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Bill passes requiring safer-burning cigarettes 

Legislation that would mandate safer-burning cigarettes designed to reduce home fires will soon land on Gov. Charlie Crist's desk.

On Monday, the Senate unanimously approved new cigarette standards for tobacco companies, following the House's lead Friday.

Graphic What are fire-safe cigarettes?

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SC House approves bill calling for fire-safe cigarettes 

Tobacco companies would have to ensure cigarettes meet fire safety standards under legislation that has won key approval in the South Carolina House.

Such cigarettes use slow-burning paper and go out when they aren't being puffed.

South Carolina is one of 12 states acting on such legislation this year. R.J. Reynolds has said its cigarettes would meet the standards by 2009. Philip Morris has said it would like a uniform federal law

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Report links cigarette smuggling to terrorists 

Congressional Republicans issued a report Tuesday saying cigarette-smuggling rackets originating on New York's Indian reservations are transferring huge sums of money to Middle East terror groups -- but the Seneca Nation of Indians took issue with just about every part of the study.

The report, released by Republicans on the House Committee on Homeland Security, is based largely on interviews with state and federal law enforcement officials and events that happened years ago.

It offers no new large-scale evidence of cigarette money flowing to terrorists, but it includes plenty of speculation about the potential ramifications of cheap tax-free cigarettes being smuggled off the reservation.

"In total, law enforcement officials in New York State estimate that well organized cigarette-smuggling networks generate between $200,000 and $300,000 per week," said the report, which was commissioned by Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford.

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Gracious living and the tattoo  

In a nicely ironic twist, the self-branding once associated with criminals has been hijacked by big brands. Previously capable of selling nothing save Harley-Davidsons, tattoos have been co-opted by everyone from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco to Steuben Glass. Last year, Camel Wide cigarettes replicated vintage watercolour tattoos in its print ads and packaging. Dodge marketed its Caliber SE to 20- to 30-year-old males as a bad-boy vehicle in print ads showing the car receiving a tattoo. "Companies think it's a way to connect with that 18- to 35-year-old demographic everyone is after," says Campbell, . . .

A documentary about the life of Norman Collins will make the film festival circuit this year, says Steven Grasse, the CEO of Philadelphia-based Gyro Advertising, which co-owns the Sailor Jerry brand and produced the Camel Wide campaign.

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Judy's smoking mad! 

Are those crayons in Judy Wasylycia-Leis’ hands? Nope, they are flavoured cigarettes. The NDP health critic unveiled a draft bill aimed at shutting down loopholes in the Tobacco Act by tightening requirements on labeling, packaging and the sale of flavoured tobacco products.

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UofT to dump tobacco investments  

The University of Toronto is the latest university to alter its investment portfolio, citing ethical concerns. With yesterday's announcement to divest millions in tobacco stocks, U of T became the first educational institution in Canada to boycott the tobacco industry.

A student activist who successfully campaigned to have U of T sell off its tobacco investments says other Canadian schools should follow suit and end the "unethical practice."

"We hope that other institutions will get a clear message that investing in tobacco companies is an unethical practice and it's something that should not be done," Tyler Ward, president of Education Bringing Youth Tobacco Truths(E-BUTT).

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• Dan Gardner: Tear down the walls 

"In the name of science," wrote an editorialist in Maclean's magazine, "we are to believe that, like the sight of a lady's ankle in a previous era, the mere glimpse of a pack of cigarettes will bring on a paroxysm of uncontrollable urges. This isn't science, it's political symbolism." . . .

I'm sure many people feel the same way. Given this premier's record, it's hard not to.

But this time, Mr. McGuinty is right. There are solid, empirical reasons to believe the display of cigarettes in corner stores promotes a habit that is the leading cause of preventable death. And it mainly does so among minors. . . .

And do not doubt that the tobacco industry makes use of the latest psychological research.

For my book, Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear, I interviewed American psychologist Paul Slovic, who was an expert witness for the U.S. government in a landmark lawsuit against Big Tobacco. "I was given some marketing documents from the tobacco industry going back 20 or 30 years," Slovic told me. "It was stunning. It was shocking. Consultants for the tobacco companies were doing studies and reporting the results, and basically they were 20 years ahead of many of the cognitive and social psychologists in understanding the importance of affect."

From the beginning, cigarette marketing has been both sophisticated and successful. . . .

Reversing that change requires "denormalization." If most people rarely or never encounter cigarettes, they will become strange. Positive feelings and associations will fade. Perceived risk will rise.

And most importantly, our social natures will encourage us to conform to a healthy norm. Simply by advertising that "most Montana teens are tobacco-free," report Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein in the new book Nudge, the state has produced "big improvements in the accuracy of social perceptions and also statistically significant decreases in smoking."

Whatever the political symbolism involved, that's science. And politicians are right to act on it.

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Middleburg Eyes Higher Utility Fees, 50-Cent Cigarette Tax 

Schiro asked the council April 24 to at least agree on his proposed rates and taxes and authorize a public hearing date on availability fees, utility rates and cigarette tax for the coming fiscal year so he could advertise the hearing.

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• Northern Ireland | Smoking ban 'has closed 100 pubs' 

More than 100 bars in Northern Ireland have closed since the introduction of the smoking ban, it has been claimed.

The Federation of Retail Licensed Trade said that 7% of Northern Ireland's pubs and bars had gone out of business since the ban's introduction a year ago.

Its chief execuitve Stephen Kelly said: "The much promoted view that non-smokers would be rushing to premises has not materialised.

"We expect another 100 to close next year."

The Federation of Retail Licensed Trade represents about 1,100 pubs, hotels and restaurants.

Mr Kelly also acknowledged some landlords had fared well since the ban's introduction.

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HEALTH DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES NICOTINE PATCH & GUM GIVEAWAY; NEW TV ADS FEATURE MARIE, A BRONX SMOKER WHO QUIT BY CALLING 311 

Today through May 1, New Yorkers Can Call 311 for Nicotine Patches and Gum at No Cost

Quit Now Before the Price of Most Cigarettes Jumps to $8.50 on June 3

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HEALTH DEPARTMENT DEBUNKS FIVE MYTHS ABOUT QUITTING SMOKING 

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 

HEALTH DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES NICOTINE PATCH & GUM GIVEAWAY: NEW TV ADS FEATURE MARIE, A BRONX SMOKER WHO QUIT BY CALLING 311 The Health Department launched a Nicotine Patch and Gum Program by rolling out a new series of anti-tobacco ads featuring Marie, a former smoker from the Bronx. Nicotine replacement helped Marie kick the habit in 2006. The Health Department is now urging all NYC smokers to follow her lead by calling 311. Nicotine replacement doubles the chances of quitting for good, and the City is offering them at no cost until May 1st. Read the press release See TV spots Debunking Five Myths About Quitting Smoking

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Province Moves To Ban Smoking In Cars With Kids 

The provincial government wants to make it illegal for you to smoke in a car with a child inside and is taking the first step to make that happen by introducing legislation Wednesday.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty once rejected the idea and suggested the emphasis should be on educating parents about the dangers of cigarette smoke in cars. A report from the Ontario Medical Association last year stated that smoke in enclosed spaces is concentrated.

But McGuinty has changed his mind on the issue and said the province has to protect kids who are being put in situations potentially damaging to their health.

According to Health Promotion Minister Margaret Best, the proposed law would give police the power to fine adults $250 if they're caught puffing in a car with anyone under the age of 16 inside.

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Revised Richardson smoking ban would include businesses 

In a change of direction from previous discussions, the Richardson City Council is considering a strict citywide smoking ban that would no longer exempt businesses, including bars and bowling alleys.

Council members discussed the issue late into the night Monday and will review a revised draft ordinance May 5. They could vote on it as early as May 12.

Three council members, Mayor Steve Mitchell, Dennis Stewart and Rhea Allison, joined Pris Hayes in supporting a comprehensive ban modeled after a Plano ordinance in effect for nearly a year.

As with the Plano law, the one in Richardson would apply to all kinds of businesses but one: tobacco retailers.

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Richland Township may snuff smoking in its parks 

Richland Township may prohibit smoking in its public parks -- the latest community to consider a health-conscious ban that would have been unthinkable decades ago.

Supervisors are slated to vote on the ordinance Monday. A majority of supervisors said Tuesday they support the ban, which is part of a comprehensive ordinance setting rules for Veterans Park and other township-owned open spaces in the Upper Bucks township.

The proposal follows on the heels of Quakertown

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