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.

New Bill Could Ban Smoking in Public Areas

In Oklahoma, cities cannot pass smoking laws that are stronger than State law but the board of health wants to change that. It's behind a push for a new bill that will allow citizens to vote and create no-smoking ordinances in public places. Broken Arrow police are searching for the driver who struck and killed a man riding his bicycle in an apparent hit-and-run. Police say the fatal collision happened Wednesday night on 101st Street South.

Police say responders found an adult male lying on the side of the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say the man's bicycle was outfitted with reflectors and a red flashing light. Authorities are searching for a white vehicle that likely has damage to the front passenger side. Police say no one witnessed the collision. Broken Arrow police have not yet identified the victim, pending notification of his family.

New CD will help smokers give up

NLP involves using cognitive work and words to change behavioural patterns. To mark Stoptober – a national movement of people stopping smoking this month – she has released a CD combining NLP and a form of hynotherapy. Mrs Boyle said her CD, entitled Stop Smoking Now! Breathe Again... will be useful to anybody keen to give up the poisonous weed.

She said: "I know people are cynical but that is the way people are sometimes. "I have never been a smoker, but I have done almost everything else. I wondered how I could use my profession to help. I believe this method works. "Smoking becomes a habit. It's something you do automatically because of the way your thoughts are working.

"After you have stopped for 48 hours, the nicotine will physically be out of your system. "Thereafter, it is just an automatic thing that you are used to doing at certain times. "Treating the addiction this way changes the way you think about it, which is much more effective."

Prospect Park bans smoking at borough parks

Heading out to Witmer Field, Park Square or Moore’s Lake Park? Better leave the cigarettes at home. In a special ceremony, Prospect Park officials formally received the brand-new “Young Lungs at Play” signs that they’ll install in borough parks, designating those sites as tobacco-free areas. “We’re not going to have parents smoking around kids,” Mayor Jeff Harris said. “There won’t be butts on the ground anymore.

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We’re promoting Young Lungs at Play because kids don’t need to be inhaling cigarette smoke while they’re in our parks.” Young Lungs at Play is a program offered through the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Penn State Cooperative Extension that promotes tobacco-free parks and recreation areas. Prospect Park is the second Delaware County municipality – after Chester City – to pass an ordinance making it a finable offense to smoke cigarettes or use other forms of tobacco at its parks.

“We’re trying to reduce exposure to cigarette smoke and cut back on second-hand smoke in the community,” said councilwoman Diane Faison. “We hope that this shows that there are fewer and fewer places where people can smoke in the borough.” Smoking is already banned at all borough-owned buildings and facilities. Young Lungs at Play is catching on in Delaware County. In addition to the ordinances passed by Prospect Park and Chester, a number of other municipalities, resolutions recognizing the initiative have been passed in Upper Darby, Swarthmore, Darby Borough, Sharon Hill, Concord Township, Ridley Park and Brookhaven.

 A number of local churches and other organizations have joined the program as well. Prospect Park will install 24 Young Lungs at Play signs in its parks to notify residents and visitors of the policy. Among the parks at which the signs will be installed is Witmer Field, home of the borough’s football and baseball programs, and where officials gathered to accept the signs Wednesday.

Kudos to new smoke-free campus at TMC

Kudos to the Teton County Hospital District Board and the Teton Medical Center administration and staff on the hospital’s conversion to a smoke-free campus as of today (Oct. 10). TMC becomes the 45th hospital statewide to implement a tobacco-free campus, putting words into actions and leading by example.

Staffer Cathy Sessions who coordinated the conversion to tobacco-free says the new policy prohibits the use of smoke and chew tobacco anywhere on the TMC property Ñ including inside all buildings, outside on the grounds and even in vehicles parked in the public and employee parking lots. The facility has put up signs announcing the measure, and is working with staff members to help them quit the nicotine habit if they so wish. TMC is to be commended for taking this step, acknowledging and emphasizing that tobacco-free environments are an important step toward improving public health and safety.

Sessions points to statistics that say that tobacco use in our state accounts for more than $216 million in medical expenditures each year. That is an incredibly large figure for a behavior that is voluntary and that can be changed through counseling and medication. Sessions said that TMC believes that it is important to model healthy behaviors and eliminate “triggers” — like smoking areas Ñ that make tobacco cessation difficult.

We know the transition has not been easy — and will not be easy for those employees who have been inspired to quit smoking or chewing because of the new hospital rule. But we, as a community, want to thank the hospital for setting a good example, and to thank the employees for their support of this program. If you are hoping to break the addiction to tobacco, please contact April Spaulding, the Teton County Public Health Department’s tobacco-cessation specialist. She can help you access the resources, including the Montana Quit Line, to give you the tools you need to give up tobacco.

Smokers reminded to stub out in public

Government officials issued a reminder this week to smokers that smoking is not permitted inside public places or within ten feet of public buildings. The 2008 Tobacco Law and 2010 regulations prevent people from smoking in bars and restaurants, office buildings, businesses and other enclosed areas as well as up to10 ft. from any entry, exit or other opening. The Medical Officer of Health Dr Kiran Kumar said a public place means any place, including a workplace or public conveyance to which members of the public have access whether or not a fee is charged for entry. The Law describes an “enclosed place” as a place which has a full or partial roof with at least 50% of its sides covered with walls, windows, blinds or curtains. Anyone who smokes in a public place is liable for summary conviction to a fine of $2000 for their first offence and up to $10,000 for the second offence. The list of smoke free places includes all offices, office buildings, warehouses and places of work, common areas in apartment buildings, condominiums and retirement homes, health care facilities and their grounds, educational facilities and their grounds, gyms, parks (including marine parks) and sport stadiums, beauty parlours, barber shops and Laundromats, enclosed bars, and restaurants, any means of transport (including boats) used for commercial, public or professional purposes and used by more than one person, all government owned facilities, public toilets and public transportation terminals (e.g. the cruise terminals), all shops and shopping centres, concert and convention halls, pool halls and shopping centres. Dr Kumar also reminded merchants that cigarettes can only be sold in full packages as prepared by the manufacturers. Hence, it is illegal to sell single cigarettes.

Credit to Whitby mother for sparking anti-smoking debate

A Whitby resident wants to clear the air -- literally -- at parks and playgrounds and is looking to local and regional politicians to help her take up the cause. Kelly Connolley approached the Town recently requesting that a bylaw be enacted to regulate smoking in outdoor recreational areas and will soon be speaking before a committee of Durham Regional Council to press the issue. It's an idea whose time, quite frankly, has come: municipalities across Canada have begun adopting new bylaws that prohibit smoking in a wider range of areas.

No longer is it acceptable to ban smoking only in confined spaces; the debilitating effects of tobacco smoke can also be found in the great outdoors. Science has proven that tobacco is harmful not only to primary users, but those who are in close proximity to the smoke they exhale. Second-hand smoke from those exhalations, and from the burning of tobacco products, kills approximately 1,000 Canadians every year, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. And Ms. Connolley has the support of many Durham Region residents behind her.

The Region's own 2011 Rapid risk Factor Surveillance Survey indicated that 89 per cent of residents favour smoke-free public playgrounds. As well, 84 per cent support smoke-free public playing fields and spectator areas, and 78 per cent would prefer smoke-free public beaches. In that context, the implementation of a more restrictive no-smoking bylaw -- particularly in the interests of protecting children, who are most vulnerable to the effects of second-hand smoke -- would see widespread support in Durham Region's communities.

 It is true that tobacco remains a legal product and that would have to be taken into consideration as new rules are pondered. Smokers might face a measure of inconvenience, but it's a small price to pay for the safety of the larger community. Common sense dictates that tobacco use around children -- whether indoors or outside -- can have a negative impact on their health and should be regulated in every case. The long, inexorable march towards a smoke-free society continues. Here's hoping the efforts of Ms. Connolley can help promote discussion and debate among political leaders with a view to crafting bylaws necessary to protect citizens.

Stoptober help to quit smoking

A HEALTH centre in Sheffield is urging smokers to attend workshops to help them quit cigarettes as part of a nationwide campaign. Stoptober is a Government drive encouraging people to give up smoking for October, and is being supported by the NHS Walk-In Centre on Broad Lane. Extra support and advice will be on offer, in addition to the centre’s regular free smoking cessation sessions. Stoptober is the first 28-day ‘quit attempt’ of its kind.

It was set up after research found smokers who manage to stop for 28 days are five times more likely to give up permanently, and is backed by Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation. Christian Ellwood, operations manager at the Broad Lane centre, said: “We understand that smoking can be very difficult to beat, therefore providing the right support and guidance can make all the difference to someone considering quitting.”

She added: “We would recommend that all smokers wanting to give up should take part in the Stoptober campaign and, as a service, we’re working to help as many people as possible win their battle to give up smoking for good.” During the workshops, participants are provided with specialist advice on how to quit and share their experiences with others.

HHS Awards $3.6 Million Grant for Obesity Prevention & Tobacco Control

Seattle Children’s Hospital, Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC), and Healthy King County Coalition (HKCC) received the Community Transformation Grant (CTG) which will fund Seattle Children’s Hospital and its partners to work collaboratively with youth, families and communities in South Seattle and South King County on obesity prevention and tobacco control, particularly among youth.

“Parents and schools work hard to give children opportunities to thrive and now, thanks to the partnerships and funding made possible through this grant, families will have more tools to help their families stay healthy and reach their full potential,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. Administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CTG program is a comprehensive community health improvement initiative launched in 2011 and funded through the Affordable Care Act’s Prevention and Public Health Fund.

CTG funds support public health efforts to reduce chronic diseases, promote healthier lifestyles, reduce health disparities and control health care spending in small communities. Children’s, PHSKC and HKCC will work with local governments, schools, hospitals, low-income housing groups, childcare and youth organizations to implement changes in communities that make healthy choices easier for children and families. Areas of focus include the cities of Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Kent, North Highline, Renton, SeaTac and Tukwila, and the Seattle neighborhoods of Beacon Hill, Georgetown and South Park. This area has a combined population of more than 479,000.

Huntington health facilities going smoke-free

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The Marshall University Health Sciences campus is going smoke-free. Cabell Huntington Hospital, Marshall Health and the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center have agreed to prohibit tobacco use on their property beginning Nov. 15, the day of the Great American Smokeout. Smoking has been banned inside the hospital and medical center for years, but designated smoking areas were created last year as the first step of a two-step process to eliminate tobacco use on the medical center campus.

Those designated areas will be removed, and tobacco use will be prohibited anywhere on the hospital and medical center properties. Dr. Joseph Shapiro, dean of Marshall's medical school, says the policy will provide a safer environment for visitors and employees, and demonstrate a commitment to promoting the health of the community.

Live Healthy, Live Well launches Tobacco Cessation Program

Live Healthy, Live Well has launched a Keep Trying Tobacco Cessation program at John Knox Village East in Higginsville from 6-8 p.m. through the end of October. The program is designed to support efforts to live tobacco free through tobacco cessation and prevention classes. For the past two years, Live Healthy, Live Well partners have been instrumental in crafting plans to create policies, systems and environments that make living healthier easier.

Walking trails, sidewalk development, increased physical activity and healthy foods in schools—and tobacco cessation and prevention—are among these initiatives. Program partners include Health Care Collaborative (HCC) of Rural Missouri, University of Missouri Extension and Lafayette County Health Department.

North State Voices: End to smoking brings hope

A few weeks ago I made a very big decision. I decided to quit smoking, and man have I had a hard time. There have been a few times I've had to quit smoking because I had no choice, like the whole year I stopped due to the fact that I was pregnant and breast feeding. It was hard to deal with, but I did it because that was the only option. This time it's harder. There have been obvious hits to my health that I am noticing, and being that I just turned 23-years-old on the 23rd of September, I became alarmed enough to stop cold turkey.

Three weeks in and I've managed to irritate just about everyone that I know. Controlling the urges to run to the store and buy a pack that first week was excruciating in a number of ways. I spent a lot of time in my room reading just to make sure my mind spent little time thinking of anything else. If one good thing came out of it, I read the "Hunger Games" series during a very rare three days without my husband and daughter where they spent a few days in Oregon with his brother.

That probably couldn't have come at a better time. Speaking of my husband, he's about as happy as a hyena with the fact that I've quit smoking. He was once a smoker, who hasn't smoked in a few years, and he loves to ask me when I'm going to quit. As a smoker, that question irritates me, whereas to non-smokers it seems like a reasonable question. Other than my dad, he's been the only person who has ever actually stayed on my case about my smoking.

Wiz Khalifa changes smoking habits for baby

Rappper Wiz Khalifa has stopped smoking marijuana at home for his unborn baby because the habit irritates his girlfriend Amber Rose. The 25-year-old, who was arrested twice this year for possession of the herbal high, has agreed to indulge his habit away from his lover Rose, reported Contactmusic. "I smoke outside instead of inside.

Everything is all about smells, man. If the smell irritates her, then it gotta go," he said. Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, also said that he and the model know the gender of their unborn baby but do not want to tell anyone yet. "I do know, but then (Amber) told us not to say yet. We'll wait until she's ready."

Fenwick panel considers beach smoking ban

The Environmental Committee has put the finishing touches on a draft ordinance that would prohibit smoking on town beaches. Among the items up for discussion are enforcement, whether there should be a designated area for smokers and signage. After researching similar initiatives across the country, committee member Bill Weistling said people are more likely to cooperate when signs are positive. Instead of using “no smoking,” people better respond to “breathe easy” or “enjoy free air.”

The committee also discussed where signs would be placed, with arguments made for the back of lifeguard stands, beach entrances and dune crossings. If signs are posted on lifeguard stands, it doesn’t mean the beach patrol will enforce the rule; signs will encourage beachgoers to report violations to the Fenwick Island Police Department. “If you want to have signs, there should be a reason for it,” committee member Buzz Henifin said. “Lifeguards aren’t responsible for enforcement calls. People should call the police.”

 Committee members would like the ban to include cigars, cigarettes and tobacco products on the beach and possibly town parks. Committee Chairman Marry Ellen Langan said she doesn’t expect much resistance from residents. “The majority of residents are seniors and non-smokers,” she said. “The main target of this is our tourists.” Committee members said they’d like to see a designated smoking area near the dunes and signs posted year-round. A draft of the ordinance is scheduled to be presented to the Town Council later this month. “I don’t know if there’s going to be any problems from the council,” Langan said. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Oriel Securities Ltd Reiterates Buy on Imperial Tobacco Group

Imperial Tobacco Group (LON: IMT)‘s stock had its “buy” rating restated by equities researchers at Oriel Securities Ltd in a report issued on Thursday. They currently have a $46.77 (2900 GBX) target price on the stock. Shares of Imperial Tobacco Group opened at 2315.00 on Thursday. Imperial Tobacco Group has a 52 week low of GBX 2112.00 and a 52 week high of GBX 2629.00.

The company’s market cap is £23.168 billion. A number of other firms have also recently commented on IMT. Analysts at Barclays Capital reiterated an “equalweight” rating on shares of Imperial Tobacco Group in a research note to investors on Friday, September 21st. They now have a $43.95 price target on the stock. Separately, analysts at JPMorgan Chase reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Imperial Tobacco Group in a research note to investors on Thursday, September 20th. They now have a $50.44 price target on the stock.

Finally, analysts at Nomura reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Imperial Tobacco Group in a research note to investors on Tuesday, September 18th. They now have a $35.97 price target on the stock. Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (Imperial Tobacco) is a tobacco company. Through the Company’s total tobacco portfolio it provides consumers a range of brands and products, including cigarettes, fine cut tobacco, cigars and snus.

Smoking ban challenge ends

The Missouri Supreme Court has declined to take up a case against Springfield’s 2011 smoking ban, officially ending the legal challenge filed by a local bar owner. “This is the end of the road,” said Jonathan Sternberg, a Kansas City attorney who has represented Ruthie’s Bar owner Jean Doublin in the case.

Sternberg said the state Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear Doublin’s challenge, which means the June decision by the Southern District Court of Appeals will stand. Appeals court judges had rejected Sternberg’s argument that the Springfield law — passed by voters after a successful petition drive — is in conflict with the Missouri Indoor Clean Air Act of 1992. Sternberg argued that a provision in the 1992 law allows bars and taverns to post signs “making nonsmoking areas unavailable,” granting a right to allow smoking that superseded the Springfield law.

Greene County Judge Jason Brown wrote in an October opinion that he thought Sternberg’s argument had merit, but he felt compelled to rule against Doublin because of an earlier appeals court decision in the Western District. Southern District appellate judges ruled against the challenge, as well, concluding the 1992 state law “is not a statute that was enacted to permit smoking or to protect the rights of smokers,” but instead is meant to prohibit smoking. “We still believe the court was wrong,” Sternberg said.

“But obviously the Missouri Supreme Court did not feel this was an issue of statewide importance or interest.” Sternberg said the high court’s decision not to hear the case means the Southern District opinion will be binding in this part of the state. “Salvation for the free market, if any, lies with the state legislature,” he said, referencing a bill Rep. Melissa Leach, R-Springfield, filed in the most recent session that attempted to exempt bars and some other businesses from smoking bans statewide. The bill died in committee when the session ended, but Leach said she may file it again.

Khargone dist of MP declared smoke-free

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Khargone, a district in Indore division, nearly 70 kilometers to the south of Indore, has now become the fourth district in the state to be declared smoke-free after Dhar, Burhanpur and Khandwa which achieved this status earlier this year. With this, Indore division is slowly heading towards getting smoke-free with only four districts including Alirajpur, Barwani, Jhabua and Indore waiting to be declared smoke-free.

With the fear of coughing up Rs. 200 for puffing in no-smoking zones, there has been a considerable fall in the habit of smoking in public places in these smoke-free districts where the ban has been implemented well. In a study conducted in nine blocks of the district by an independent agency, Indore School of Social Work, it was found that Khargone district scored above 80% in all the parameters that need to be fulfilled to achieve the smoke-free status.

It was found that 98.8% places had no-smoking signages, no active smoking was found at about 99.7% places, there were no promotional items of smoking at around 99.9% places, no cigarette and bidi butts were found at 92.3% places and there was no smell of smoking in 98.7% places. The study was conducted under the supervision of ISSW principal Dr Jacob Thudipara supported by co-investigator Dr Sudha Jain and a team of five field investigators. Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association, which has been working on getting the smoking laws implemented, has said that it would now work on getting the remaining districts falling under the Indore division to become smoke free.

Programme officer Bikul Sharma added that an impact study needs to be conducted to ascertain whether there has been any fall in the sale of cigarettes and bidis but the act has at least helped in reducing the exposure to smoke to passive smokers. "Collector Navneet Kothari declared Khargone district as smoke free and we now aim to make the Indore division completely smoke free," said Mukesh Sinha, executive director of MPVHA which is working in the state for the last 38 years.

Getting the Act in place -Section 4 of The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act COTPA prohibits smoking in public places including workplaces, offices (government and private), public buildings, educational institutions, hotels, restaurants and bars, etc -Under this Act, Government of India has notified the smoke-free rules which came into effect from October 2, 2008 -Any person found smoking in a public place is liable to pay a fine of up to Rs. 200 -The offence is compoundable, that is, it can be settled on the spot by the enforcement officer or may be tried summarily in accordance with the procedure provided in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 -The authorised officer will be considered a public servant while acting in performance of his duty under COTPA.

Tobacco farmers reject WHO’s proposal

Tobacco farmers have rejected the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s proposals to reduce hectarage for the tobacco crop and withdrawal of technical and financial support for the golden leaf. Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA) chief executive Rodney Ambrose said the proposals would negatively affect the tobacco industry and lead to massive job losses.

This followed WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)’s recommendations to suspend financial and technical support to the farmers and the dismantling of all tobacco bodies connecting growers with governments. WHO also urged the regulation of tobacco growing seasons and the reduction of the area allocated for tobacco farming.

But Ambrose said: “By suggesting to governments to phase out tobacco growing, these ideological recommendations put the jobs of more than 30-million farmers globally at risk without providing them with any economically viable alternative crop. “WHO has consistently refused to listen to tobacco growers in drafting the proposals that directly impact Africa’s farmers. “By doing so, they act like a blind man driving a steamroller without paying any attention to the consequences of their folly.”

According to ZTA, FCTC’s proposals were designed to force tobacco growers out of business by creating artificial restrictions on tobacco supply, while failing to address growing demand for the crop. “Now is the time for governments to act and oppose these draconian measures,” Ambrose said. Currently, there is an international online petition aimed at rallying governments worldwide to oppose the measures. ZTA also said FCTC’s proposals known as “articles 17 and 18” would be discussed at the Conference of the Parties 5 (COP 5) in Seoul on November 12 this year.

Tobacco farmers launch 'Save our farms' campaign

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Tobacco farmers, participating in the 3rd Asia Tobacco Forum in Manila, launched "Save our farms", a grassroots campaign to fight radical new guidelines that would devastate the livelihoods of millions of tobacco farmers in Asia. The campaign is calling on governments in the region to stand with tobacco farmers in opposition to these radical guidelines.

The proposed guidelines have been developed in advance of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Conference of the Parties (CoP) which will be held in Seoul in November. The guidelines include mandating the seasons when tobacco can and cannot be grow, cutting off all government and private sector support for tobacco farmers, limiting then reducing the land area where tobacco can be grown and having countries reduce tobacco production simultaneously.

"Global bureaucrats with very limited knowledge of agriculture are attempting to impose an agenda on Pakistan that would devastate the livelihoods of farmers, farm workers and farming communities, said Rustam Khan, President Anjuman Kasht Karan & Tobacco Hazara Division. "Our leaders must go to Seoul and protect Pakistan by opposing these absurd guidelines".

The "Save our farms" campaign includes a website saveourfarms.org as well as an online petition and YouTube channel featuring testimonials from real world farmers. The online campaign will encourage tobacco farmers to get involved by signing a petition and asking their national governments to oppose these radical measures in Seoul later this year. The campaign's rallying cry is "Save our farms, Save our jobs, Save our way of life."

Seabrook House Goes Proactive On Smoking Ban

Although a regulation to make all rehab facilities entirely smoke-free is still months away, Seabrook House has made its decision to be ahead of the curve and provide a truly drug-free environment for its patients starting today. "Seabrook House has earned its reputation for excellence in the treatment of adults suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction, and we pride ourselves on the importance of promoting health and wellness of the mind, body and spirit," said President Ed Diehl.

"Nicotine is one of the most heavily used addictive drugs and the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the country. At Seabrook House we must set a healthy example, and looking the other way while patients light up is contrary to the very mission of this facility." The statewide ban of smoking at all addiction recovery centers will go into effect on December 12, 2012, as part of the 2008 smoking ban legislation.

According to Diehl, addicts are more likely to have long-term success if they quit smoking at the same time they enter treatment. Also the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found that smoking cessation intervention provided during addiction treatment was associated with a 25% greater chance of maintaining long-term abstinence from alcohol and drugs.

 "Along with the ban, we have implemented a smoking cessation program that includes nicotine patches and lozenges at no cost to our patients," said Diehl. "The recovery of our patients is our priority, and we believe that banning tobacco is critical in a successful treatment program. It is important to foster an overall recovery plan that involves health and wellness for the optimal chance for recovery."

ITC on a health kick post global anti-smoking regulations

India’s biggest cigarette maker is going on a health kick. ITC Ltd ) sells 80 percent of the cigarettes in the world’s second most populous country where 275 million people use tobacco products. But as India follows the rest of the world in adopting anti-smoking regulations, the company’s core tobacco business is getting squeezed and it is venturing into dairy products, drinks and perhaps even healthy breakfast foods to try to expand its money-losing consumer products business. “Indians are turning health-conscious in their food choices, so health and nutrition will be a very strong focus area for us in the coming years,” Chitranjan Dar, chief executive of ITC Foods, told Reuters in a phone interview.

ITC, India’s fifth most valuable company with a market capitalisation of $38 billion, already makes cookies, crackers and potato chips, so expanding into dairy and breakfast foods is not that big of a stretch. But healthy food marks a sharp turn for a company best known for cigarettes. Although ITC got into the food business a decade ago, cigarettes account for half the company’s revenue and even its initials are a throwback to its century-old roots when it was known as Imperial Tobacco. The company is 30.8 percent owned by British American Tobacco. Building market share in food and consumer products may be difficult. With the exception of packaged flour, where ITC holds a leading position, the company has not won more than 15 percent of the market for any product category in which it competes.

It has spent Rs 4500 cr building up its food and consumer product segments over the past 10 years, according to analysts. “No other consumer company has invested such sums of money without creating a relevant share in any category,” said Nikhil Vora, managing director at Mumbai-based IDFC Securities. Vora’s firm downgraded the stock to underperform from outperform after Australia barred the use of logos on cigarette packs on August 15, sparking speculation that India’s regulators would follow. Investors initially knocked $1.3 billion from ITC’s market value after Australia’s move, although the stock has since recovered, in part because most smokers in India buy cigarettes in single sticks, not packs.

 An investor favourite for its defensive characteristics, ITC shares have risen 32 percent this year, outpacing the 13 percent rise in the index ITC makes Sunfeast biscuits, Bingo snacks and the Fiama Di Wills range of soaps and shampoos, competing with the likes of Hindustan UnileverLtd Procter & Gamble Co (PG.N), Godrej Consumer Products and Dabur India Ltd in a price-sensitive market worth $13 billion and growing at 15-20 percent a year. Its consumer goods sales rose 24 percent to 55.3 billion rupees in the year to March, accounting for 22 percent of total ITC revenue, although the business was a drag on overall profit, losing 1.96 billion rupees before interest and tax. It aims to triple revenue from consumer goods over the next 5 to 7 years. “What we have achieved is not bad for a business that is a decade old in this space,” ITC’s Dar said, adding that parts of its consumer goods business were “profit positive.”

Smoking scenes to be allowed again in films - with a warning

Smoking scenes will be back on the silver screen as the government Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that it would shortly permit them - though with the strict stipulation that one of the actors in the scene warns viewers that "smoking kills". A bench of Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi was told that the new notification would mandate that the films showing a smoking scene would show the actor giving a warning at the start of the film, in between after the interval while a static message would be displayed in the course of the scene showing smoking.

Senior counsel V. Shekhar, appearing for the government, told the court that the notification, superseding all earlier notifications prohibiting smoking scenes, would be issued Sep 14. He said that Sep 14 was important because on that day, a film "Heroine" by UTV Software Communication Pvt. Ltd., depicting a scene of a woman smoking is going to be released. Adjourning the hearing of the matter, the apex court declined to entertain a plea by a counsel seeking exemption for the release of this film. Justice Sathasivam said that "we have to prioritise the issues".

"People are not getting water and food. You can survive without showing smoking and liquor scenes." The notification will pave the way for amending rules that currently restrain filmmakers from showing smoking. The court was apprised of an Aug 2, 2012, letter written by the information and broadcasting ministry to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) asking it to "advise the filmmakers to give a 20 second anti-smoking message as approved by the ministry of health with voice over of the one of the actors who is seen smoking in the film to be displayed at the beginning and in the middle (after interval) of the film and a static message to be displayed for the duration of smoking scene in the film".

 The court was told that on the basis of this letter sent to CBFC, the government is proceeding to issue the notification. Shekhar informed the court that the information and broadcasting ministry has in principle agree with their recommendations. Taking on record the statement made by Shekhar that the fresh notification that is likely to be issued Sep 14 would supersede all earlier notifications thereby paving the way for the return of smoking scenes, the court directed listing of the matter Aug 20 for further hearing.

Rajasthan warns teachers on smoking, tobacco consumption

Teachers in Rajasthan government schools have been warned that they will face suspension if they are found smoking or chewing tobacco products in the classroom, officials said Thursday. The orders regarding this were issued recently by the state education directorate, keeping in view several complaints of smoking and consumption of tobacco in school premises against the teachers. Tobacco products are banned in Rajasthan.

"There were complaints of teachers even spitting on the walls in classrooms while chewing tobacco. They ask the students to go out of the school, leaving classes and get them tobacco pouches from the market. It not only wastes their time but also has a bad impact on them. They get attracted and become prone to consuming such things," a senior education department officer told IANS. The officer said that a student or his or her family members can complain at the respective district education office against the teacher who violates these orders.

The officer added that local residents and public representatives will also be able to make such complaints with the District Education Officers (DEO). "The complaint will be verified and the teacher will be transferred. And if further complaints are received against the same teacher, he will be suspended," said the officer. The directorate has also asked the school administration to put up notice boards with the warning against smoking and tobacco consumption.

Smoking ban burning up local bar

The public, indoor smoking ban for businesses has gone county-wide in Charleston County. Tuesday night, county council voted 7-1, to make the ban official. The new law will ask some smokers to break a habit they may not be ready to quit. You can read the ordinance in its entirety here. For more than 20 years, Richard's Bar & Grill on Highway 17 has gone about its business, serving up drinks and a place to smoke.

"Everybody that comes in here is absolutely fine with that," said Robert Wyndham, a bartender at Richard's. Because the bar sits in a spot just outside of Mount Pleasant's jurisdiction, Richard's has kept on smoking. Patrons, even employees, say it sets the place apart. "We have a lot of regulars that probably pass two or three bars on their way here," said Wyndham.

But once the cigarettes burn out, there won't be many lights left. October 4th is the day Richard's will be going smoke free. "Everybody's comfortable coming here, so why do you call it a free country if you can't do what you want to do, when you want to do it," said bar patron, Thelma Uddin. Wyndham fears business will take a hit. "It may hurt us, it could prove to be troublesome," he said. He says he's confident the ban won't bring in anybody new.

"The people that don't come here because smoking is allowed, they're still not going to come here because you can't smoke in here now," Wyndham said. The bar's owner recently circulated a petition against the smoking ban. Wyndham says more than a thousand people signed it with hopes to be able make the choice; to smoke, or not to smoke. According to Richard's, county council was not interested.

Australia Wins Approval for World’s First Plain-Pack Tobacco

A world-first Australian law requiring tobacco companies to sell cigarettes in uniform packaging was upheld by the nation’s top court, a ruling that may set a precedent for other countries to follow. The High Court dismissed today claims by Japan Tobacco Inc., British American Tobacco Plc, Philip Morris International Inc. and Imperial Tobacco Group Plc that the Australian government illegally seized their intellectual property by prohibiting the display of trademarks on packs.

The judges gave no reasons for the majority decision and said they would be published later. The ruling is a victory for a government faced with A$31.5 billion ($33 billion) in annual health costs from smoking, a habit it estimates killed 900,000 Australians over six decades. The decision means the nation will become the first country to introduce plain cigarette packs when the law takes effect Dec. 1, with governments in Europe, Canada and New Zealand indicating interest in implementing similar legislation.

“The tobacco industry has battled furiously to prevent Australia from becoming the first country in the world to implement plain packaging,” Rob Cunningham, a senior policy analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society in Ottawa, said by e-mail today. “The industry knows that plain packaging is a massive threat and that if Australia implements plain packaging then other countries are sure to follow.”

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Va. crime panel examining cigarette trafficking

Cigarette smuggling has become so lucrative that organized crime is getting involved, and many former drug dealers have switched to peddling contraband smokes instead of narcotics, the Virginia State Crime Commission was told Wednesday. The General Assembly last winter directed the commission to study illegal cigarette trafficking and make recommendations before the 2013 legislative session, which begins in January. The commission's staff conducted the investigation and will present its recommendations at the next meeting in November.

G. Stewart Petoe, the commission's legal affairs director, said the amount of money cigarette smugglers can make is staggering. That's because they can buy a pack of premium cigarettes for about $5.55 in Virginia and sell it for a big profit on the black market in New York City, where a higher cigarette excise tax pushes the retail price to about $14 a pack. Smuggle enough cigarettes and the payday can be enormous.

Petoe said a federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent estimated that a car can carry 10 cases of cigarettes — there are 60 cartons in a case — with an estimated profit of $34,000. Upgrade to a van, and 50 cases can turn a $170,000 profit. A large truckload can haul 800 cases and net a profit of $4 million. Petoe said he was stunned by a Virginia State Police agent's observation that bootlegged cigarettes now have a higher profit margin than cocaine, heroin, marijuana or guns.

"It has just become irresistible for organized crime, and when they come to Virginia, they will bring ancillary violent crime with them," Petoe said. He added that drug dealers are switching to smokes not only for the money, but also because they face less prison time if they're caught. Petoe said cigarette smuggling is booming because many states, particularly those north of Virginia, have increased their cigarette excise taxes in recent years. Virginia — the nation's fifth-largest tobacco producer and home of its most prolific cigarette factory — has the country's second-lowest tax: $3 per carton. The tax is $43.50 in New York state and $58.50 in New York City.

According to Petoe, a recent study found that 30 percent of all cigarettes in New York City came from out of state — and of those, 71 percent were from Virginia. "As the second-lowest tax state, we're setting ourselves up to be complicit," said state Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, who added that she wasn't necessarily suggesting a tax increase. Petoe said one of the simplest and fastest-growing methods of bootlegging is called "smurfing." Individual smugglers or small groups buy cartons of cigarettes at multiple locations throughout the day, then haul them out of state for resale on the black market.

Commission staff members conducting the study hung out for a while at a convenience store off Interstate 95 in the Richmond area, Petoe said, and watched one customer get out of a car and buy five cartons of cigarettes and return to the vehicle. Then another person got out of the car and did the same thing. "It's very clear what they were doing," Petoe said. Some cigarette traffickers seeking to maximize their illicit gains have established bogus retail operations so they can buy in bulk from wholesalers, Petoe said. He added that there are myriad other schemes involving forged tax stamps, selling cigarettes "off the books" to evade taxes, international smuggling and importing counterfeit cigarettes.

Kotak Mahindra MF sells media, tobacco, buys banking, metal

Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund has slashed its exposure in media & entertainment, tobacco and consumer non-durables space. However, it increased its weightage in oil & gas, banking & financial services and metals & mining. Power Grid Corporation, Sun TV Network and Tata Power Company were top sells, while Redington (India), Tata Motors (DVR) and Zuari Industries were top buys by the fund.

The study of Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund for the month of July 2012 showed that in the media & entertainment space, the fund sold DB Corp, Hathway Cable, Hindustan Media Ventures and also exited Sun TV Network. However, it bought Zee Entertainment Enterprises. In the tobacco pack it sold ITC. In the consumer non-durables sector, it sold Hindustan Unilever, Dabur India and Bata India, while it introduced Godrej Industries and Colgate Palmolive (India). It also bought Gillette India. (View - All Bulk Deals by Mutual Funds).

The fund purchased Reliance Industries, ONGC and Cairn India in the oil & gas space. However, it sold Oil India, HPCL and Gujarat State Petronet. In the banking & financial services segment, it introduced Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bank Of India, IDBI Bank and Syndicate Bank. The fund also purchased HDFC, SBI and HDFC Bank. However, it sold PNB, Axis Bank and Bank of Baroda.

North Carolina tobacco crop bouncing back from 2011

As harvest got under way, the tobacco crop in eastern North Carolina appeared to have bounced back from the hurricane-induced disaster conditions of 2011. In Salemburg, N.C, about 70 miles south of Raleigh and on the northern edge of the area damaged by Hurricane Irene on Aug. 27 of last year, brothers Sherrill and Clay Strickland were looking at a crop that appeared headed for a very respectable yield. “We have some good fields and some bad fields, and the intense heat we had in June and July had an effect,” said Sherrill Strickland.

“But now (July 15), it is looking real good overall. We got good rains a few days ago, and the top is looking very green. The bottom stalk is not much, but our tips are going to turn out really good. This crop should definitely be a better one than last year.” That seemed to be the situation for most flue-cured growers in July. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projected on July 11 that flue-cured production in the U.S. this year will reach 432 million pounds, up a whopping 25 percent from 2011. Planted area for flue-cured is four percent below last year at 199,000 acres.

Yield per acre is forecast at 2,173 pounds, up 507 pounds from a year ago. But expected production was still down in South Carolina and Georgia because of fewer acres planted. By state, the USDA reported: • North Carolina's flue-cured was rated in mostly fair to good condition. Production levels recovered from last year's hurricane damage, with yield projected at 2,200 pounds per acre, up 650 pounds from last season. Production is estimated at 338 million pounds, up 36 percent from last season. Many farmers had started to irrigate in mid July as weather was extremely hot in many growing areas.

 • Virginia — the only state to see an increase in flue-cured plantings — was progressing well in mid-July with the majority of the crop rated in fair to good condition. Production was estimated at 46.2 million pounds, up nearly three million pounds from last season on 7.7 percent more planted acreage.

 • South Carolina production had been affected by unusually cool, wet weather through July which led to some reports of thin and yellowing plants. Projected yield was 1,800 pounds per acre, only 100 pounds more than in the hurricane year. Production was projected at 24.3 million pounds, down nearly eight percent from 2011 on 13 percent less planted acreage.

Philip Morris Profit Tops Analysts’ Estimates On Sales In Russia

You can buy marlboro cigarettes from this shop for chep price.

Philip Morris International Inc. (PM), the world’s largest publicly traded tobacco company, reported second-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates, spurred by demand for cigarettes in Eastern Europe. Net income in the period ended June 30 fell 3.8 percent to $2.32 billion from $2.41 billion a year earlier, the New York- based maker of Marlboro cigarettes said today in a statement.

On a per share basis, profit rose to $1.36 because the number of outstanding shares decreased. Analysts projected $1.35, the average of 16 estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Chief Executive Officer Louis Camilleri has introduced new varieties of top-selling Marlboro cigarettes to boost demand in Russia. Shipments in Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa rose 5.1 percent in the second quarter while total cigarette shipments excluding acquisitions slipped 1.2 percent.

“This was a touch better than our expectations thanks to a great quarter” in the Eastern European region, Rogerio Fujimori, a Credit Suisse AG analyst, wrote today in a note. He rates the shares as neutral, the equivalent of a hold recommendation. Philip Morris rose 0.2 percent to $89.55 at 4:15 p.m. in New York. The shares have climbed 14 percent this year.

Keeping kids from all forms of tobacco

A recent article on tobacco use pointed out that although cigarette smoking has gone down nationally, the use of cigars and other non-cigarette tobacco products has gone up over the past few years ("Cigarette use down, other tobacco up, CDC says," Aug. 3). A recent study of Maryland youth tobacco use reported a similar troubling trend — while fewer kids are getting addicted to cigarettes (thanks to our smoke-free air laws and tax increases), more kids are smoking cheap flavored cigars that are just as detrimental to their health.

The report also noted that the trend is especially pronounced in communities of color, contributing to grim health disparities. This is why we at the Maryland Health Care For All! Coalition strongly support the new tax increase on little cigars and smokeless tobacco (chew and spit) enacted this year by Gov.Martin O'Malleyand the General Assembly. Over the past 10 years, our state's three cigarette tax increases have resulted in a 32 percent drop in cigarette smoking in our state (double the national average), saving tens of thousands of lives.

Just as the cigarette tax increases substantially reduced cigarette smoking, especially among kids, evidence from other states shows that our new tax on little cigars and smokeless tobacco will save the lives of thousands of young Marylanders by deterring their use of these deadly products and expanding access to tobacco cessation services. Suzanne Schlattman, Baltimore The writer is community outreach and development director for Maryland Citizens Health Initiative Education Fund, Inc.

Smoke-Free Knoxville Coalition seeks new members

Smoke-Free Knoxville Coalition will have a membership recruitment and orientation breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Miller Building at Ijams Nature Center in South Knoxville. The coalition's mission is to "reduce death, disease, disability and financial impact related to the use of tobacco," and it wants any individual or organization — especially those who work with young people — to attend and learn about joining.

 At this year's meeting, the coalition will introduce the Peter Carter Award, which will be presented to the group or individual having demonstrated leadership in tobacco use prevention in the community. It's named for oncologist Dr. Peter Carter, who in 1993 convened a group of volunteers to urge local restaurants to ban smoking — a group that ultimately grew into the coalition.

Carter testified in 1994 before Congress, addressing the health impact of tobacco in users as well as in secondhand smoke. The coalition credits him with helping Tennessee establish the Nonsmokers' Protection Act of 2007, which bans smoking in some public places and worksites. This year, the coalition will focus on youth, building and improving programs to educate them on the dangers of tobacco use and prevent its use.

Sandy Hill co-op votes to go smoke free

The four-storey apartment complex at 140 Mann Ave. — Conservation Co-operative Homes — will no longer allow smoking inside individual units or on balconies as of January. Three designated smoking sections will be set up outside the building, about 30 metres away. They'll remain there for a year, after which time the co-op board will consider banning smoking outside as well.

 More than 100 people live inside the building's 84 units. The vote was held last week, and 66 residents showed up. Eighteen of them voted against the move, while 48 voted in favour. Trevor Haché, a board member and chair of the building's second-hand smoke committee, started working to make the building smoke free not long after his family moved in three years ago.

 "At first … we were having the most serious problem with second-hand marijuana smoke coming in, and then as years have progressed and different people have moved out of the building, we've had a lot of second-hand tobacco smoke coming in," Haché said. "And both are dangerous, so we formed a committee." The committee surveyed residents of the building in October 2010 and discovered there was a lot of support to change the building's rules about smoking. It took Haché and the committee 2½ years years to work up to last week's vote.

Santa Monica Smoking Ban Fails Second Reading

After Mayor Richard Bloom changed his vote Tuesday, the Santa Monica City Council scuttled an anti-smoking ordinance that would have banned smoking in all new apartments in the beachside city. Bloom, who supported the ordinance during its first reading on July 10, decided to oppose it along with Mayor Pro Tem Gleam Davis, causing the ordinance to fall far short of the necessary four votes it needed to pass. Council members Kevin McKeown and Pam O’Connor also opposed the ordinance.

 “I think the Council and the ultimate decision making will benefit from further discussion,” said Bloom, who will be stepping down from the Council in order to run for a seat in the State Assembly. “I am very resolute that we do pass something that moves this issue forward,” he said, but added that there were unanswered questions about the effect the ordinance would have on medical marijuana users and on condo owners.

 “I think we should bring it back when all seven of us are here,” said Davis, who wasn’t present at the July 10 meeting. “We’re not taking a step back. What we’re doing is giving additional thought to what we would like to do in this regard.” She proposed a substitute motion that would bring the staff report from the original meeting back to the council when all the members are present. The motion failed. “I still think it’s best that we adopt this non-smoking ordinance,” said Council Bob Holbrook. “It’s just time that we made home and living spaces safe for people.” Holbrook, who is a pharmacist, said that his motivation was a public health one.

 The ordinance, which would have also forced tenants to designate their apartments either smoking or non-smoking and would have prevented new tenants moving into an apartment from smoking in it, has been an embattled one. During the July 10 meeting, McKeown turned the debate to the rights of renters, arguing that the ban would turn smokers into “second-class citizens.” He added that the requirement for smokers to designate their apartments as smoking apartments would cause their neighbors to “demonize” and eventually “displace” them.

 “We might as well hammer a big yellow ‘S’ on (smokers’) front door,” he said at the July 10 meeting. McKeown reiterated his position against the “designate and disclose” portion of the ordinance but said that he would be in favor of improving public health in the city. Bloom, Davis, McKeown, and O’Connor voted against the ordinance. O’Day and Holbrook both supported it. Council member Bobby Shriver, who originally voted for the ordinance, was absent Tuesday. A second substitute motion -- put forward by Bloom -- to hear from staff once further research had been conducted, but without the stipulation that all seven members of the council be present, passed 5 to 1.

BAT sees good earnings growth in 2012

British American Tobacco expects 2012 to be a year of good earnings growth despite the strong pound holding back growth at the half-year after the world's No 2 cigarette maker gained from price rises and strong emerging market growth. The London-based group, which makes Kent, Dunhill, Lucky Strike and Pall Mall cigarettes, on Wednesday said its half year volumes were flat at 344 billion cigarettes while price rises pushed up its underlying half year sales by 4 percent.

 The company posted half-year adjusted diluted earnings per share which rose 7 percent to 102.4 pence in line with a consensus forecast of 102.5 pence according to a company-compiled survey of analysts. The half-year dividend, set at one third of 2011's full year level, rose 11 percent to 42.2 pence a share.

Tobacco-free coalition honors Flora school

Students at the school enthusiastically join in the singing and activity filled spirit of the Reject All Tobacco movement on campus, counselor Valerie Seal says. "We incorporate RAT into all our classes. The kids love the music and the creative side." Plus, the anti-smoking message is important for the children in grades K-5, and there are good lessons in character development in the program that comes from the Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition, Seal said. For its dedication to the anti-tobacco message, East Flora was honored last week as the RAT Team of the Year by the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition of Madison, Yazoo and Holmes Counties.

 The East Flora Elementary team was just one of 163 groups, either RAT or Generation Free teams, in the three-county area. They reach more than 3,000 students with the message that smoking is not cool, but harmful. Director Rochelle Culp said the three-county coalition is looking to be "stronger, better and ready to attack the year ahead." Last week, as a thank you to coalition members, Culp gathered representatives from the three counties for a celebration dinner. "The coalition couldn't operate without its members," she said.

 "The coalition will be working to reach more people. In Madison County, we want to get our tobacco-prevention course, now in 15 schools, in more schools at every grade level," Culp said. "My goal is to be in every school in Madison County and Canton, and we will continue to educate the community on the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. "The Madison County coalition has a strong following, but we're always looking for ways to bring in more members from all sectors of the community," she said. State Treasurer Lynn Fitch, a Madison County resident, encouraged coalition members to continue spreading the word about how harmful smoking can be. Fitch said she lost her mother at age 62 to lung cancer as a result of smoking.

 "When she was young, no one talked about the dangers of smoking. The more we talk about it now, we can get children to understand that their wellness is important," said Fitch, a mother of three. The Madison County Business League and executive director Jan Collins were honored by the coalition for Collaboration of the Year. Collins worked with Culp last year on getting Canton to adopt a smoke-free ordinance. Madison County is the only county in the state where all local municipalities have adopted smoke-free ordinances.

Culp and Collins said they are working with the Board of Supervisors to get unanimous support so Madison County can become the first county to adopt a similar ordinance. Also receiving awards from the coalition were Madison County resident David Buchanan for his service as a "dedicated advocate for tobacco prevention" and Daisy Carter, Madison County's Underage Drinking Prevention Coalition leader, for her work to unite the two coalitions in fighting tobacco use and drinking by teens.

A.V. stores survive tobacco sting

Authorities recently set up a sting operation, trying to catch stores in Apple Valley that would illegally sell tobacco to minors — and all 10 stores passed the test. Officers with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Apple Valley station and town code enforcement on Friday sent two underage decoys into 10 retail stores that sell tobacco products.

None of the Apple Valley stores agreed to sell the products to the minors, according to a sheriff’s press release. Had any of the stores sold tobacco products to the minors, the release said they would have been subject to fines from $400 to $3,500.