http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/state/DE.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.communitypub.com/homepage/x1312014566/Delaware-teens-take-on-big-tobacco-for-10-years http://tobacco.org/news/292309.html In 1999, 13 high school students from throughout the State of Delaware had enough of the tobacco industry’s tactics and decided to do something about it. So they formed an organization called the “Kick Butts Generation,” better known as the “KBG.” Today, a decade later, they are 12,000 members strong and have made an impact on the health of Delawareans. In the past 10 years, they have advocated for stronger clean indoor air laws; cleaned Delaware beaches of cigarette butts; pushed for ID checks on tobacco purchases; and educated thousands of their peers about the dangers of tobacco use and smoking. The KBG’s accomplishments also include: • Advocated for tobacco-free beaches in Delaware • Supported excise tax on tobacco products to deter youth from smoking The Community News editor@communitypub.com Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20090925/NEWS01/909250311/1002/rss http://tobacco.org/news/290229.html OCEAN VIEW -- Officials are still considering a move to eliminate smoking in the town's only park. At a recent meeting, the Town Council discussed the ban in John West Park, which was prompted by a letter from a mother concerned about the danger of secondhand smoke. If the town approved such a ban, it would follow Bethany Beach and Lewes as the third resort municipality to bar smoking in its public spaces. Dagsboro, Fenwick Island, Millsboro and Rehoboth Beach do not have any such ordinances and aren't considering the issue at this time, town officials said. While the ban is still on the table, some officials are questing how it would be enforced. DelmarvaNow.com Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.capegazette.com/storiescurrent/200909/lewes-smoking25.html http://tobacco.org/news/290220.html Lewes Mayor and Council have approved an ordinance to ban smoking in city parks and playgrounds, but the panel is continuing to work on regulations that would restrict smoking on city beaches. City officials hope the ordinance will reduce cigarette butt litter and create a smoke-free and healthier environment for residents and visitors to enjoy. The panel approved the ordinance in a 3-1 vote at its Sept. 14 meeting. Mayor Jim Ford, Councilman Ted Becker and Councilwoman Barbara Vaughan voted in favor of the measure. Councilwoman Stephanie Tsantes voted against it. Cape Gazette hevans@capegazette.com (Henry J. Evans Jr) Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20090923/DCP01/909230304/1058/DCP http://tobacco.org/news/290128.html For some, the fun has been extinguished in the city's main gathering places. Following a 3-to-1 vote, the City Council has banned smoking in the city's nine parks and playgrounds. Smoking has not yet been banned on the beach, but officials said they believe that could be the case in the future. Officials said the measure was sparked by health concerns and ongoing discussions over the number of discarded cigarette butts found littering city streets and the newly dedicated Canalfront Park. "The whole community put their efforts into that park," said Councilwoman Barbara Vaughan. "It shouldn't be desecrated with cigarette butts. Lewes is the latest in a string of municipalities to ban smoking in the great outdoors. In 2008, Bethany Beach banned smoking in parks, playgrounds and the beach. Now, Ocean View officials are thinking about snuffing out smoking in John West Park. Nationally, the idea is gaining momentum and is being considered in areas like New York City DelmarvaNow.com Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20090916/NEWS01/90916012 http://tobacco.org/news/289830.html The Lewes City Council has approved a smoking ban in the city's nine parks and playgrounds. Last year, Bethany Beach banned smoking in parks year-round and on the beach and boardwalk during the summer. Ocean View is also considering a smoking ban for its parks. DelmarvaNow.com Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20090715/NEWS01/90715003/1002/rss http://tobacco.org/news/287268.html Town officials are considering a proposal to ban smoking at city parks and beaches. City Manager Paul Eckrich says the proposal comes in response to complaints over cigarette butt litter around town. Eckrich says the city attorney is still working on a draft ordinance but it could come up for a vote at the August council meeting. AP Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://signweb.com/index.php/channel/31/id/4034 http://tobacco.org/news/284136.html In an effort to reach a younger audience that's especially susceptible to be persuaded to light up, anti-smoking have made an effort to increase their cause's "hip" factor. The American Lung Assoc. of Delaware understood that vehicle graphics could fulfill that need. The organization hired Signs Now's Wilmington, DE-based franchise to produce 199 sq. ft. of graphics for a 1998 Pontiac Firebird. The campaign's slogan, The Anti-Ash Brigade, required methodical installation. The Wilmington, DE Signs Now franchise created this wrap for the Delaware chapter of the American Lung Assn. "The wrap integrated graphics from five different board games, which took some effort to successfully piece together," Mark Carlson, the shop's owner, said. "The side graphics comprise single, front-to-back panels. The hood graphic is also a single piece. The rear spoiler needed extra care to wrap its underside, but it provided a nice parking line to hid the panel joint." SignWeb ST Online Fri, 15 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.shelbystar.com/articles/smoking_38514___article.html/people_government.html http://tobacco.org/news/282320.html To Wes Westmoreland I say bull. Mr. Westmoreland asked in commentary what makes smoking different from hamburgers, hot dogs or driving over 35 miles per hour. Well let's first address hamburgers and hot dogs When somebody else eats something it does not cause me to be unhealthy. I repeat when somebody else eats something it does not make an innocent person sick. . . . Mr. Westmoreland suggested that the government could let people smoke themselves to an early grave because it would save the government money in the short term. Let me explain to you how that would work. First most people who die from smoking don't die instantly so before they go most rack up huge medical bills treating cancer or lung failure, thus Medicare and Medicaid costs. Second once those people are dead the government pays out Social Security to surviving spouses and children in some cases for many years. Do you suggest that the government not pay those benefits to smoking families? The main reason why smoking should be banned are the people who work in these bars and restaurants. Shelby Star Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090405/OPINION11/904050320/1004/OPINION http://tobacco.org/news/281591.html Most people think cigarette smoking is a scourge and higher taxes will help stamp it out. That's true and, to a great degree, a noble thought. However, for state legislators, and now Congress, increasing the tax on cigarettes is more an easy way to raise money than a public health issue. The temptation is an easy one: to plug whatever budget gap exists, raise the tax on cigarettes and argue it's for the public good. Delaware did it in 2007 and Gov. Markell is proposing it for this year. . . . Since the federal tax just went up 62 cents a pack, even more smokers can be expected to stop. That will bring every state's point of diminishing returns even closer. Translation: Cigarette taxes are short-term revenue solutions. If the taxes were really about the health of smoker, the tax would be a lot higher. Wilmington News Journal Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090307/BUSINESS/903070313 http://tobacco.org/news/279933.html Big new federal taxes on tobacco products have local store owners concerned about the impact on their businesses. Starting April 1, large cigars will be taxed at 40 cents apiece, up from 5 cents. Federal cigarette taxes will increase from 39 cents per pack to $1.01. And the tax on roll-your-own tobacco will jump from $1.10 per pound to $24.78. Wilmington News Journal anathans@delawareonline.com (AARON NATHANS The News Journal ) Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/915840.html http://tobacco.org/news/279179.html In the 12 years since the settlement, Dosal has seen its share of the Florida market climb from less than 1 percent to more than 15 percent. It sells four brands: 305's, its most popular; DTC; Romy; and Competidora. Most sell for about $1.40 to $1.80 a pack retail. . . . ''We sell on price. End of story,'' Yolanda R. Nader, Dosal's chief executive and chief financial officer, says matter-of-factly. Now, Dosal is afraid its business may be snuffed out by Big Tobacco's push to persuade Florida lawmakers to hit Dosal and other small cigarette makers with the same 50-cents-a-pack settlement fee. If Dosal has to raise prices to cover the fee, it says, it will lose its cost advantage. Dosal says smokers will defect to other brands, including discount cigarettes made by Liggett Group, a unit of Miami's Vector Group, which reached its own settlement with Florida. Liggett doesn't charge the 50-cents-a-pack fee. . . . Eliminating the price disparity between discount cigarettes and other brands means that smokers can't simply switch brands to avoid the increased cost, notes Eric Lindblom, director for policy research with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. ''By closing the gap, there's nowhere for that smoker to go but to quit or cut back, and that's what we want smokers to do,'' Lindblom says. Requiring the fee also would eliminate the need for the state to increase the excise tax on cigarettes by $1 a pack, Sutton says. Florida legislators are considering raising the tax to raise about $1 billion a year. Florida's excise tax is 33.9 cents, the fifth-lowest in the country. Miami Herald pdanner@MiamiHerald.com (PATRICK DANNER) Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20090108/DCP01/901080349 http://tobacco.org/news/277097.html State officials have enacted a law mandating that stores in the First State only sell fire-safe cigarettes. The effort initially began in 2001 to combat residential fires caused by careless smoking. According to Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio, six of the state's 12 fire fatalities in 2007 were reportedly started by cigarettes and there were almost 50 cigarette-related fires throughout the state in 2008 that caused $370,000 in damage. On Jan. 1, when the new state law took effect, Delaware joined 22 other states and Washington D.C., in mandating fire-safe cigarette laws. DelmarvaNow.com aruoff@dmg.gannett.com (Alex Ruoff / Staff Writer ) Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20090105/OPINION01/901050323 http://tobacco.org/news/276788.html There is now tangible evidence to back up claims that secondhand smoke adversely affects nonsmokers, particularly the secondhand smoke that is increasingly being outlawed in public places in communities across the country. . . . In addition to long-term health effects, smoking increases the danger of fire. Most states, including Maryland, now require that all cigarettes sold in-state be "fire-safe." . . . Delaware's newly enacted law took effect Jan. 1., which is good for Maryland because residents who travel across the state line to avoid sales tax on their cigarettes will now be buying the same safer product that's sold in-state. . . . The combination of making cigarettes less likely to ignite an accidental fire and less acceptable -- even banned --in more public venues should reduce the number of untimely deaths attributed to the smoking habit. More importantly, it should greatly reduce the number of smoking-related deaths among nonsmokers. DelmarvaNow.com Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090103/OPINION11/901030322/1004/OPINION http://tobacco.org/news/276659.html Few people realize just how long the effort to put fire-safe cigarettes on the market has been going on. Federal legislation was first proposed in 1974 and has been fought tooth and nail ever since by the tobacco industry. During that time, thousands died from fires started by dropped or misplaced cigarettes. When supporters of fire-safe cigarettes realized the heavy lobbying effort was thwarting federal legislation, they started going to the states for relief. New York enacted the first state law in 2004, 30 years after the first attempt in Congress. Delaware's new law went into effect Jan. 1, although Phillip Morris USA started shipping the new cigarettes -- marked on the side as FSC -- last summer. . . . For those who insist on continuing their smoking habits, at least now their cigarettes are a bit more safe in Delaware, and that's a good thing. Wilmington News Journal Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812310362 http://tobacco.org/news/276590.html A man was injured Sunday when he sparked a fire by lighting a cigarette while on oxygen, fire officials said. It was the state's fifth fire this year that was started by an open flame near oxygen, Assistant Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio said. Sunday's blaze broke out at 5:30 a.m. at the mobile home in the 36000 block of Estate Drive in the Camelot Mobile Home Park, near Rehoboth Beach. Wilmington News Journal tsanginiti@delawareonline.com (TERRI SANGINITI / The News Journal ) Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 GMT