Tobacco.org

Pa. smoking ban debate moves along at slow burn 

It would be an understatement to say that progress toward a statewide indoor smoking ban has moved along at a slow burn.

A dispute between the House and Senate over how strict to make the measure left the debate hanging when state budget negotiations concluded in July. The Senate favored a longer list of establishments where smoking would still be allowed.

A conference committee to resolve those differences wasn't appointed until December, but leaders hoped it could deliver a final proposal early this year.

Four months later, no compromise has emerged and it isn't clear if a scheduled April 29 meeting will yield one.

Even if it does, the legislative clock is ticking.

Jump to full article »

Smoking ban in Columbia bars possible 

A deal might be in the works that would ban smoking in all Columbia workplaces -- including bars.

Councilman E.W. Cromartie, one of the four council members who voted to exempt bars from the city's smoking ban, is having second thoughts about the issue.

"I think we may have to look at that again," Cromartie said. "It has been some time since the last time we voted."

Only one council member would have to change his or her vote for the issue to be reconsidered.

The change comes after hearing complaints from restaurant and bar owners.

Jump to full article »

Smoking ban may get revision 

Changes could be coming to Lexington's 4-year-old law that prohibits smoking in almost all enclosed public places.

Urban County Councilman David Stevens is spearheading an effort to review the "persistent problems" with the current law and to recommend the first revisions to the public indoor smoking ban since it was implemented in April 2004.

Problems with the law include enforcement issues such as gathering the proper documentation to prosecute a smoking ban citation in the courts and whether the patron doing the smoking or the business where the patron is smoking should be cited for violating the ban.

The largest problem is the bingo halls and whether high school booster clubs that run bingo should be considered private organizations, which are exempt from the smoking ban

Jump to full article »

Smoking groups consolidate 

The state's smoking-cessation efforts are being consolidated into the Vermont Quit Network, which plans a statewide mailing to Vermonters this week in hopes of reaching the 18 percent of adults who smoke.

The free services include a toll-free Vermont Quit Line -- 1-800-QUIT-NOW, hospital-based smoking cessation programs for individuals or groups and online and self-help resources.

Jump to full article »

Smoking blamed in house fire 

Fire officials believe a resident falling asleep on a couch while smoking caused a fire that heavily damaged a house southeast of downtown Fort Wayne early Friday.

The Fort Wayne Fire Department was called to 1343 Hayden St. at 3 a.m. When the first engine arrived, the heavy fire on the first floor had extended to the second floor.

Jump to full article »

Smoking ban wins award  

Roseville received a state Clean Air Award for its new ordinance banning smoking in parks.

Roseville's ban, which went into effect in January, prohibits smoking in the city's 55 public parks and more than 4,000 acres of open space, including streambeds and bicycle trails.

Golf courses are the only exception.

Jump to full article »

LETTER: Smoking is a vice?  

I noticed Ron Jenkins, in his article in Sunday's paper, referenced smoking as a "vice."

Upon consulting my Webster's Dictionary, I find vice to be all of the following:

1. An immoral or evil habit to practice. 2. Immoral conduct/depraved behavior. . . .

If one does not approve of smoking, does that give them the right to label one who smokes as "committing a vice?" I am not a smoker, but will defend the right to smoke for those who do, and too, I don't understand the logic behind trying to raise the cigarette tax to a point so high it forces smokers to quit when you are counting on the tax money to help fund state government.

Jump to full article »

Statewide Smoking Ban Still Popular 

Although the statewide smoking ban was held up in the state Legislature this past session, it still seems to be popular among voters. A just-released survey from Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) and St. Norbert College found that 41% of respondents want a complete ban, now.

Another 11% want a complete ban, but say that bars should be exempted for two years after the ban is implemented; 16% say bars should be permanently exempted. The smoking status of taverns appears to be the main reason for opposition to the ban. Of the 30% of respondents who said that a smoking ban should not be passed at all, nine out of 10 cited taverns as the reason why. Yet a full 70% of ban opponents would support nonsmoking public buildings.

Jump to full article »

Lone Oak tenants seek removal of Waite from housing authority 

A petition to remove Alderman Bill Waite from the Chetek Housing Authoirty board was brought to the city council meeting April 8 by Terri Adams, a tenant of Lone Oak Manor. The petition alleges that Waite is rude in his demeanor, callous and uncaring about senior citizen issues that affect the tenants, and that he has made inflammatory statements about being a "taxpayer."

In addition, the petition expressed concern that Waite was letting personal feelings cloud his judgement over issues, in reference to a nonsmoking policy that was adopted by a unanimous board vote in December. Waite, the current chairman of the board, was vocal about the effects that smoking took on his family and was in favor of the policy. During an interview on Wednesday, Adams noted that she felt Waite's decision was based on personal feelings and not in what was in the wish of the residents.

About 34 individuals live at Lone Oak Manor, over which the Chetek Housing Authority has jurisdiction. Of the group, approximately 17 signed the petition, smokers and nonsmokers alike.

The no-smoking policy became effective Jan. 1.

Jump to full article »

Council Strengthens Existings Smoking Ban; Shows Weak Support for Expanding it to Residential Units 

The City Council Tuesday took initial steps to ban smoking in the common areas of multi-unit residential buildings, but indicated it would likely not extend the ban inside the units themselves.

The hotly debated issue came as the council voted unanimously to strengthen enforcement of its most recent smoking law by making business owners liable who "knowingly or intentionally" allow patrons to smoke in outdoor dining areas. The law will require businesses to prominently post no-smoking signs in those areas.

The council also extended Santa Monica's smoking ban to all public library grounds and lowered the fines for first-time violations to $100 from $250, putting it in line with other cities that have similar smoking bans.

Jump to full article »

Smoke-free housing needed, say health groups 

Carol Lebel, who suffers from multiple chemical sensitivities, has been on the Ottawa Allergy and Environmental Health Association's safe house waiting list for more than two years.

As the province is less tolerant of second-hand smoke, advocates in Ottawa are working to expel it from one of the last places it can hover - the home.

The Ottawa Council on Smoking and Health is calling on seven eco-friendly developers to designate at least one new building construction in the Ottawa area 100-per-cent smoke free.

"We know the demand is out there, it just hasn't been met," said Ellen Holmes, past-president of the council.

Jump to full article »

Survey: Fewer high school students smoking, but more are overweight 

More students are overweight while significantly fewer are smoking on Mississippi's school campuses, according to a survey of public high school students.

The state Department of Health and state Department of Education on Thursday released the results of their 2007 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey.

There has been a 37 percent increase in the number of overweight students.

On the other hand, though, there is a 70 percent decrease in the number of students smoking at school and 39 percent decrease in the number of students smoking at all, according to the latest findings

Jump to full article »

The Stop Smoking Program Gives Millions an Escape from the Credit Crunch  

A newly-launched program to help smokers quit could give them a direct route out of the "Credit Crunch".

There are an estimated 1.3 billion smokers worldwide (according to the World Health Organization). Between them, they get through over 5,000 billion cigarettes every year - and contribute an estimated $33 billion of earnings to the tobacco companies. This is not counting the countless billions of tax dollars collected worldwide in excise duties on tobacco.

Smokers are often advised to stop smoking to improve their health and life expectancy. The most immediate benefits, however, are felt in their wallets. Substantial sums can be saved very quickly - quite apart from the benefits to health and self-esteem.

It is often considered a feat of willpower to quit smoking; but Bernard Howes, publisher of The Stop Smoking Program, says willpower alone stands little chance.

Jump to full article »

Wenceslao: Smoking ban, Minglanilla and a vice mayor 

First is the complaint of reader Ronald Veloso, who called me up to complain about people smoking in buses.

"Capitol must find ways to implement the ban on this practice," Veloso said.

He added that for starters, "no smoking" notices should be made prominent inside passenger vehicles. I say Mr. Veloso's lament is legitimate. It looks like the implementation of the smoking ban in passenger buses and jeepeneys has been neglected for other concerns.

Jump to full article »

• Places that allow smoking on water are harder to find 

It's difficult to truly appreciate smoking restrictions on cruise ships until you've sat in the late-night dance club on an Italian ship packed to the ceiling with 300 chain-smoking Italian high school students.

The dance floor had a fog machine, but it was completely unnecessary.

Just two years after I witnessed that scene, however, the world is a different - and increasingly smaller - place for smokers. . . .

Last week, Celebrity said it will eliminate smoking from staterooms and, more significantly, all balconies, in October, becoming the first major North American line to ban lighting up in both areas. (Italian line MSC Cruises enacted a similar ban in September.) . . .

A few of the ultra-luxury and boutique lines have already made similar changes, including Regent Seven Seas and, to a lesser extent, Crystal Cruises. Celebrity's and MSC's are among the first behemoth-ship lines to cover all cabins and balconies, the latter traditionally having been the haven for smokers at sea. Royal Caribbean, for instance, enacted a smoking ban last year on all staterooms, but not on balconies.

Jump to full article »