Tobacco.org

Glazer: Cost of smoking goes beyond the price of a pack 

I grew up among smokers. . . ..

Uh-oh. No way was I going to set my baby up for failure before she was even born.

So on Sept. 14, 1984, at 10:15 a.m., I smoked my last cigarette. I know that because I still have the page from my calendar. . . .

Let me reiterate: One way or another, we all pay to play. I spent 20 years as a nonsmoker, thinking I'd dodged the COPD bullet and then it happened. I was suddenly hit with asthma. . . .

. . .

Last week, a woman brought some items to trade in my resale clothing store. As soon as I smelled the smoke, I closed the bag and told her as politely as I could that I couldn't buy her things because they were a "little smoky." She went ballistic, insisting that her clothes didn't smell and how dare I, yada, yada, yada. I wasn't listening. I was too busy digging in my pocket for an inhaler.

It saddens me to see young people puffing away. It infuriates me to see adults driving down the road, cigarettes hanging out of their mouths as two or three kids hop around in the back seat. And, most of all, it breaks my heart to see a pregnant woman open up her purse to reveal a pack of cigarettes next to her wallet.

Some things in life just can't be justified. Smoking during pregnancy is at the top of the list. It's a nasty game to play and it's unconscionable to make an unborn baby pay.

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• Greece's smoking ban not working, say officials  

More than six months after Greece introduced a ban on smoking in public places, officials were conceding that the third attempt to stamp out the habit is failing, it was reported Friday. Greece, one of the last bastions of smoking in the European Union, introduced a ban on smoking in public places on July 1.

According to a report in the Greek daily Kathimerini, despite awareness campaigns that were initially well received by the public in the countdown to the ban, the necessary reforms have not been carried out to ensure that the restrictions are enforced.

As a result, smoking continues in most bars and cafes, public offices and hospitals, according to Panayiotis Behrakis, the head of the steering committee set up to oversee the implementation of the restrictions.

"The whole country is smoking," Behrakis was quoted as saying to Kathimerini. . . .

One of the problems seems to be that bar and cafe owners have submitted incomplete applications for revised operating licenses.

Small cafes and restaurants with premises measuring less than 70 square metres have had to choose between becoming tobacco-free or admitting only patrons who smoke.

In addition, companies with more than 50 employees will be able to set up dedicated smoking areas on their premises.

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Public place smoking 

We know many people don’t want to breathe second-hand smoke, dislike the smell of tobacco smoke and avoid smoky places. That’s why we support restrictions on smoking in indoor public places including offices, restaurants and bars. . . .

Air filtration systems can also make a room more comfortable, although they too cannot completely remove the smoke. They do offer a relatively inexpensive alternative where built-in fresh air ventilation systems are less feasible, perhaps because of the size and complexity of a building.

For example, in Rome’s Fiumicino airport, British American Tobacco has provided comfortable enclosed smoking lounges with air filtration to demonstrate what can be done. Feedback from smokers has been very good.

Many of our companies also support a Respecting Choices campaign which aims to help the hospitality industry accommodate all its customers in restaurants, convention centres, cafes, bars, clubs and hotels, and involves technical analysis of ventilation and owners allocating flexible smoking and non-smoking areas.

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• BAT Egypt, Egyptian Hotel Association sign public place smoking MoU 

British American Tobacco, Egypt (BAT), together with the Egyptian Hotel Association (EHA) in Alexandria and Hurghada, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at providing hotel guests in both cities with designated non-smoking and smoking areas.

Signed in both Hurghada and Alexandria in late 2009, the program has taken immediate effect, and is in place in hotels in both Hurghada and Alexandria.

Building on a similar MoU signed with the South Sinai Governorate in February 2009, the initiative has been developed under the framework of BAT's global "Respecting Choices" program, which ensures that both non-smoking and smoking customers are equally catered to through a mutually beneficial solution. . . .

The "Respecting Choices" project, implemented by BAT in many countries worldwide, targets ETS through two methods: Segregation, which features both smoking and non-smoking areas in the same room, using airflow to limit the spread of smoke; and Separation, which features smoking rooms or lounges, using walls along with airflow techniques to prevent the smoke from spreading.

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Respecting Choices
BAT project to create smoking sections, implemented in many countries worldwide . . . it sez here . . .

As a responsible tobacco company, we believe in working with different entities - whether private or government - to ensure that only consenting adult smokers are exposed to tobacco products. We are delighted to have been able to partner with as influential a body as the Egyptian Hotel Association on such a worthy initiative.
Beverley Spencer-Obatoyinbo, General Manager of BAT Egypt.

It is the responsibility of every hospitality organization to provide its guests with various options, whether they are smokers or non-smokers.
Mr. Waseem Mohiedin, President of the Egyptian Hotel Association (EHA).

Businesses weigh in on impact of smoking ban 

In December, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed into law a smoking ban that will take place starting on May 1.

Walking into a smoky restaurant or bar will soon be a thing of the past. And many local business owners are looking forward to the fresher air.

In December, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed into law a smoking ban that will take place starting on May 1.

Melissa Wellhead, manager of the Flight Deck Bar, believes the smoking ban won't hurt business in the long run.

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Delray Medical Center bans smoking on hospital grounds 

Delray Medical Center is enacting a permanent smoke break on its campus.

With the move, the hospital joins Boca Raton Community Hospital as a smoke-free medical center.

Effective immediately, no one is allowed to smoke on the Delray Medical Center grounds, 5352 Linton Blvd.

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• Smoking ban ‘not working’ 

More than six months after smoking restrictions were applied in public spaces, in line with European Union legislation, little has changed, authorities have told Kathimerini.

Although an awareness campaign was well received by the public in the countdown to the July 1 ban, the necessary reforms have not been carried out to ensure that the restrictions are enforced. As a result, smoking continues in most bars and cafes, public offices and hospitals, according to Panayiotis Behrakis, the head of a steering committee set up to oversee the implementation of the restrictions. “The whole country is smoking,” he said.

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The whole country is smoking.
Panayiotis Behrakis, the head of a steering committee set up to oversee the implementation of the Greek smoking ban.

• VIDEO: Governor Blasts Smoking Ban Proposal 

A day to draw attention to the problem of heart disease drew strong words from Gov. Mark Parkinson.

State health officials and representatives from the American Heart Association joined Parkinson Friday for "Wear Red Day."

The national event encourages people to wear red in an effort to raise awareness that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women.

Parkinson says smoking and second-hand smoke are big risk factors for heart disease in men and women. He's pushing a statewide smoking ban, but called a measure introduced in the House this week meaningless.

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VIDEO: Parkinson criticizes House smoking bill as “fraud”  

Gov. Mark Parkinson on Friday said he would veto a House bill that would ban smoking in indoor public places but allow numerous exemptions.

Parkinson called House Bill 2642 “a ridiculous piece of public policy that is nothing but a fraud.”

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RCC could stamp out smoking 

After a year of study, RCC is considering a ban on all tobacco on its campuses in downtown Medford, White City and Grants Pass.

In January, the community college's board heard the first reading of a draft policy that would bar the use of all lighted or smokeless tobacco products on college property, except in personal vehicles. However, board members wanted to hear more options and asked to see proposals banning only smoking as well as an option to leave designated smoking areas on each campus, RCC spokeswoman Margaret Bradford said.

On Medford's Riverside campus, the smoking area is on the corner of a former parking lot along Eighth Street between Central Avenue and Bartlett Street.

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AUDIO: Cabell set to implement smoking ban  

The Cabell County Health Department is implementing a ban on smoking in bars but frustration remains high across the state with similar bans.

Cabell County’s ban begins on February 26th. Stacy Wehrle is with the American Legion Post 16 in Huntington, which fought the ban because of its potential economic impact.

“Well we’re concerned, we realize it’s going to reduce some people if they can’t come in and smoke while they’re getting a beer they’ll stay away,” Wehrle said. “If it’s a ruling and a law then we have to abide by it, if we don’t they’ll take our license away from us.”

Under Cabell’s existing regulation, smoking is banned in all restaurants and workplaces. But establishments where alcohol represents more than 80 percent of sales are exempt from the regulation.

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PEELE: Smoking and Addiction - Fad and Fashion  

My views on nicotine addiction don't fit any known template. Except my own. And, oh, the facts. And to show how mainstream, how core, my views are, I‘ll refer in this post to only U.S. Government publications for data.

I. 1964 Surgeon General's Report - Smoking Not Addictive

My views on nicotine addiction don't fit any known template. Except my own. And, oh, the facts. And to show how mainstream, how core, my views are, I‘ll refer in this post to only U.S. Government publications for data.

I. 1964 Surgeon General's Report - Smoking Not Addictive . . .

II. 1988 SGR Nicotine Addiction - Addiction Changes!

A quarter century later, the people who brought you Smoking and Health were forced to come back with - dum-de-dum - Nicotine Addiction. It took these distinguished pharmacologists 600+ pages to explain that they were wrong in 1964 - smoking WAS addictive. . . .

But research has proven it's untrue that continuing smokers are more addicted than quitters. People can quit addictions at any point. And, even after decades of heavy marketing of smoking cessation aids, most smokers disregard the ads and still quit on their own.

The National Cancer Institute released a 2002 compendium report, Those Who Continue To Smoke, about smokers who hadn't quit since everyone learned that smoking causes cancer. NONE OF THE RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT CONTINUING SMOKERS WERE MORE ADDICTED. In fact, older smokers who were more dependent were more likely to quit! Why? Let's think. As you age, being a heavy smoker makes you reflect more on your mortality and you are more anxious to live.

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Smoking ban in gov’t premises cited by DoH 

A day after announcing that smoking highly increases the risk of developing lung cancer, Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral warned government employees and people transacting with government agencies to strictly adhere to the no-smoking rule in government premises or face disciplinary action as stipulated under the Civil Service Commission's Memorandum Circular No. 17, series of 2009.

"In places providing services relating to health and youth activity, such as hospitals, health centers, schools, universities and colleges, smoking is absolutely prohibited and 'smoking areas' are not allowed," she said.

The other day, Cabral called a conference and emphasized that one of the ways to avoid lung cancer is to stop smoking.

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FILER: Secondhand smoke is bad  

As I left the library last week, I noticed three men who were standing around a baby carriage that had two very young children in it. The three men had at least one thing in common - each of them was puffing on a cigarette while they stood less than 2 feet away from these youngsters. One of the men was the Dad. The scene distressed me. These children were in danger's way because they were forced to inhale the secondhand smoke from three cigarettes. . . .

Second-hand smoke, according to cancer.org, is classified as a known human carcinogen . . .

I know I will probably hear from a few smokers who think they know all of the dangers of this drug in reference to their own health. I also know that there are responsible smokers who do not smoke around others, but I see a lot of smokers who do not heed signs that read, "no smoking within 50 feet of the entrance."

I would like to prevail upon them to do no harm to those who have to enter and exit these doors. . . .

I know with the beginning of a new year, there is someone who had "quit smoking" as one of their New Year's resolutions. If you are not a smoker, maybe your resolution is to stay away from secondhand smoke.

Today is a good day to make a call to the tobacco cessation program at the Alachua County Health Department for yourself or someone who is struggling with giving up tobacco.

While they make that transition, be sure that you and those you love stay clear of secondhand smoke.

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100 years ago: 3 businessman arrested due to new cigarette law 

From the Lawrence Daily World for Jan. 29, 1909: The first warrants for arrests of violators of the new anti-cigarette law have been drawn up and three arrests were made today of well-known local businessmen. But since the new law went into effect it does not appear there has been any decrease in smoking, particularly among minors. If they cannot procure the papers to make their smokes, they secure an older person to do it for them.

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