Tobacco.org

• Smoking ban appears hazy 

The state's public indoor smoking restrictions take effect in 11 days, but the new rules are about as clear as a smoke-filled room for some members of the midstate's business community.

Take Harrisburg International Airport as an example.

Officials there read the law and saw no mention of airports in it. . . .

Ochs defended the state's efforts to implement the law, which was passed in June and provided a 90-day ramp-up period before it took effect.

"It's a very quick timeframe for the complexities of this law. It really is," Ochs said. "Given all of the intricacies, it's not quite enough time. It's doable. We feel we're doing it."

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• Disruptive air passengers concern 

Reported incidents of disruption involving air passengers have more than trebled in the last five years, official figures show.

There were 2,219 instances of violent, abusive or unacceptable behaviour between April 2006 and March 2007, compared to 648 incidents in 2002/3.

Civil Aviation Authority figures showed that alcohol was a factor in 34% of cases, and smoking in 25%.

Pilots' association Balpa said members were "very concerned" about the issue. . . .

* 25% involved smoking - mostly passengers caught trying to smoke secretly in aircraft toilets

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Qantas Tobacco Sales A Retrograde Step: AMA 

The Australian Medical Association cannot believe that QANTAS has made a decision to sell in-flight duty-free cigarettes on international routes.

The AMA understands that QANTAS has instructed its staff to ensure that cigarettes are ‘displayed prominently on top’ of the in-flight duty-free cart to ‘ensure our customers are aware of the duty-free products onboard’ and to ‘boost sales’.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, has labelled QANTAS’ apparent actions a retrograde step that encouraged smoking and was inconsistent with government and community efforts to address the causes of preventable chronic disease.

The AMA will be writing to QANTAS to urge the airline to reverse any decision to sell tobacco products on its flights.

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EDITORIAL: Time to quit 

QANTAS has managed to fly in the face of undisputed evidence that smoking kills by offering duty-free cigarettes on its international flights. . . .

Qantas showed leadership when it scrapped onboard cigarette sales. Their backflip is disappointing.

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QANTAS flies into smoking storm 

Fiona Sharkie is the Executive Director of Quit Victoria.

FIONA SHARKIE: This seems an incredibly retrograde step, to go back on that decision.

SIMON SANTOW: When they decided to do this, did they make a big fuss about what they were doing?

FIONA SHARKIE: I'm not sure back in 99, but it was certainly a very strong signal of support for all the good work that, Australia was leading tobacco control in those days and remains so, and it was a tremendous sign of support by QANTAS to be doing the same.

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• Qantas: the smoking kangaroo? 

QANTAS has been slammed by anti-smoking groups for a decision to reintroduce cigarette sales on board international flights.

In a letter to staff, the national airline has asked cabin crew to "prominently display" cigarettes on top of duty free trolleys.

The company has denied the policy has any link to the appointment of a former tobacco lobbyist to the Qantas board. . . .

Australian tobacco legislation prohibits cigarettes from being advertised or listed in duty free catalogues.

But in a letter to staff, Qantas management wrote: "It's vital that duty free carts are taken out into the economy cabin with the cigarettes displayed prominently on top so customers know they are for sale and are aware of our entire product offering."

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It's vital that duty free carts are taken out into the economy cabin with the cigarettes displayed prominently on top so customers know they are for sale and are aware of our entire product offering.
Qantas management, in a letter to staff on its decision to reintroduce cigarette sales on board international flights.

Qantas denies tobacco link  

QANTAS has denied suggestions that it6s decision to reintroduce inflight cigarette sales is connected to its recent appointment of a former tobacco lobbyist.

The nation's airline said the reintroduction of tobacco sales at the end of July "reflects customer demand", and has nothing to do with the recent appointment of former British American Tobacco director Paul Rayner.

Qantas spokeswomen Holly Willams denied any link between Mr Rayner joining the Qantas Board and the sale of inflight cigarettes before reading out a statement issued by Qantas general manager Lesley Grant:

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Qantas brings back sale of inflight cigarettes  

ANTI-SMOKING lobby groups have attacked a move by Qantas to resume inflight cigarette sales as a "greedy cash grab'' at the expense of good health.

The national airline has reintroduced tobacco sales on board this month, almost 10 years after they were stopped.

Legislation prohibits the packs from being advertised in the shopping catalogue but it is legal to stack them on the duty-free trolley and wheel them through the cabin.

A letter recently sent to Qantas staff by management states: "It's vital that duty free carts are taken out into the economy cabin, with the cigarettes displayed prominently on top''.

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Anti-smoking lobby fumes over in-flight tobacco sales  

Anti-smoking lobby group Quit has blasted a decision by Qantas to bring back in-flight tobacco sales on international flights as a "greedy cash grab".

The airline today confirmed it was again offering duty-free cigarettes to passengers on international flights, almost a decade after it withdrew the products.

Quit executive director Fiona Sharkie said the airline's decision was a backwards step and put revenue ahead of passenger health.

"International flights are an opportunity for smokers to give up smoking, but having cheap cigarettes promoted to them by Qantas in-flight completely undermines this opportunity," Ms Sharkie said.

"Perhaps the flying kangaroo should be renamed the cancer kangaroo, such is their insistence on the in-flight sale and display of a product that will ultimately kill more than half of long-term users."

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Thank You For Smoking On International Flights 

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is concerned that Qantas has reintroduced tobacco sales on board its international flights. The sale of tobacco products will begin at the end of July.

Despite restrictions preventing Qantas from advertising cigarettes in the on-board shopping catalogue, the airline is allowed to display these products on the duty-free trolley in the cabin.

"It is disappointing to see that at a time when the health risks of smoking are clearly established and when a lot of money is invested in anti-smoking campaigns by the Australian government, our national airline is reintroducing cheap tobacco sales on board, right in front of our children and teenagers," said Dr Kelly Seach, GP and RACGP Registrar Representative.

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• Qantas to sell cigarettes on overseas flights  

QANTAS has been slammed by anti-smoking groups for a decision to reintroduce cigarette sales on board international flights.

In a letter to staff, the national airline has asked cabin crew to "prominently display" cigarettes on top of duty free trolleys.

The company has denied the policy has any link to the appointment of a former tobacco lobbyist to the Qantas board.

Paul Rayner, the former chief executive of British American Tobacco Australasia, was yesterday named as the airline's latest non-executive director.

But Qantas says the move to offer three cigarette brands for sale on overseas flights was due to customer demand.

It overturns the airline's decision 10 years ago to remove cigarettes from its in-flight duty free range.

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• Businessman Fined For Smoking In Aircraft 

For smoking on board an aircraft, a Chinese businessman has been fined GH¢90. In default, he will serve a two-month jail term. . . .

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Ben Darfor told the Accra circuit court yesterday that Xiao, who was on board a Kenyan Airways flight from Monrovia to Kenya via the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), was arrested on July 2, 2008 while in transit at KIA.

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Airport smoking ban takes effect Tuesday 

The designated smoking areas at Indianapolis International Airport are going up in smoke. Starting Monday at midnight, no smoking will be allowed outside the terminal area. The only place you'll be able to light up is in a car.

"I don't think it's right. It's discrimination against smokers," said Florence Maupin, a smoker.

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Airport Snuffs Out Smoking  

Smoking will be further curbed at Indianapolis International Airport beginning July 1.

Designated smoking areas outside passenger terminals will be closed beginning Tuesday when a new no-smoking police goes into effect.

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SMOKING QUEENS WOMAN FORCES PLANE TO LAND  

A JFK-to-San Francisco flight had to make an emergency landing when a boozy Queens woman lit a cigarette, then went ballistic after being told she couldn't smoke, authorities said. . . .

Christina Szele's roommate in Woodside, who only gave his name as Steven, said she has a serious problem.

"She needs help. She's an alcoholic and an addict," Steve told The Post. "When she drinks vodka, she gets violent."

Her father, Lazslo Szele, said the incident was overblown.

"It's totally out of character for my daughter to use those degrading words towards someone, else even if she was intoxicated," he told The Post in a phone interview. "I don't believe it was handled correctly."

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