Tobacco.org

• Brewery to allow black and blue e-cigarettes  

SMOKERS will be allowed to use a new black and blue electronic cigarette on Heron and Brearley premises.

The e-cigarette, a white battery-operated tobacco-free cigarette which produces steam vapour instead of smoke and glows red at the tip when inhaled, has been promoted as a legal way to side-step the new smoking ban.

But earlier this month the largest brewery in the Island decided to ban these look-a-like cigarettes from their premises for fear they would spark conflict and confusion.

As a result of the decision, Jason Cropper, a director of The Electronic Cigarette Company UK Ltd, said: 'We have now looked at manufacturing different colours and already have a pink version available.

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• Tobacco importers' poll bolsters anti-smoking movement 

An Israeli cigarette importer has financed a public survey, released on Monday, that unintentionally backs up the arguments of antismoking activists.

The Mutagim polling company, commissioned by the Globrands tobacco company, found that only 20 percent of Israeli adults smoke, and only 14% of the smokers light up at least six cigarettes a day.

The poll, paid for by the importer of Camel, Winston, Kent and Pall Mall brands, also found that only 28% of smokers would go out to enjoy themselves less frequently because of the new law that vigorously enforces no-smoking laws.

That figure constitutes just 6% of Israeli adults, making their declaration that they wouldn't visit pubs and restaurants without smoking rooms no threat to these establishments.

However, the poll did not ask non-smokers whether they would go out to enjoy themselves more because of the increased possibility of clean air that the law affords . . .

In addition, the survey found that 79% of smokers obey the new law, while just 21% continue to smoke in public places until others ask them to stop or threaten to call a municipal inspector to hand out fines. Most of those who said they refused to obey the law were young people aged 18 to 24.

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• Africa-Israel disputes mall's responsibility for smoking 

Africa-Israel Investments Ltd. (TASE:AFIL; Pink Sheets:AFIVY) says in a statement of defense that its Ramat Aviv Mall is not responsible for enforcements of anti-smoking laws within stores. The company was responding to a NIS 15 million lawsuit, which claims that the mall does not enforce anti-smoking laws.

Africa-Israel says that the sole authority to enforce anti-smoking laws lies with specific agencies, usually Israel Police or the agencies authorized by the local authority for this purpose. The company says that the Ramat Aviv Mall has contacted these agencies and even proposed bearing the cost of their activity, but that the response has only been partial.

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• TOBACCO ADVERTISING BAN IMMINENT 

IT will become an offence to advertise tobacco in the Isle of Man from March 1.

The ban on tobacco advertising and promotion, including sponsorship, will be enshrined under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act appointed day order due to come before Tynwald next week.

Anyone breaching the regulations could be fined up to £5,000 and even serve a maximum prison sentence of two years.

The ban is unlikely to have a huge impact as there are very few instances where tobacco is promoted explicitly in the Island.

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