Tobacco.org

EDITORIAL: In praise of … presidential smoking  

perhaps it's better for Obama to have the odd puff if the alternative is keeping all that stress bottled up inside. When it comes to presidents and smoking, we ought to lighten up – and let them light up.

Jump to full article »

Smoking ban survey glitch 

Launceston businesses have criticised the city council for leaving them out of a survey on a smoking ban proposal.

The council is investigating how aldermen came to be told that 50 businesses were surveyed when in fact none were consulted.

The Mayor, Albert van Zetten, says the council will now conduct a proper survey.

"We're committed now to doing a survey and hopefully getting it right with staff to ensure that we do get the views of the businesses in the city," he said.

The Tasmanian Hospitality Association's spokesman, Steve Old, says members will happily give feedback but the council needs to be more transparent.

Jump to full article »

Penn Hills woman believed to be smoking in bed dies in fire 

A Penn Hills woman believed to have been smoking in bed died this morning when her bed caught fire and burned part of her house.

Patricia Ainsworth, 64, was found dead about five feet from the front door of her home in the 5700 block of Madison Road. Fire officials believe she died of smoke inhalation but are waiting for confirmation from the medical examiner's office, which is conducting an autopsy.

Jump to full article »

NATO to Launch Retail Tobacco Trade Show in 2011 

The National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) board of directors has decided to create a new retail tobacco trade show, which will launch in 2011, NATO President Andrew Kerstein announced during the NATO Annual Awards Dinner, held in Las Vegas, March 2.

The new NATO trade show will be held in Las Vegas in 2011. As additional details about the new show are finalized, information will be provided to NATO members. . . .

With more than 300 retailer, wholesaler and manufacturer guests, NATO President Andrew Kerstein thanked the sponsors that made the annual dinner event possible. Sponsors included:

-- Platinum Sponsors: Altadis, U.S.A., Altria Client Services, Inc., Altria Sales and Distribution and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.

-- Gold Sponsors: American Snuff Company, Swedish Match & General Cigar, and Swisher International.

Jump to full article »

Smoking Bans Move Forward in Lexington 

By narrow vote margins, smoking bans are making their way through the municipalities of Lexington County.

Both West Columbia and Cayce approved smoking bans at their March 2 meetings, though only by a single-vote margin. On the same night, the Town of Irmo voted against a ban by a 3-2 vote.

Irmo Councilwoman Kathy Condom, who voted against the measure, says she could support the ban but wants more time to see how other jurisdictions address some problems.

Councilman Harvey Hoots has asked that the issue be put back on the agenda at the next meeting, saying he believes Condom will eventually support the ban.

Jump to full article »

Maori Health Org Speaks From the Heart On Tobacco 

Stories of lives torn apart by tobacco took centre stage today at the Maori Affairs Select Committee Inquiry into the tobacco industry and the consequences of tobacco use for Maori.

Te Hotu Manawa Maori (THMM) Executive Director Moana Tane shared with the Committee stories of Maori women and their whanau who have experienced grief and hardship because of tobacco.

They included Te Hotu Manawa Maori’s own Hiria Minnell-Rolleston, whose mother was diagnosed with lung cancer when Hiria was only eight. Tekau-ma-rua Ashby’s story is another told by Te Hotu Manawa Maori, that exemplifies rural life for many Maori, and the “normal” practice of many rural youth taking up smoking while very young.

Moana Tane told the Committee that smoking had prematurely taken the lives of tens of thousands of Maori.

Jump to full article »

Pacific Groups Support Maori Stance on Tobacco 

Smokefree Pasifika Action Network (SPAN) and TALA PASIFIKA – National Pacific Tobacco Control Service are right behind Maori as they fight for action to be taken on a product that wipes out over 600 people from whanau, hapu and iwi each year.

The organisations - New Zealand's two largest collectives advocating for Pacific tobacco control – today presented arguments to the Maori Affairs Select Committee Inquiry on the tobacco industry and the consequences of tobacco use for Maori.

Jump to full article »

Letter: Don't allow smoking for drive-throughs  

A new direction that this ban could take is not only banning smoking in bars and restaurants but in other public locations. It is my belief that we should try to keep more people protected from this secondhand toxin, which contains thousands of chemical compounds. Sixty have been known to cause cancer.

I think we should protect the workers of fast-food industries ... by banning smoking as customers use drive-through services.

About 41 percent of Americans claim to eat fast food at least once a week, and 21 percent of those are smokers. ... Sometimes they make the choice to smoke as they pass through the drive-through.

Jump to full article »

VIDEO: New Anti-Tobacco Ads Remind Smokers That They Can Heal 

While most anti-smoking ads use graphic images to show the long-term effects of tobacco, few serve to remind people just how quickly the human body heals once it's weaned off cigarettes.

The Bloomberg administration just released a new set of ads aimed at doing just this.

Check out the ads below to see the city's latest attempt to stamp out smoking.

(WARNING: Some graphic images)

Jump to full article »

State smoking ban will prohibit some outdoor smoking at Lawrence businesses 

A recently approved statewide smoking ban likely will make it illegal to smoke in many of the sidewalk dining and drinking areas in downtown.

A provision in the state law — scheduled to be signed by the governor on Friday — makes it illegal to smoke within a 10-foot radius of a doorway. Lawrence’s smoking ban has no such provision, and the city’s top attorney said she has not yet found any way for Lawrence to exempt itself from the new provision.

“Certainly we’re going to have to comply with the state law,” said Toni Wheeler, the city’s director of legal services. “It does differ from our ordinance. I think there will be changes on the horizon.”

The law changes are scheduled to begin July 1.

Jump to full article »

Shop sales of tobacco challenged 

An Auckland academic says smoking rates in New Zealand would plummet if tobacco products could not be displayed at shops.

Dr Marewa Glover, of the University of Auckland, told a select committee yesterday that progress in tobacco control was poor and it was having a particularly bad effect among Maori.

She said outside the hearing that she disagreed with tobacco industry giant British American Tobacco New Zealand that banning smoking or restricting its sale would merely produce an uncontrolled black market.

"There just will not be the death and illness to such an extent from so few people smoking, and the fastest way to do that is to get rid of the product off the shelves," Dr Glover said.

Jump to full article »

Plattsburgh looks to ban smoking at beach, public areas  

Plattsburgh officials want residents to enjoy healthy public places, so they're looking to make them tobacco-free.

The City Council will vote tonight on a policy that bans smoking at all city parks, recreation trails, paths and the City Beach.

Jump to full article »

Man: Ban outdoor smoking at library 

Karl DeFoe doesn't want to sniff cigarette smoke as he enters the Traverse Area District Library on Woodmere Avenue.

He doesn't want to be bothered by it in the parking lot either. In fact, DeFoe would love to see the entire campus go smoke free as soon as possible.

"(Secondhand smoke) is obviously not as much of a problem outside as it is inside, but it's still very prevalent," said DeFoe, 75, a city resident and frequent library user.

DeFoe will present his case to the library board tonight. Aside from generating secondhand smoke, DeFoe believes smoking leads to bothersome cigarette butt litter and sets an unhealthy example for children who use the library.

Jump to full article »

Don't smoke and drive campaign 

Smokers who light up behind the wheel are being asked to stub out their cigarettes to help them stay safe when travelling on Lancashire's roads.

Many smokers will leave their packs at home for No Smoking Day on Wednesday 11 March in an attempt to bid farewell to nicotine cravings for good. Lancashire County Council's Road Safety Group is asking those who have decided not to quit to give up smoking while they drive instead.

The Highway Code regards smoking as a 'distraction', along with a number of other habits. It is within the law to smoke a cigarette, read a map, enjoy a snack or adjust your radio while you drive, but if you are involved in a collision or endanger other road users then these habits could lead to you being charged with careless or dangerous driving. You could be fined, imprisoned or receive a minimum driving ban of 12 months.

Jump to full article »

ALLONBY: Never an anti-smoker 

IF there's one day of the year when I am likely to reach for a cigarette, today's the day.

I'm sorry, but National No Smoking Day really gets up my nose, as does any other nanny-state kind of day which tells you how to behave. . . .

Currently, I am an ex-smoker. I'm also, if I'm honest, a never-say-never-again smoker.

But there's one kind of smoker I'll never be: and that's an anti-smoker.

Anti-smokers are just so dull . . .

Jump to full article »