiji Times front office along Gordon Street, which is now an internet cafe.
Association president Tevita Koroi said it was nothing new for students to be caught or seen smoking in public places.
RECENT population-based studies have shown a decrease in smoking prevalence in several age groups in Fiji.
Fiji's Interim Minister for Health Dr Jona Senilagakali made the revelation at discussions on Tobacco Control on the third day of the 58th Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee Meeting in Jeju, Korea.
And despite concerns with issues such as tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and the increase in illicit trade of tobacco products, the Ministry of Health remained committed to control efforts on tobacco use
SMOKING has decreased amongst several age groups in Fiji, says the interim Minister for Health Dr Jona Senilagakali.
He was speaking at the 58th Session of the World Health Organisation Regional Committee meeting at Jeju in Korea and made the revelations during discussions on Tobacco Control.
This revelation, Dr Jona said in a statement, was based on recent population based studies among several age groups in Fiji.
He said the Ministry of Health remained committed to controlling the efforts of tobacco use and this was shown through its health promotion in 2002 and the establishment of the Tobacco Law Enforcement Unit.
A COMPANY'S social report for the year concerning youth smoking prevention revealed it would be stretching the boundaries of their appropriate involvement for it to be directly in contact with underage individuals who chose to smoke.
British American Tobacco Fiji in its 2007 Fiji Social Report stated it had been asked if it could held establish a helpline for children who smoked and who were under the age of 18, during dialogue sessions with stakeholders in August, last year.
The company's response was that they had a number of youth smoking prevention initiatives in place
British American Tobacco’s general manager, Jeff Yoon, left, and businessman Ikbal Jannif, who launched the company’s Fiji social report 2007 in Suva yesterday
British American Tobacco Fiji says it wants to pursue the possibility of providing designated smoking areas in sports venues.
The company will hold discussions with the executive committee of the Fiji Sports Council to pursue the idea, it said in its Fiji Social Report 2007, released in Suva yesterday.
PEOPLE caught smoking in public vehicles will be spot fined $500 from next Friday.
The effort is part of the Land Transport Authority and Health Ministrys campaign to raise awareness and reduce smoking in public places.
At a press conference yesterday, authority chief executive Abraham Simpson said the campaign was spurred on by the two bodies recognition that smoke emissions from motorised vehicles and cigarette smoke in public transportation vehicles had a negative impact on the health and safety of the public and environment in Fiji.
THE Fiji Medical Association has supported moves by the Land Transport Authority and the Health Ministry to fine people caught smoking in public vehicles.
Association president Jona Senilagakali said efforts to raise awareness and reduce smoking in public places were beneficial to the public's health.
Dr Senilagakali said raising awareness about smoking was a worldwide issue because smoking caused serious health problems such as cancer of the lungs.
He said nicotine in cigarettes had proved to be the cancer-causing agent.
Hotel guests and clients are applauding the bold non-smoking policy of Westin Hotels & Resorts in Australia & the Pacific, who have become smoke free from yesterday.
The Westin Melbourne, The Westin Sydney and The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa Fiji are the first hotel chain in this region to introduce a 100% no smoking policy following customer data and a clear demand from guests for a healthy, totally smoke free hotel experience.
They follow the lead of Westin’s 77 North America hotels who pioneered the smoke-free policy this past January as part of Westin’s new brand positioning around personal renewal and offering guests services, products and amenities that allow them to relax, rejuvenate and restore during their stay.
One of Westin’s largest clients in this region, research-based medicines company, Pfizer Australia has commended the introduction of the new policy.
“We welcome the move by Westin to provide a smoke free environment for our staff away from our own work place,” comments Pfizer’s Suzanne Blake, Product Manager for Nicorette.
We welcome the move by Westin to provide a smoke free environment for our staff away from our own work place.Pfizer Australia’s Suzanne Blake, Product Manager for Nicorette.
A BAN on smoking in nightclubs and restaurants will be hard to monitor and will need the co-operation of club owners.
Occupational Health & Safety director Osea Cawaru said they would liaise with the Ministry of Health to see the ban is enforced.
"We can help the ministry in enforcing the ban and we can commit employers to include in their OHS policy a safe and healthy working environment for workers and non-workers," he said.
The British American Tobacco Fiji has come out in strong support of Government’s newly imposed excise duty on imported tobacco products.
The 10 per cent levy on imported tobacco products will come into effect from Monday.
British American Tobacco general manager Jason Murphy says the introduction of excise duty on imported cigarette of $128.86 per thousand cigarettes indicates that Government is serious about protecting the sustainability of the domestic tobacco industry.