Tobacco.org

Fernandez: NMC campus is now a smoke-free zone  

More than a month since the passage of a law that bans smoking in public places, the Northern Marianas College assured the public yesterday that the campus is now a smoke-free zone and is drafting policy that would address student violators.

College president Dr. Carmen Fernandez said the institution is compliant with Public Law 16-46, and that smoking is no longer allowed anywhere on NMC property.

Fernandez said that, soon after the enactment of the anti-smoking law, she issued a memorandum to all employees to inform them of the law's application on campus. She said she expects all students, faculty, and staff to comply with the measure.

Jump to full article »

Fernandez: NMC campus is now a smoke-free zone  

More than a month since the passage of a law that bans smoking in public places, the Northern Marianas College assured the public yesterday that the campus is now a smoke-free zone and is drafting policy that would address student violators.

College president Dr. Carmen Fernandez said the institution is compliant with Public Law 16-46, and that smoking is no longer allowed anywhere on NMC property.

Fernandez said that, soon after the enactment of the anti-smoking law, she issued a memorandum to all employees to inform them of the law's application on campus. She said she expects all students, faculty, and staff to comply with the measure.

Jump to full article »

Anti-smoking law major accomplishment of Youth Congress  

One of the major accomplishments of the 11th Youth Congress is the recent enactment of the anti-smoking law in the Commonwealth, according to Speaker Alana May Leon Guerrero.

The measure was adopted by the Youth Congress and was recognized by the House members and eventually was crafted into legislation.

During Leon Guerrero's term, Saipan Tribune learned that a total of 17 resolutions and four bills were passed by members.

Their bills and resolutions serve as strong suggestion for the island's lawmakers.

Jump to full article »

• No-smoking bill now a law  

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signed into law yesterday a measure that bans smoking in virtually all areas in the CNMI, except in private residences, most private bars, casinos, and departure terminal of airports.

With the governor's enactment of the Smoke-Free Air Act of 2008, smoking is now prohibited in government facilities, schools, places of employment and public places-a development that was hailed by health advocates, non-smokers, and even smokers who want to quit.

House Bill 16-47, HD2, SD1, CCS1 is now Public Law 16-46.

The sweeping smoking ban law means if any member of the Legislature, for example, wants to smoke cigarettes outside, he or she needs to be at least 26 feet away from the legislative building's doorway entrance or exit on Capital Hill. At least 13 of 29 lawmakers smoke cigarettes or cigars.

Jump to full article »

Senate OKs no-smoking bill  

On a 7-0 vote, the Senate passed yesterday a bill banning smoking in all workplaces and public places, a move welcomed by some 40 representatives of health and anti-smoking advocacy groups who waited patiently for almost two hours for the Senate session to start.

Many of the health advocacy groups' members and supporters led by the CNMI Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and the Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition held or posted anti-smoking placards and posters on the Senate chamber's walls to get their message across. . . .

The House of Representatives has to adopt the same conference committee report on the bill and pass it, before the measure could reach the governor's desk for action.

The Fitial administration has yet to issue a statement whether to support or junk the bill if it passes the House.

Jump to full article »

Law allocates $1.4M for tobacco programs 

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial on Wednesday signed into law a bill appropriating over $1.4 million of tobacco control funds for fiscal year 2009.

House Bill 16-129, introduced by Rep. Joseph Deleon Guerrero and eight other House members, is now Public Law 16-39.

Fitial said while the measure appropriates money to worthwhile causes from the Tobacco Control Fund, it passed the House of Representatives on Oct. 31, 2008 and the Senate on April 15, 2009, six months into FY 2009. . . .

The bill provides $900,000 to the Department of Public Health's six programs: the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program ($535,000); the Community Guidance Center's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services ($250,000); mammogram film reading and interpretation ($39,000); the purchase of a network-attached storage for the Cancer Registry ($1,000); the Commonwea . . .

The bill also gives $75,000 each to Rota and Tinian's Tobacco and Substance Abuse prevention programs.

Jump to full article »

Stricter penalties for selling tobacco to minors eyed  

Two local lawmakers want to increase the penalties establishments face for selling tobacco products to minors.

Rep. Ralph DLG Torres and Rep. Raymond D. Palacios authored House Bill 16-238, which increases the fines for each offense.

Under the proposed legislation, if a retailer is found to give, sell or permits to give or sell any tobacco product to someone under the age of 18, the establishment will be assessed a fine of $1,000; imprisonment of not more than one year; and not more than 250 hours of community service for the first offense. Previously, businesses received a warning letter for the first offense.

Jump to full article »

Senate passes smoking ban bill  

The Senate passed a bill yesterday banning smoking in workplaces and public areas, although the legislative body made some changes easing the restrictions that were originally on the House bill.

All seven members present voted to pass House Bill 16-47, or "the Smoke-free Air Act of 2008." Senators Luis Crisostimo and Paul Manglona were absent. The Senate earlier took up the bill but sent it to committee where some amendments were made.

Under the legislation, all enclosed public places and indoor workplaces must be completely smoke-free. The Senate reduced the amount of space from 25 feet to 15 feet required between the smoke-free area and doorways, windows, and ventilation intakes.

Also, 10 percent of the total square footage of a hotel may be designated as smoking areas as long as it is not enclosed. . . .

The smoking ban does not apply to bars, private residences, and retail tobacco stores, as well as hotel rooms and private rooms in nursing homes that are designated as smoking. . .

The House must now vote on the amendments before it goes to the governor for his signature.

Jump to full article »

A fifth of retailers caught selling cigarettes to minors  

An estimated 20 percent or at least 51 of the 259 retailers licensed to sell tobacco products on Saipan were found selling cigarettes to minors or those under the age of 18, according to the Department of Commerce's Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Control Division.

ABTC director David Maratita said yesterday the violators were caught during random sting operations in multiple locations on the island.

Some of them were repeat violators and face a fine of at least $500, while others were issued warning letters. ABTC revisits retailers that were issued citations to monitor compliance.

"Around 80 percent of the licensed retailers are complying with the tobacco law and about 20 percent are not in compliance," he said.

Because of the noncompliance rate, ABTC conducts workshops and educational campaigns about the tobacco law. On Thursday, the division conducted a half-day tobacco merchant workshop on its programs, activities and tobacco laws, including Public Law 11-75 which aims to prevent the use of tobacco products among the youth.

Jump to full article »

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance --- Pacific Island United States Territories, 2007 

Results: Across the five Pacific Island territories, the leading causes of mortality among all ages include unintentional injuries, including motor-vehicle crashes; cancer; cardiovascular diseases; stroke; and diabetes. Results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) indicated that high school students in the Pacific Island territories engaged in behaviors that increased their risk for mortality or morbidity from these causes. . . .

Tobacco Use

Lifetime Cigarette Use

Across surveys, the overall percentage of students who had ever tried cigarette smoking (even one or two puffs) (i.e., lifetime cigarette use) ranged from 56.8% to 78.1% (median: 69.7%). Prevalence among female students ranged from 53.1% to 78.7% (median: 67.6%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 57.1% to 77.6% (median: 71.6%) (Table 13).

Lifetime Daily Cigarette Use

Across surveys, the overall percentage of students who had ever smoked at least one cigarette every day for 30 days (i.e., lifetime daily cigarette use) ranged from 13.6% to 17.6% (median: 16.6%). Prevalence among female students ranged from 12.6% to 16.2% (median: 13.1%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 14.2% to 22.3% (median: 17.8%) (Table 13).

Current Cigarette Use

Across surveys, the overall percentage of students who had smoked cigarettes on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey (i.e., current cigarette use) ranged from 23.1% to 37.6% (median: 31.1%). Prevalence among female students ranged from 20.4% to 31.1% (median: 25.4%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 22.9% to 44.4% (median: 31.2%) (Table 14).

Jump to full article »

'Enforce ban on betel nut, smoking in govt offices'  

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has called on his Cabinet members to enforce the ban on smoking and betel nut chewing in government offices.

The governor said all government employees under the Executive Branch are prohibited from smoking and chewing betel nut on government property during government working hours.

Jump to full article »

BATEMAN: Butt out 

If questionable science attributing all kinds of terrible things to secondhand smoke can be used to force otherwise law-abiding citizens to not light up, then I wonder just what else is on the horizon. Will the crazed nanny government ban mayonnaise? . . .

What about other harmful practices? People die every day from drowning, so should they make laws forbidding you to enter the water? . . .

If you prefer a place that forbids smoking, then by all means go there. If you prefer a place that let's you choose, then give them your business. But do not expect the Legislature to turn those business owners and other customers into slaves to your particular desires.

Jump to full article »

Saipan Chamber backs smoking ban bill but. 

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce is backing CNMI House legislation designed to ban smoking in local restaurants, but is urging lawmakers to adopt a host of amendments providing relief for hotels and restaurants attached to bars.

The legislation, H.B. 16-47, introduced by Rep. Justo Quitugua, was the focus of several recent CNMI House Health Education and Welfare Committee hearings on Saipan, Tinian and Rota. House lawmakers will debate the bill in a committee meeting Tuesday.

Jump to full article »

• 'Let the market dictate smoking ban policy' 

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, who had been reluctant to support a smoking ban proposal, yesterday welcomed the recent move by some local restaurants to turn smoke-free.

Shirley's Coffee Shop, Tony Roma's and Capricciosa are some of the private dining establishments that recently banned smoking in their premises.

"I believe in free market forces and I applaud the private sector's voluntarily response to growing market demands for greater standards of public health and safety," said Fitial, a non-smoker.

Jump to full article »

• Ahead of the curve in no-smoking trend 

While a bill that seeks to outlaw public smoking in the Northern Marianas awaits legislative approval, a handful of restaurants and bars on Saipan have already implemented either a partial or full ban on smoking inside their establishments.

Aqua Resort Club's Costa Terrace Restaurant has been non-smoking since April 2007-making it a full year that the outlet has been tobacco free, according to the Achugao hotel's food and beverage sales manager Yoshimi Yanagisawa

She said that nonsmokers have liked the change and are quite comfortable with the no-smoking policy at Costa Terrace.

Jump to full article »