Tobacco.org

Free Nicotine Patch Giveaway for Massachusetts Veterans! 

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has designed a FREE quit-smoking offer especially for veterans.

By calling 1-800-Try-To-Stop, veterans and their families will receive tailored counseling over the phone and, if eligible, a FREE 4-week supply of nicotine patches.

After a simple medical screening over the phone, medically eligible veterans, their families, and survivors will receive a Quit Kit with the patch kits, tips on quitting and informational resources.

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Free Nicotine Patches Now Available to Massachusetts Veterans and Their Families  

The Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced a nicotine patch giveaway for Massachusetts veterans, their family members, and survivors who want to quit smoking.

Massachusetts veterans and their family members who call the Massachusetts Smokers Helpline at 1-800-Try-To-Stop will receive a free four-week supply of nicotine patches valued at $100 retail, along with informational resources on the benefits of quitting smoking, and tips on how to stop. Program participants will also receive free telephone support to help them quit. The nicotine patch giveaway program will run through June 30, 2009.

Massachusetts veterans smoke at a higher rate than the general adult population: 24 percent as opposed to 18 percent, when adjusted for age (based on figures from 2005-07). This new quit-smoking offer for veterans is a joint effort of DVS and DPH.

Speaking at the campaign kick-off event at the State House today, Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray urged veterans and their families to take advantage of this free offer.

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Reporting Violations of the Current Smokefree Workplace Law 

Employees and the public may report violations of the law by:

* Completing the Complaint of Violation Form or,

* Completing the Anonymous Complaint of Violation Form, or

* Calling this toll-free number: 1-866-621-6107 (your call may be anonymous)

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• The New Smokefree Workplace Law  

In June 2007, the Oregon legislature passed a law making the Oregon Smokefree Workplace Law even stronger. The new law will expand the number of indoor workplaces that are required to be smokefree.

The new law will also prohibit smoking within 10 feet of entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes of workplaces or public places.

The new restrictions go into effect on January 1, 2009

Read about the current Smokefree Workplace Law or contact Debi Livengood at debi.livengood@state.or.us or 971-673-1020 for more information.

What Workplaces Will Be Affected Under the New Law?

Complying with the New Law Exceptions to the New Law Enforcement and Penalties for the New Law Reporting Violations of the New Law Statute and Administrative Rules for the New Law Get Posters and Signs Read FAQs

What Workplaces Will Be Affected Under the New Law? (Effective January 1, 2009)

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The Tobacco Control Bill, 2008 

AN ACT to prevent tobacco use by young people; enhance public awareness of the hazards of tobacco use and ensure that consumers are provided with information to make more fully informed decisions about using tobacco; protect individuals from exposure to tobacco smoke; prohibit or restrict promotional practices; prevent illegal conduct, including but not limited to smuggling; provide for regulation of tobacco products to mitigate against the harmful effects of tobacco; provide for sufficient regulatory flexibility to respond to new technological and scientific innovations and findings and to changes in consumer behaviours; create a national co-ordinating institution for tobacco control and provide for other related matters and purposes.

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Rescission of FTC Guidance Concerning the Cambridge Filter Method (PDF) 

SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or “Commission”) has rescinded its 1966 guidance providing that it is generally not a violation of the FTC Act to make factual statements of the tar and nicotine yields of cigarettes when statements of such yields are supported by testing conducted pursuant to the Cambridge Filter Method, also frequently referred to as “the FTC Method.” In addition, advertisers should not use terms such as “per FTC Method” or other phrases that state or imply FTC endorsement or approval of the Cambridge Filter Method or other machine-based test methods. . . .

Importantly, the 1966 guidance only addressed simple factual statements of tar and nicotine yields. It did not apply to other conduct or express or implied representations, even if they concerned tar and nicotine yields. Thus, deceptive claims about tar and nicotine yields or health risks continued to be subject to the full force of the Commission’s jurisdiction. . . .

The Commission received 36 comments in response to its Federal Register Notice.5 Of those, 27 commenters supported the proposal to rescind the 1966 guidance, seven comments opposed the proposal, and two comments neither supported nor opposed the specific proposal to rescind the 1966 guidance.6 The comments are discussed below. . . .

The Commission received comments opposing its proposal from the four major domestic cigarette manufacturers, and three individuals.19

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CONCURRING STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER PAMELA JONES HARBOUR (PDF) 

This action, while commendable, should only be a first step. Further action is needed.

Contrary to recent criticism,1 the FTC has not been a passive player in the area of tobacco advertising. The Commission has long advocated for the development of a new test for tar and nicotine.2 The Commission has sought assistance from the scientific community to determine what changes should be made to the testing method. There still is no consensus on this issue, however, and this lack of agreement has led the Commission to rescind its outdated guidance.

Tobacco companies will no longer be able to use terms indicating that the FTC approves or endorses the Cambridge Filter Method. The Commission also has clarified that if tobacco firms choose to make claims based on this discredited testing method, these claims will not enjoy any presumption of legitimacy. Going forward, advertisements for cigarettes, like any other ads, will continue to be scrutinized under Section 5 of the FTC Act.

Now that the FTC has removed its apparent imprimatur from the testing method, I urge the scientific community to redouble its efforts. Scientists must develop a test that provides consumers with a meaningful measure of the tar and nicotine yields of the cigarettes they smoke.

More importantly, I urge the next Congress to reintroduce S. 625, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This bill includes several key consumer protection measures. . . .

The regulation of the manufacture, sale, advertising, and marketing of tobacco products is a tall order, but it is crucial to the health of our country, especially its young people. Smoking is a continuing public health crisis. It deserves to be at the top of the new administration’s public health agenda.

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This action, while commendable, should only be a first step. Further action is needed. . . .I urge the next Congress to reintroduce S. 625, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
FTC COMMISSIONER PAMELA JONES HARBOUR

Concurring Statement of Commissioner Leibowitz Regarding Rescission of Guidance on Cigarette Testing Methodology (PDF) 

Our action today ensures that tobacco companies may not wrap their misleading tar and nicotine ratings in a cloak of government sponsorship. Simply put, the FTC will not be a smokescreen for tobacco companies’ shameful marketing practices.

For far too long, tobacco companies have advertised cigarettes using “light” and “low tar” descriptors based on machine-tested tar and nicotine results while knowing that the cigarettes, when actually smoked by people, would not deliver lower tar or nicotine. . . .

After today, there should be no confusion: there is no such thing as a safe – or even a safer – cigarette.

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[T]he FTC will not be a smokescreen for tobacco companies’ shameful marketing practices. For far too long, tobacco companies have advertised cigarettes using “light” and “low tar” descriptors based on machine-tested tar and nicotine results while knowing that the cigarettes, when actually smoked by people, would not deliver lower tar or nicotine. . . . After today, there should be no confusion: there is no such thing as a safe – or even a safer – cigarette.
FTC Commissioner Jon Leibowitz

• FTC Rescinds Guidance from 1966 on Statements Concerning Tar and Nicotine Yields 

t the test method is sufficiently flawed to make statements of tar and nicotine yields as measured by the method unlikely to help consumers make informed decisions. Thus, the underlying premise of the 1966 guidance is no longer valid.

In addition, the Commission believes the statements of tar and nicotine yields as measured by this test method are confusing at best, and are likely to mislead consumers who believe they will get proportionately less tar and nicotine from lower-rated cigarettes than from higher-rated brands. The Commission will not allow its stamp of approval on a test method that is confusing or misleading to consumers.

The Commission vote to rescind the guidance was 4-0, with Commissioners Pamela Jones Harbour and Jon Leibowitz issuing separate concurring statements. In her statement, Commissioner Harbour wrote, "Now that the FTC has removed its apparent imprimatur from the testing method, I urge the scientific community to redouble its efforts. Scientists must develop a test that provides consumers with a meaningful measure of the tar and nicotine yields of the cigarettes they smoke. More importantly, I urge the next Congress to reintroduce S. 625, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act."

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AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GLENDALE RELATING TO SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES AND COMMON AREAS OF MULTI-UNIT RENTAL HOUSING. (PDF) 

The City Council finds, determines, and declares that:

A. Extensive medical and scientific research confirms that tobacco smoke is harmful to smokers and non-smokers alike, triggering eye, nose, throat, and sinus irritation; hastening lung disease, including emphysema; and causing heart disease and lung cancer.

B. In 1992, the United States Surgeon General reported that involuntary smoking— by inhaling "secondhand smoke" (also called "environmental tobacco smoke")— can cause lung cancer in healthy non-smokers and poses a significant public health hazard.

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• OKLAHOMA/CHEROKEE TOBACCO COMPACT (PDF) 

WHEREAS, the CHEROKEE Nation (hereinafter referred to as the "Nation"), is a federally recognized Indian Tribe with inherent sovereign powers of self-government predating the formation of the United States;

WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma (hereinafter referred to as "State") is an independent sovereign state within the United States of America possessed of full powers of state government;

WHEREAS, the Nation and its members are in possession of various tracts of land in its jurisdiction within the state, known and commonly referred to as "Indian Country";

WHEREAS, federal Indian law recognizes that tribal jurisdiction is extant in Indian Country regarding the rights of Indian Nations to pass their own laws and be governed by them, including the right to sell cigarettes and other tobacco products to tribal members free from State taxation; and

WHEREAS, the State recognizes the financial, cultural, educational and economic contributions of the Nation to the State and its members, and the Nation recognizes the need to develop and maintain good Tribal/State governmental relations.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Cherokee Nation, by and through its Principal Chief, Chad Smith, and the State of Oklahoma, by and through its Governor, Brad Henry, do hereby enter into this Compact for the mutual benefit of the Nation and the State, to-wit:

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Smoke-free United Nations premises (PDF) 

Noting with concern the serious harmful impact of second-hand smoke on the health of non-smokers, which can lead to disease, disability and death,

Acknowledging that second-hand smoke at the workplace is a fully preventable occupational health hazard,

Emphasizing the importance of protecting the well-being of individuals in their working environments,

1. Decides to implement a complete ban on smoking at United Nations Headquarters indoor premises and on sales of tobacco products at United Nations Headquarters premises;

2. Recommends the implementation of a complete ban on smoking at all United Nations indoors premises, including regional and country offices throughout the United Nations system, and the implementation of a complete ban on sales of tobacco products at all United Nations premises;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution.

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Clean Indoor Air Act Exception Approvals: Allegheny County  

Jay's Other Place

3888 William Flynn Hwy

Allison Park, PA

Lakeside Pub

895 E Ingomar Rd

Allisonrk, PA

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04 November 2008 - Statistics on smoking cessation services in Northern Ireland 1 April 2007 - 31 March 2008  

Summary

In Northern Ireland during 2007/08:

* 21,476 people set a quit date through the smoking cessation services. This is an increase of 7,681 (56%) on the figure for the same period last year.

* Of those setting a quit date, 2% were under 18 years of age, 30% were aged 18-34, 24% were aged 35-44, 28% were aged 45-59, and 16% were aged 60 and over.

* At the four-week follow-up 10,971 had successfully quit (based on self-report), 51% of those setting a quit date. This is a slight decrease on the figure for the previous year (52%).

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Smoke scare for parents  

In the South East, 140 people die each week from smoking related diseases, which has a potentially devastating effect on children's lives, according to a powerful new Smokefree TV advertising campaign launched today by the Department of Health.

The TV advert, which will be broadcast from this evening (Halloween), opens on a darkened child's bedroom. A young girl is heard saying "I'm not scared of the dark". The ad then cuts through a series of other images such as a crawling spider and the leering face of a clown, with the young girl saying "I'm not scared of spiders", "I'm not scared of clowns".

The ad ends with a group of young mums who are chatting together and smoking; the girl says "I'm scared of my mum smoking". One of the mums turns and smiles at the camera and the girl says "I'm scared that my mum will die". . . .

Notes to Editors:

1. An Mpeg video of the new ad, a set of still images and high quality Jpegs of the new poster campaign are available for download at the link below - THESE ARE STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01hrs Friday 31 Oct.

http://tinyurl.com/67xgww.

2. Case studies of parents and of stop smoking advisers are also available for interview - please contact Blue Rubicon on 020 7260 2766 for these or any other media enquiries.

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