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• Survey: Smoke-free casinos preferred by most New Englanders 

For years, that gaming-industry mantra has run up against - and often overrun - claims that gamblers' secondhand smoke imperils other gamblers and casino workers.

But new survey results released Friday indicate that most New Englanders would prefer resort casinos that ban smoking over those that allow it, a finding that's counter to conventional wisdom, according to Clyde Barrow, director of the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

In a random-sample poll of nearly 4,000 residents of the region's six states, half of those who participated in some form of gambling in the past year say they are more likely to visit a casino where smoking is prohibited on the gaming floor. Only 15 percent say they would be less likely to visit a casino where smoking is banned, while 35 percent say it doesn't matter.

Among respondents who had actually visited a casino in the past year, 53 percent said they are more likely to visit a casino that bans smoking. Among women, who constitute a majority of slot-machine players at New England casinos, 57 percent prefer a smoke-free gaming floor, the survey found. . . .

In Illinois, a smoking ban that took effect Jan. 1, 2008, was blamed for a drop-off in revenues at the state's casinos. Last month, the Illinois House voted to lift the smoking ban in casinos, with proponents of the move saying it has cost the state $800 million in lost casino-tax revenues. The ban, they contend, drove gamblers to neighboring states that allow smoking.

The Illinois Senate has yet to act on the measure.

Some, like Barrow, say that in such cases it's the economic conditions that affected casino revenues, not the smoking prohibitions.

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Settlement the size of Carterton killed by smoking 

Hone Hurihanganui, chief executive of Wairarapa health organisation Whaiora says the equivalent of a settlement slightly bigger than Carterton is wiped out each year because of smoking.

He was commenting on Face the Facts, a new series of messages to inform and educate the public about the health risks associated with smoking.

The first fact highlighted in the campaign is that 5,000 New Zealanders die every year from smoking.

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Health advocates slam 6 New England states for failing to fund anti-tobacco programs at agreed upon levels 

Health advocates say that the New England states have failed to deliver on a pledge to use money from the tobacco settlement for prevention programs, with most states funding programs at only 20 percent of recommended levels.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids released a report Monday, saying Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island are funding tobacco prevention programs at less than 20 percent of the Center for Disease Control's recommendations.

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No evidence tobacco ad ban works: NZ PM 

A call to ban tobacco displays from shops has not got the support of the National Government at this stage, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says.

Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) NZ and other lobbyists have been pushing for tobacco displays to go, but a retail coalition has argued it would be expensive and ineffective.

High profile sports team doctor John Mayhew last week said the displays were essentially mini-billboards. . . .

But Mr Key said evidence suggested such moves were not an effective way to tackle smoking as a health issue and he wouldn't support it.

"The reason is there is no international evidence that it actually works, and it's hugely expensive to do it," he told TV3's Sunrise show on Tuesday.

"I don't support at this time a change from the current situation...," he said.

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Southern New Englanders Mourn Dana Reeve 

Despite the diagnosis of lung cancer, Reeve said she had never smoked. According to experts at the American Lung Association, many lung cancer victims were exposed to smoke as children.

"Parents are not aware of that, that early exposure can actually start to change some cells in their children even if they grow up never to be smokers. We need to make sure people stay out of the way of smoke, don't smoke and avoid smoke as much as possible," said Tina Ragless, of the American Lung Association of Rhode Island.

Dr. Gary Strauss, an oncologist at Rhode Island Hospital, said exposure to asbestos, radon and occupational chemicals can also be risk factors for lung cancer.

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PENNER: Want a date? Don't smoke 

I stood before a suburban high school Health Education class. When I told the students that I ran a dating service, naturally there was some snickering throughout the room.

I asked the teens, "What do you think is the No. 1 characteristic that makes it difficult to find dates for single, adult men and women?"

Immediately hands shot up. The responses were fairly predictable. "Being unpopular," being fat," and "being a nerd." I shook my head, smiled, and told them the truth. "No, it is cigarette smoking." There were a few head nods, a few smiles, and lots of surprised expressions.

"And the most interesting thing," I added, "is how many students I saw smoking outside, as I walked from the parking lot in to the school."

The teens seemed to have difficulty processing my claim that a cigarette smoker was harder to match than someone who was fat or nerdy. After all, even with the mounting scientific evidence about the dangers of cigarette smoking, many adolescents still associate the habit with being "cool." . . .-- Steve Penner was the owner of the Boston-based dating service LunchDates for nearly 23 years and interviewed and listened to feedback from thousands of single men and women from throughout New England. "The Truth About Dating" reflects insights and observations based upon his experience.

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Big cash for smoke-sellers 

Dairy (grocery store) owners are being offered big cash incentives by tobacco companies trying to make the most of tough new advertising laws.

One man says he gets over $10,000 a year from British American Tobacco to ensure the company's products get maximum exposure.

Amendments to the Smoke-free Environments Act, which came into force in

December, say dairies and gas stations can only display 100 packets of cigarettes or tobacco.

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Act bill seeks exemptions to 'PC' anti-smoking law 

Smokefree laws have turned ordinary Kiwis into criminals, says Act deputy leader Muriel Newman, who yesterday introduced a bill which would give exemptions to the smoking ban.

The Smokefree Environments (Exemptions) Bill aims to "roll back the excesses of political correctness" imposed by the legislation which came into effect in December, she said.

"Labour's desire for social engineering is increasingly becoming an unwelcome intrusion in people's lives and needs to be kept in check."

The bill provided exemptions for groups such as sports clubs and RSAs and for licensed premises where all employees consented.

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Anderson Tobacco sold to Florida company 

PENDLETON -- A Florida-based company plans to buy Anderson Tobacco and bring the cash-strapped cigarette manufacturing company back online.

When Joe Smolik and Rick Riggs opened shop in December 2002 in the former Ampac building off U.S. 76 in Pendleton, they had big plans for Anderson Tobacco's future as a low-cost option for smokers. . . .

The company's Savannah cigarettes now can be found from Tennessee to Maine, Mr. Riggs said. They're available for around $15 a carton at local convenience stores and they can be found in all 100-plus of the state's Piggly Wiggly grocery stores.

Mr. Riggs said the company plans to focus its growth in the New England states where high taxes have sent name brand cigarette prices soaring and states have equalized the cheap cigarette market by cracking down on companies that were evading required contributions to the tobacco settlement agreement.

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Smoking During Pregnancy Damages Babies Lungs 

Smoking during pregnancy can alter the development of airway and lung structure in unborn babies, a report published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine says.

The study found that babies exposed to cigarette smoke in utero were more likely to be born with poorly supported airways. This could lead to abnormal lung function and may explain increases in conditions such as asthma and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) among babies and children of smoking mothers.

Wellington Hospital Respiratory Physician Dr Peter Martin says it's long been recognised that smoking during pregnancy is harmful for babies, but this report sheds light on the reasons why this may be the case.

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• New Hampshire health advocates support regional cigarette tax increase 

Supporters of a plan to increase the cigarettes tax by 50 cents a pack across New England said Thursday they are confident about succeeding in New Hampshire, despite the Legislature's refusal to pass a much smaller increase last spring.

Lawmakers increased the tax 15 cents to 52 cents per pack 11/2 years ago to help cover a budget shortfall created by the state's new school funding plan. But they balked at hiking it another 10 cents in March.

The new plan, proposed by an alliance of doctors and public health advocates, would dedicate the tax money to smoking prevention programs and increasing access to health care. Members of the Alliance for a Healthy New England said the increase would save more than 19,000 lives regionwide, while raising $80 million in New Hampshire that could be used for a prescription drug plan for the elderly and provide health insurance for poor children. . .

But it remains to be seen which of the six states will make the first move. Alliance members said they have not yet found a lawmaker to sponsor a bill in New Hampshire, nor do they plan to encourage states to make enactment of the tax increase contingent on the each other. That could be a stumbling block in New Hampshire, where one argument against tobacco tax increases is ensuring the state doesn't lose the lucrative business of Maine and Massachusetts smokers, who buy cheaper cigarettes in New Hampshire.

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Newly-formed New England alliance calls for higher cigarette taxes 

A new alliance of doctors and public health advocates called Tuesday for a 50-cents-per-pack increase in the excise tax on cigarettes in New England -- with the extra money going to pay for increased health care.

The Alliance for a Healthy New England -- whose members include the medical societies in all six New England states, the New England division of the American Cancer Society, health care providers and community activists -- said higher cigarette prices will cut down on tobacco use, particularly among teen-agers.

"We are breaking new ground in efforts to combat the most preventable cause of illness and death," said Bob Mehrman, a former radio personality who lost his larynx to cancer 11 years ago and is now an anti-smoking activist.

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Anti-Tobacco Leaders from Six States Strategize to Fight the Tobacco Industry 

Frustrated by the tobacco industry's aggressive outreach campaign to get teens to smoke in spite of the Tobacco Settlement, anti- tobacco leaders will meet in a day long forum, Friday, July 28 at Tufts University School of Medicine to plan how to combat the tobacco industry. This conference is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the Mass. Department of Public Health and Tufts University School of Medicine.

``Research has shown time and again the tobacco industry is still targeting our youth by advertising in many of their popular magazines in violation of the Tobacco Settlement Agreement,'' said Jim Hyde, Associate Professor of Tufts University School of Medicine and chair of the Health Protection Fund - Tobacco Control Advisory Committee. ``For the first time, we decided to bring New England teen and adult anti-tobacco leaders together with nationally-renowned activists to come up with strategies to say NO to these practices once and for all.''

The forum, called the Tobacco and Youth Empowerment Conference, is designed to give young people ammunition to fight Big Tobacco.

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Windfall creates welcome problem 

With so much cash on the horizon, lawmakers must decide whether to take their millions and create new health programs, provide tax cuts, or launch antismoking campaigns, among other ideas.

''When you have that kind of money coming in and have 150 legislators and a governor, you're going to get 151 proposals,'' said Paul S. Kelly, Rhode Island's Senate majority leader. . . And then there are the antismoking activists who look with dismay at Macera, Menino, and others for wanting to use the money for anything other than health care and tobacco control. Even though the states are legally free to spend the money as they wish, the American Cancer Society, the Heart Association, and the American Lung Association argue it should be used to help smokers quit and to prevent teenagers from taking up the habit.

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