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Mainers disagree on beach smoking ban 

Smokers heading to Crescent Beach in Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough Beach will no longer be allowed to light up there.

Gov. John Baldacci earlier this month signed into law a bill prohibiting smoking at Maine’s state park beaches, which include Crescent and Scarborough.

The bill, LD 67 – “An Act To Protect Beaches in Maine’s State Parks” – was sponsored by state Sen. John Nutting, D-Leeds, and passed in the state Senate in April. Baldacci signed it on May 13.

The smoking ban applies to areas within 20 feet of beaches, playgrounds, snack bars, group picnic shelters, enclosed areas or public restrooms.

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Campaigners Claim Scottish Public Backs Curbs On Tobacco Sales 

New proposals aimed at curbing tobacco sales have the backing of the Scottish public, anti-smoking campaigners said today.

Sheila Duffy, the chief executive of Ash Scotland, said the majority of people supported measures put forward by the Scottish Government.

Ministers want to outlaw cigarette vending machines and are also proposing to ban tobacco displays in shops.

In addition the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill aims to introduce a registration scheme for retailers.

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Plans to fine young smokers 

A BILL will be introduced to Parliament next week to ban children from smoking in South Australia ¿ and fine them $315.

While it is an offence for children to smoke in Tasmania, the introduction of a fine would be an Australian-first.

In SA it is an offence to sell cigarettes to minors and a police officer or teacher can confiscate tobacco from children.

But Liberal MP Iain Evans, who is introducing the Bill, says a gap exists in the laws.

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National Non-Smoking Week to raise public awareness 

A national non-smoking week from May 25-31is held in response to World No-Tobacco Day on May 31.

Many activities, including a ban on smoking in public places and offices, will take place, according to Dr Ly Ngoc Kinh, director of the Ministry of Health's Medical Treatment Department, who spoke at a press meeting in Ha Noi on Monday.

He said meetings and demonstrations about the dangers of smoking would also be held along city streets.

Smoking is a serious health problem in Viet Nam, with 56 per cent of men smoking, one of the world's highest rates, according to Kinh.

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• EDITORIAL: Smoke free legislation erodes freedom, affects business 

There's no doubt that smoking or being around smokers is a health risk.

But, isn't just about anything we do a risky? Other than sitting inside all day and doing nothing, every single step we take involves some chances. . . .

I find it interesting that nonsmokers who go to bars and want the smoking ban because of health concerns, pour liver-damaging alcohol into their bodies. I find it ironic that Doyle says he tries so hard to keep and help business in the state, but signs a bill that will undoubtedly hurt bars and restaurants.

So, thanks to the state government for telling me as a customer and the many restaurant and bar owners what's best for us all as the further eroding of our freedoms in this country continue.

Good luck bars and restaurants. As if things weren't tough enough in the current economy.

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Breathing easier on World No Tobacco Day  

Saskatchewan workers will be able to breathe a little easier this World No Tobacco Day. On May 31st, new regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act will ban smoking in all indoor workplaces, and health groups are elated.

"The single most serious threat to the health of our patients is tobacco," says SMA President Dr. George Miller. "Each step we take as individuals and as a community toward healthier lifestyles and healthier workplaces is a step toward a healthier province."

In 2005 the province banned smoking in all public places, but many workplaces not accessible to the public continued to be able to allow smoking.

“Finally all workers will be protected from the hazards of second-hand smoke,” said Lynn Greaves, President of the Saskatchewan Coalition for Tobacco Reduction. “We look forward to working with the government on additional measures to address Saskatchewan’s high smoking rates.”

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Michigan House OKs smoking ban  

Michigan lawmakers again are searching for the elusive common ground that could lead to some sort of workplace smoking ban in the state.

The Democrat-led Michigan House approved a bill by a 73-31 vote Tuesday that would ban smoking at most workplaces including restaurants and bars. Detroit's three casinos and some smoke shops or tobacco specialty shops would be exempt from the ban.

But it does not appear a compromise has been reached with the Republican-led Senate on a final version of a smoking ban that might become law. The Senate hasn't taken up a smoking ban bill this year. But last year, the chamber backed a ban that did not include any exemptions.

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'Tremendous' Impact Of Smoking On Mortality And Cardiovascular Disease, Norway Finds 

Non-smokers live longer and have less cardiovascular disease than those who smoke, according to a 30-year follow-up study of 54,000 men and women in Norway. Smoking, say the investigators, is "strongly" related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality from various causes.

The results, presented in Stockholm at EuroPRevent 2009, reflect what many other studies have indicated, but, says investigator Professor Haakon Meyer from the University of Oslo and Norwegian Institute of Public Health, these results provide a picture of the long-term, absolute "real life" risk. . . .

"What these results show is the cumulative long-term association between smoking and death and cardiovascular risk," says Professor Meyer. "Around two-thirds of the middle-aged heavy-smoking men and half the heavy-smoking women had died or had a cardiovascular disease within the next 30 years. The incidence was much lower in never-smokers and reflects the tremendously adverse effect of smoking on health and longevity. The difference in outcome between the never-smokers and heavy smokers was substantial.

"This study underlines the public health messages about smoking. We have seen declines in the prevalence of smoking in developed countries, but challenges still remain. Certain population groups - young women, immigrant communities - still have high rates of smoking, and there's more to be done here."

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• Pa. panel rules against state schools' smoking ban 

Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities cannot bar faculty members and coaches from smoking outdoors on campus, unless their unions agree to the restriction, a state labor panel ruled. . . .

The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, the union that represents 5,800 faculty members and coaches, filed an unfair labor practice complaint challenging the policy on grounds that any such change is subject to collective bargaining.

In a ruling last week, the state Labor Relations Board sided with the union. It ruled that the university system, like other public-sector employers, cannot impose such a ban on unionized employees without the consent of their collective-bargaining agents.

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UN health agency wins prestigious Spanish prize 

The World Health Organization, which has helped spearhead efforts to contain swine flu, won Spain's prestigious Prince of Asturias prize on Wednesday for its work fighting global killers such as AIDS, polio and tuberculosis.

The jury also singled out the Geneva-based U.N. health organization for its efforts to lower infant mortality rates and reduce tobacco consumption around the world.

"WHO is one of the most respected international institutions for its remarkable work fostering coordination and cooperation between countries in health matters," the foundation said in announcing the award.

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IN BRIEF: Anti-smoking lobby responds to opposition 

The chief of a council opposed to smoking has defended the government's plan to ban puffing in all indoor workplaces and public areas commencing in July despite strong and persistent opposition from some bars and nightclubs.

Most indoor workspaces and public areas have been covered by a smoking ban since 2007. Some bars, nightclubs, bathhouses and mahjong rooms however had been granted an exemption until June 30 this year.

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Anti-smoking lobby: Increase fines 

An expert panel advocating a ban on smoking in public places has called on authorities in Beijing to double the 5,000-yuan fine on establishments that fail to prevent smokers from lighting up on their premises.

Related readings: Experts, citizens favor tough law on public smoking Raise tax to cut smoking Smoking order repealed at public uproar

A draft to revise the current anti-smoking regulations and raise the penalty will be completed by the end of 2010, Cui Xiaobo, a member of the panel, told China Daily yesterday.

"Harsher penalties for establishments will be more effective than going around fining individuals," Cui said.

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Study: Smoking bans do not cause job losses in bars and restaurants 

New research suggests that exempting bars from community smoking bans makes no economic difference in terms of preserving bar employment, and that even the most comprehensive clean indoor air policies do not lead to a reduction in hospitality jobs.

Researchers hope the findings, based on a study in Minnesota, will factor into future debates within municipalities and states considering the economic and health issues surrounding smoking-ban proposals.

The study examined employment trends over three years in eight Minnesota cities with different types of clean indoor air policies and two cities with no laws restricting smoking. Of the policies examined, some were comprehensive bans prohibiting smoking in all workplaces, while others banned smoking in most public places and businesses, but exempted bars.

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• Activated stem cells in damaged lungs could be first step toward cancer 

Stem cells that respond after a severe injury in the lungs of mice may be a source of rapidly dividing cells that lead to lung cancer, according to a team of American and British researchers.

"There are chemically resistant, local-tissue stem cells in the lung that only activate after severe injury," said Barry R. Stripp, Ph.D., professor of medicine and cell biology at Duke University Medical Center. "Cigarette smoke contains a host of toxic chemicals, and smoking is one factor that we anticipate would stimulate these stem cells. Our findings demonstrate that, with severe injury, the resulting repair response leads to large numbers of proliferating cells that are derived from these rare stem cells."

Stripp said this finding could be related to the increased incidence of lung cancer in people with chronic disease states, in particular among cigarette smokers.

The findings were published in the advance online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences during the week of May 25.

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22nd Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology 

The 22nd Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) will be held from 12-16 September 2009 in Istanbul, Turkey.

More than 6,500 clinical and basic scientists such as psychiatrists, neurologists, psychologists and neuroscience researchers from all over the world will attend the ECNP Congress, which is the largest annual high scientific standard congress on mental disorders and neuropsychopharmacology in Europe. Renowned experts from 25 countries will present the latest achievements and breakthroughs in neuropsychopharmacology and related disciplines in both clinical and preclinical settings, as well as discuss the various aspects of pharmacotherapy of brain disorders and their impact on patients� quality of life.

The scientific programme will comprise, among others, the following topics: . . .

* Novel treatment for smoking

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