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EDITORIAL: Beyond the smoke 

What other product, for instance, does the government regulate - and, by extension, approve - that kills when used as directed?

And what other highly addictive drug does the FDA allow to be dispensed without a prescription?

To what extent, it must be asked, will the FDA regulate tobacco? To a logical, scientific extent? Or to a lesser, political extent?

Let's look at each path. . . .

Tobacco companies have, for decades, cowered behind the protection of the surgeon general's warning, albeit while quietly pooh-poohing it. Now, they'll get more government regulation, but added government protection with it: the FDA's eyes-wide-shut stamp of approval.

The irony is that, by regulating tobacco more fully - but not fully - the government might also be taking over much more of the responsibility for it.

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MP calls for changes to smoking ban in pubs  

Bridlington MP Greg Knight has launched a cross-party campaign to change the rules on smoking in pubs and clubs.

He said the Save Our Pubs And Clubs – Amend The Smoking Ban campaign had been launched at a time when almost 40 pubs a week were shutting down for good.

"They are a much-loved part of our national culture and it is high time for a rethink of the smoking ban."

He said the "one-size-fits-all" approach of banning smoking in every pub and club had hurt the businesses of hard-working publicans, especially in East Yorkshire.

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Health commissioner Thomas Farley wants to post grim anti-smoking signs anywhere cigarettes are sold 

The health department wants to serve up something new at your corner bodega - a fresh slice of blackened lung.

The grisly image is one of several new anti-smoking ads - as big as 3 feet by 3 feet - that new Health Commissioner Thomas Farley wants to post at the cash registers of every store in the city that sells cigarettes.

"You're going to see the grim realities of what it means to smoke," said Assistant Health Commissioner Sarah Perl."You're going to see what a blackened lung looks like. You're going to see what mouth cancer looks like. You're going to see what it looks like when you have throat cancer."

Health officials say the first-in-the-nation plan would counteract the big cigarette ads in bodega windows and at convenience store checkout counters.

The signs would feature stark warnings like "SMOKING KILLS" - translated into different languages - and pictures of smoke-damaged bodies.

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Tewksbury throws fuel on smoke-ban fire  

If you're a smoker, you better think twice about lighting up anywhere near a school building or school-sponsored event.

School officials and the Board of Health are more serious than ever about enforcing the district's no-smoking policy and are now taking strong measures to expand and enforce the existing policy to curb underage tobacco use and the spread of second-hand smoke.

Voting unanimously last night, the School Committee approved the final draft of a revised policy that will tie monetary penalties with smoking-cessation programs and disciplinary measures that increase with each offense.

The policy will now affect any individual -- regardless of whether they are a student, school employee or visitor -- who enters school property or attends a school event.

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Naughty Spice: Emma Bunton leaves royals' favourite club after she tries to flout smoking ban 

When it comes to throwing diva tantrums, Emma Bunton is not the first person who springs to mind.

But last night Baby Spice left clubbers at Mahiki nightclub shocked when she spat the dummy over the smoking ban.

The 33-year-old had asked whether she could smoke a cigarette in the club, and was more than a little upset when her request was refused. . . .

Surprisingly, Emma then demanded to speak to the club's manager.

Our spy added: 'The manager came over and politely told her that the club has a no smoking policy. He was overheard saying that they don't even do it for the princes.' . . .

Trying to flout the smoking ban seems to be a new trend among celebs.

Lily Allen was almost chucked out of Cafe de Paris last week for repeatedly sparking up - even after being told not to. How cheeky.

Last night proved a rare night out for Emma, who is mum to 22-month-old son Beau with long-term partner Jade Jones.

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Smokers, Retailers Brace For New Tobacco Rules  

"A lot of the issues with the new packaging are affecting us," said Denise Balko, with Tobacco Road.

New packaging, new rules and new federal government authority are hitting cigarettes. Packs will no longer have terms such as mild, light and low and those are just some of the changes.

"I don't think you can legislate behavior and it's not something the government should be involved in," said tobacco customer Bob Martinez.

The tobacco industry must also stop giving free samples and giving free clothing with cigarette company logos on it. Customers and workers alike said they are weary about what it will do to an industry where they say an uphill battle is already being fought.

And these new regulations come just a few months after the prices of cigarettes went up 150 percent all over the country.

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EDITORIAL: Bum a smoke? 

Dealing with a shaky economy: Very difficult.

Looking to overhaul a messy American health-care system: Very difficult.

Dealing with the Muslim world and the Arab Street: Very difficult.

Quitting smoking: Perhaps too difficult. . . .

. It's a world of mixed messages as well.

Just because the wise and the powerful of the past did it, and just because our current president might (well, likely does) do it, doesn't mean it's a good idea. You know all the warnings; all the reasons not to do so. As adults, we make our own choices. We certainly support legislation to prevent those who are underage from being more easily seduced into an addictive, expensive and potentially deadly lifestyle choice.

We can say that Obama would be better off to get completely away from cigarettes, but we can't fault him greatly if he occasionally hits up one of his staffers for a coffin nail. Many of us have been there.

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Editorial: Tobacco-free is worthy goal 

So with nearly 20 percent of adults in Lee County who smoke, and young people lighting up at a higher rate than the state average, there's good reason for public health providers' new campaign, Tobacco-Free Lee. . . .

According to a recent survey, 18.4 percent of Lee high-schoolers and 5.7 percent of Lee middle-schoolers reported smoking within 30 days,; the statewide numbers were 14.5 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

Equally alarming, 22.6 percent of Lee women reported smoking and 14 percent reported smoking during pregnancy.

Bringing together students, adults and leaders from the business and faith communities is a good start in Tobacco-Free Lee's efforts to decrease the number of smokers and would-be smokers.

The former will be directed to resources to help them quit. The latter will be shown through marketing campaigns that a minority of students engage in such risky behavior, contrary to what students believe.

To get involved or register to participate in a daylong organizational and training workshop, contact Brendan Donohue at 332-9651. For free help in kicking the habit, call the Florida Quitline at 877-822-6669.

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Still in Flavor Country? 

With unprecedented support, Congress recently passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which aims to protect children and teens.

However, some store owners, smokers and even a few non-smokers aren’t so sure the reasons are valid. . . .

Said UNL sophomore music major Zach Smith: "The only way for tobacco companies to continue turning a profit on the oldest drug in America is to advertise to a younger audience so the nicotine can take hold earlier."

The FDA will have the power to delve into what exactly is going into tobacco products and control it.

"(If) the FDA can control the amount of harmful carcinogens in cigarettes, that would be a tremendous step forward toward healthier lives for all Americans, smokers and nonsmokers alike," Smith added.

Conversely, some see this as an infringement on rights.

"I have a right to potentially endanger myself," said Grant Anderson, a Nebraska Wesleyan University student who rarely smokes but feels strongly about his rights. . . .

All in all, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act has polarized the community with those for it heralding it as a great advance and those against it bemoaning its reasons.

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LETTER: He loves New Hampshire, but ...  

As I sit here smoking my cigarette, I figured I'd share a thought or two about my first five years of residency in the state of New Hampshire. . . . My average wage was $6.25 per hour., and the jobs, well not so good. However, I was able to afford basic items to live (food, shelter, car, and cigarettes).

In the past five years, things have become increasingly harder to get by. Constant tax hikes on cigarettes and other items constantly being raised . . .

I propose that Governor Lynch stops raising the cigarette tax every time Massachusetts does and learns to keep things a little more in check than Massachusetts does, so that New Hampshire's residents can say they love their state. I still say it, but lately while shaking my head and forking over in some area's 100-150 percent more than I did five years ago for the same basic living items. . . .

In closing, may the great people of New Hampshire "Live Free or Die."

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VIDEO: Graphic Warnings In Store For City Smokers 

"In the same way they see the tobacco industry's imagery, we want them to see our imagery which is the real imagery. You smoke a cigarette you are not going to end up in on a mountaintop in the snow," said Assistant City Health Department Commissioner Sarah Perl.

Health officials say they've already been able to cut city smoking rates by nearly 30 percent through aggressive tactics from implementing the smoking ban in most public spaces to their hard-hitting anti-smoking ad campaigns.

The new signs would include information on how to quit, but they wouldn't be subtle. The smallest sign would be a foot and a half by a foot and a half in size, with the largest being three feet square.

At the Civic Deli, just a few blocks away from the Health Department, shop owners say placing something in front of their register that could be as large as three feet by three feet might be a bit much. It could block off their candy and energy bar displays. They say they are not worried other prominent warnings would be a danger to their business. In fact, they say it could be a good thing.

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LETTER: The scourge of cigarettes  

My heart goes out to Michael Milliken, and the other individuals and families like him who try to get by on low wages. The working poor in this country are struggling and there is little relief right now.

If Mr. Milliken had done his homework before moving to New Hampshire he would have discovered that we have one of the most regressive tax structures in the United States. Lower income people are hit the hardest here. However, I do not have sympathy for his complaining about the cigarette taxes in the state of New Hampshire.

New Hampshire has the lowest cigarette taxes in New England at $1.33 per pack. . . .

Few would argue that smoking cheaper cigarettes is more important than having low and moderate income children covered by health insurance. . . .

Cigarette butts are also the most littered item in the world, . . .

Carelessly tossed cigarettes can start forest fires, and fires related to smoking account for the greatest number of fire-related deaths . . .

It is too bad that many do not see that it is the addiction to cigarettes that brought disease and death into their lives in the first place.

To requote Mr. Milliken, "Live Free or Die."

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• Public Opinion Sought For New Anti-Smoking Measure  

The Board of Health wants to introduce a new anti-smoking amendment, but they wants the the public's opinion first.

New Yorkers are being called upon to give their opinion in a public hearing on July 30 on a new Health Code amendment that would put graphic anti-smoking warnings wherever tobacco products are sold. The warnings would include images depicting the adverse health effects of smoking and information on how to quit.

The measure, which is expected to be voted on in September, would require tobacco retailers to display these "point-of-sale warnings and cessations messages" wherever tobacco products are displayed and at the point of purchase is made, such as a cash register.

According to the Health Department, these displays will force the customer to see the health effects of smoking and visually contemplate their tobacco purchase. They say the signage also promotes a greater understanding of the toll tobacco takes on the body and encourage current smokers to quit.

"While the tobacco industry spends billions of dollars every year to glamorize smoking, we will show New Yorkers the harsh realities," Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley, stated, "These warning signs will help persuade smokers to quit and show children why they shouldn't start smoking."

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While the tobacco industry spends billions of dollars every year to glamorize smoking, we will show New Yorkers the harsh realities. These warning signs will help persuade smokers to quit and show children why they shouldn't start smoking.
NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley, on the Board of Health proposal to put graphic anti-smoking warnings wherever tobacco products are sold.

• LETTER: Tobacco regulation  

Let me applaud the stand on the tobacco issue taken in this congressional vote by Sens. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., and Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Reps. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, and Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville. . . .

As a young man who grew up in the tobacco fields, as a family practitioner who for 25 years depended on tobacco farmers for income for years and did not recognize the deleterious effects of tobacco, I am proud of my what representatives did.

In 1952, I was hired by the tobacco companies to do research on tobacco. Working with and under the direction of renowned doctors in toxicology and physics, we found in four experiments that nicotine had a strong relationship to the causes of many health problems. Not knowing at the time that my pay came from the Tobacco Institute, I soon found that we would not be allowed to publish our results.

[If] those people addicted to tobacco live a few years longer, they will see the death rate from lung cancer decrease. For nonsmokers who regularly breathe nicotine-containing smoke, their quality of life will begin improving almost immediately.

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EDITORIAL: The right thing  

"Our children and our country's health scored a major victory today, "Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said during the signing ceremony. "The message from President Obama and this Congress is clear: Big Tobacco and their powerful lobbyists can no longer hide the real dangers of tobacco and target our kids as the next generation of smokers. This new law was decades in the making, and at last our efforts have paid off."

Both men speak with authority on this issue. Sen. Lautenberg, who kicked a two pack-a-day habit more than 30 years ago, has been tireless in his fight for tobacco regulation. And President Obama still struggles with his addiction to cigarettes that began when he was a teenager.

It's a law long overdue, but not a politically expedient one. A Gallup poll conducted this week found that most Americans, even non-smokers, disagree with new laws expanding the government's regulatory power over tobacco. The tobacco companies, of course, are less than enthused, and several conservative legislators also take issue with the new rules.

Nevertheless, it was the right thing to do. And, as President Obama said, "It is a law that will save American lives."

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