Big Tobacco Fights Russian Crackdown

With cigarettes only costing a dollar a pack and next to no restrictions on smoking in place, Russia is a smoker's paradise compared to most Western nations—and that's just how tobacco giants want it to stay. The government of Russia, the world's second-largest tobacco market after China, is planning to finally crack down on the country's high smoking rates, but it is facing stiff opposition from the four firms that control more than 90% of the market, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Around 40% of Russians smoke and the habit kills around 400,000 of them every year. By volume, smoking rates have soared 51% since 1998. The government plans to hike the tobacco tax, ban cigarette advertising, and limit smoking in bars and restaurants. "This is going to be a harsh measure, but it is absolutely necessary," a government spokesman says. "It will take time—maybe another generation—but we will succeed in defeating smoking and promoting a healthy lifestyle."

Prime minister supports ban on smoking in public

Prime Minister Dmitry A. Medvedev voiced support yesterday for a proposed ban on public smoking by 2015 in Russia, where almost a third of the people smoke. Medvedev also proposed to ban advertising for cigarettes and increase the sales tax on them to a “substantial level.” In Russia a pack of cigarettes typically costs less than $2.He said smoking kills 400,000 Russians a year.

Greens slam public service fund on tobacco

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Greens senator Richard Di Natale said it was appalling that the fund, which was set up to cover federal public service superannuation liabilities, was investing money in a toxic product. "The Future Fund hides behind vague principals such as 'engagement' in order to reassure the community that it encourages good corporate behaviour," the senator said in a statement issued Tuesday.

"Engagement can be a valuable strategy for improving some corporate activity, but in the case of big tobacco it's just smoke and mirrors." Earlier, Future Fund managing director Mark Burgess told a senate budget estimates hearing in Canberra the fund's investment in tobacco shares had reduced to $210 million on June 30, from nearly $250 million in February.

National health groups have called on fund chair David Gonski to urgently review of its investment. "It is simply irrational to have the good work that the federal government has done in tobacco plain packaging and tax measures undermined by unhealthy Future Fund investments that help support the tobacco industry," Australian Medical Association vice president Geoffrey Dobb said in a statement.

Higher mortality rates found in smokers with CAC

Smokers with coronary artery calcification face higher mortality rates than smokers without coronary artery calcification, but its absence does not necessarily decrease the risk for death in smokers until smoking has been ceased, researchers said in an article recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging. The study cohort was composed of 44,042 participants without symptoms and who were referred for noncontrast cardiac CT.

The mean age of the participants was 54 years; 54% were men and 6,020 (13.7%) were smokers at enrollment. The participants were followed for a mean of 5.6 years, and the primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Data on cardiac-specific mortality are not available. There were 901 all-cause deaths, with increased mortality among smokers vs. nonsmokers (4.3% vs. 1.7%; P<.0001). Smoking was found to be a risk factor for mortality across increasing strata of coronary artery calcification (CAC) scores (1 to 100, 101 to 400, and >400).

Mortality was consistently higher in smokers compared with nonsmokers at each stratum of elevated CAC score. A multivariable analysis within these strata produced HRs of 3.8 (95% CI, 2.8-5.2), 3.5 (95% CI, 2.6-4.9) and 2.7 (95% CI, 2.1-3.5), respectively, for smokers vs. nonsmokers. Researchers also found that smokers without CAC had mortality rates similar to nonsmokers with mild-to-moderate atherosclerosis. HR for smokers without CAC was 3.6 (95% CI, 2.3-5.7) compared with nonsmokers without CAC.

 “Smoking is an important mortality risk factor across the entire spectrum of subclinical atherosclerosis, including those with CAC=0. The absence of CAC in smokers should not be regarded as a ‘negative risk factor’ until smoking cessation occurs. Despite this, coronary artery calcification remains an excellent way of risk stratifying both nonsmokers and smokers. Whether CAC quantification can motivate smoking cessation efforts deserves future study. Our data reinforce the notion that all smokers, including those without subclinical coronary atherosclerosis but especially those with increased CAC, should be strongly encouraged to quit,” the researchers said.

Falls bans smoking on parks grounds

To keep the peace, Falls officials have decided on a smoking ban within their parks. The supervisors agreed unanimously Tuesday night to ban the use of all tobacco products within 50 feet of any township-owned park. The issue came to the board’s attention at the Aug. 21 meeting after members were made aware of an incident between two unidentified males. “There was an issue over the summer with two adults who got into an altercation that was almost a little violent.

The parent didn’t want their child exposed to smoke,” said Chairman Robert Harvie. The incident in question escalated after the male refused to put out the cigarette which angered the father of the young child. Although the incident did not escalate to violence, the board found it was enough motivation to approve the measure. The ordinance specifically denies the use of any lit cigarette, cigar, pipe or other lit smoking instruments. The use of smokeless tobacco products are also prohibited within community parks.

The new ordinance will take effect in five days, with signs being posted displaying the ban. Smoking will be banned in all of the townships community parks, including playgrounds, pavilions, dog and skate parks. Violators will face fines up to $600 with each offense. Fines will be assessed under the discretion of the district court, according Harvie. Each daily violation will be considered an isolated offense and violators will be subject to a separate penalty.

Park rangers will be enforcing the rule, but will use the assistance of police to write tickets. A similar tobacco ban was recently passed in nearby Morrisville in July, with some debate over how the rule would be enforced. Morrisville officials pushed the “Young Lungs At Play” Tobacco Free Zone ordinance for the general public, but especially to avoid children’s exposure to secondhand smoke.

Russia launches anti-smoking crackdown

Russia launched a crackdown on smoking on Tuesday with a bill to ban tobacco advertising and raise taxes on cigarettes to help tackle a public health crisis in the world's second largest tobacco market after China. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in a video blog that 44 million Russians, nearly one in three, were hooked on smoking, and almost 400,000 die every year of smoking-related causes. Under Health Ministry proposals, tobacco advertising - now only allowed in some print media - would be outlawed, taxes increased on cigarette sales and smoking in cafes and other public spaces eventually banned.

The bill is expected to be submitted to parliament for approval in the coming days. "Every year (the equivalent of) a large city disappears," Medvedev said. "The government has adopted an anti-tobacco strategy and today we are beginning to put it in place." The habit of lighting up in Russia, where the air in bars, coffee shops and stairwells is thick with smoke, is encouraged by the cheap price of cigarettes. A pack typically costs around 50-60 roubles (less than $2).

While President Vladimir Putin is a non-smoker and has reprimanded ministers for smoking, some other top officials, such as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, are heavy smokers. Some people on Moscow streets doubted the measures would have any effect. "People will smoke no matter what, its Russia," said Viktor, a salesman who did not give his surname. The government hopes the legislation will help improve life expectancy, which at 62 for men and 74 for women in 2009, remains low by the standards of other middle-income countries.

The Russian cigarette market, estimated to be worth around $22 billion in 2011 by Euromonitor International, is a significant part of overseas tobacco companies' businesses. Four foreign tobacco companies - Japan Tobacco International, Phillip Morris, British American Tobacco, and Imperial Tobacco - control more than 90 percent of Russian sales and have been lobbying to soften the proposed legislation.

Smoking ban film set exemption to be discussed by AMs

The Welsh government will invite committees of AMs to hear the arguments about whether to exempt film and TV sets from the smoking ban. Ministers want to change the law because they fear producers will not come to Wales if actors are not allowed to smoke when filming. Some AMs are opposed to the move and want to scrutinise the exemption. Regulations would need to be approved by a vote in the Senedd before the law is changed.

A vote due to take place next week has been withdrawn while ministers issue their invitation to the health and enterprise committees. Economic case An exemption was included in the law on smoking in enclosed public places when it was introduced in England. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote The importance of this exemption to the Welsh economy is in the government's view beyond dispute” Welsh government spokesman But Wales' smoking ban - introduced in 2007 - does not allow smoking on set.

Filmmakers have lobbied the Welsh government to make the change. The BBC is also in favour of an exemption. The cabinet reiterated its support for the principle for an exemption on economic grounds when it met on Tuesday. A spokesman said: "At the same time however, the government recognises there is a level of concern about this issue amongst some assembly members.