Tobacco.org

ND anti-tobacco initiative petitions turned in  

North Dakota is spending only a third of the money that it should to discourage tobacco use, say advocates of a ballot initiative to hike such funding that voters are likely to decide in November.

The proposal's supporters turned in petitions to Secretary of State Al Jaeger's office on Monday that they said included the signatures of 15,667 North Dakota voters, or 22 percent more than the minimum of 12,844 needed to qualify for a vote.

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Enforcing the Smoking Ban in Macon County 

Macon County officials have come up with a way to enforce the state smoking ban. Story Provided By ABC Newschannel 15

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Editorial : No smoking, no helmets either 

what individuals can and can’t do is often determined by the state — too often, many citizens contend.

The fact that the rationale the state uses to regulate behavior is inconsistent doesn’t help to reconcile the infringed-upon to their fates.

Every smoker knows by now that Gov. Ed Rendell last week signed into law a bill to ban smoking in many public places and in all public buildings. It goes into effect 90 days from the signing.

The bill is so riddled with exceptions that the American Lung Association refused to endorse it. Nonetheless, the state has taken another leap down the road of regulating personal freedoms.

This is the same state Legislature, give or take a few dozen members, that in 2003 decided Pennsylvania motorcycle riders no longer had to wear helmets. . . .

In fighting for the smoking ban, advocates cited the deleterious effects of second-hand smoke on non-smokers and the higher likelihood of disease and death experienced by smokers. It will be years before any study can show these benefits being realized, but we will be awaiting the first results eagerly. We fully expect to see improvements in statistics relating to cancer and cardiopulmonary diseases.

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Smoking led to assault, man says 

A Ridley Drive man called deputies early Saturday, saying he was assaulted, according to an OCSO incident report.

The man said that around 4 a.m., a male acquaintance attacked him suddenly at a Columbia Road residence. He said the man attacked him because he was smoking a cigarette in the kitchen. The victim cut his arm at some point during the incident.

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Nabi: pharmaceutical giants should cough up for smoking vaccine  

Nabi announces positive interim results of Phase II NicVAX schedule optimization study.

Positive interim results, assessing the antibody response and safety of a 400mcg, six-dose immunization schedule of Nabi Biopharmaceuticals' NicVAX, provide a new indication of the vaccine's potential to treat nicotine addiction and prevent smoking relapse. These results make the product a more attractive licensing proposition as Nabi gears up to initiate pivotal Phase III trials. . . .

Nabi has previously stated that it intends to seek a commercialization partner and/or obtain external funding for the development of NicVAX. With Phase III trials planned to start by the end of 2008, these latest results should attract greater interest from large pharmaceutical companies looking to enter the lucrative nicotine dependence market.

With the launch now predicted for 2011, Datamonitor anticipates NicVAX to be the first vaccine to enter the nicotine dependence market.

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Smokers Pay 15,747 Ytl In Two Months For Violating Smoking Ban 

ANKARA - Smokers paid 15.7 thousand YTL (almost 13.1 thousand USD) in two months for violating law that bans smoking in closed areas.

Finance Ministry executives said on Thursday, "we think that around 300 people smoked in closed areas in the past two months."

Smoking was banned in closed areas throughout Turkey under the provisions of Law to Prevent Dangers of Tobacco Products that went into effect on May 19th.

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Ajman bans smoking in cyber cafes 

The Ajman Municipality has banned smoking in Internet cafes and ordered the cafe owners to remove the tinted glasses on the front doors and windows.

The ban came into effect on Wednesday.

The municipality has issued new regulations for the Net cafes in the emirate. According to them, the Net cafes should not allocate any special space for families. Besides, all kinds of services should be provided on the ground floor itself.

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Hospital slammed over smoking policy 

PATIENTS at Queen's Hospital are being forced to fight their way past packs of smokers just to get outside - while security guards look on.

A patient at the hospital in Romford, who had to negotiate dangerous clouds of cigarette smoke at the main entrance, was left outraged after she asked a security guard to stop the inconsiderate puffers, and was brushed aside.

The woman from Romford, who didn't want to be named, said: "Once again we had to fight our way past facefuls of people's cigarette smoke.

"All of this, of course, in front of large signs warning that no smoking was permitted in the hospital or grounds."

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Take it outside: Smoking ban takes toll on Creston bars, restaurants 

More than a month after the statewide smoking ban became law July 1, bar and restaurant owners in Creston are feeling the effects, both good and bad.

Most say their patrons have complied with the law, begrudgingly or not.

Norma Sammons, owner of Montgomery Street Pub, said her customers are not entirely happy . . .

Creston Family Restaurant Owner Mike Limani said their business has seen a mild improvement since July 1.

"We've seen somewhat of an increase (in customers)," said Limani. "The majority of our customers are nonsmokers."

Elm's Club co-owner Donna King agreed, saying the food sales in particular had improved in the past four weeks or so.

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• Study shows Clarksville’s indoor air quality poor 

As more cities in Southern Indiana and Kentucky go smoke-free, Clarksville is becoming an island for smokers and establishments that cater to them.

But a new study conducted by the University of Kentucky College of nursing shows that it may not be in the best interest for Clarksville businesses and residents.

Indoor air pollution was found to be nearly 10 times higher in four Clarksville restaurants and one bar than across the river . . .

The study was conducted using Persona Aerosol Monitors to measure the levels of fine particulate air pollution. A similar study was done in New Albany, and found that 10 businesses that allow smoking are exposing employees and customers to indoor air pollution three times above the National Ambient Air Quality Standard, according to ITPC.

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BAYLOR: Doesn’t New Albany have more important issues? 

As genuinely relevant issues -- redistricting, street repair, rental property regulation, code enforcement, police and fire staffing, and state-imposed budgetary restraints, to name just a few -- languish forever in the stagnant backwaters of the council's traditional attention deficit, a far too hasty smoke screen is being erected to divert and divide the populace.

That's shameful, because given the length and breadth of pressing issues for the council's consideration in 2008, workplace smoking simply isn't anywhere near the top of the list. Without this convenient smoke screen, might a dormant public awaken and ask why the other, far more pertinent issues are not being tackled?

There is infinitely malleable scientific evidence to support both sides of the smoking debate, and I have no interest in examining it, because we all know that statistics can be creatively deployed to argue every which way but loose. . . .

Whether inelegantly cribbed from the Internet like former council chieftain Larry Kochert's abortive 2006 ordinance, or provided verbatim by the small army of paid lobbyists who gathered to testify at the solitary public hearing smoking, proposed legislation focuses not on customers, but on the safety of workers.

Meanwhile, amid this newfound concern for employees, the council continues to ignore multitudinous safety issues . . .

One thing is clear about the science of an indoor smoking ban. If such a ban posits the necessity of protecting workers from second-hand smoke, it cannot make sense unless it is universal and comprehensive, as a means of protecting all workers, and permitting none of the exemptions and exceptions that shameless ward-heeling amateur alchemists will inevitably seek to disburse like Halloween candy to their cronies.

Imagine the scene as our council persons try to explain how they completely understand that second-hand smoke is bad for a server in one of those restaurants that few of them patronize, but is perfectly acceptable for a bartender in an American Legion hall, 'cuz gee, they fought for their country and all that.

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LETTER: Open letter to New Albany  

I have many friends who cross the river to be able to smoke indoors. When seeking a restaurant or bar for a relaxing meal or drinks, we come to New Albany.

I eat out less often in Louisville than I ever did before their smoking ban. I never go to Louisville bars anymore, nor do my friends. . . .

I know of restaurants that have closed or are struggling in Louisville, because they lost their smoking loyal bar customers.

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CURRAN: Why not just outlaw it all? Smoking ban talk is another control movement 

Many heroic movements to save lives have come before. This movement is different due to its scope. If successful, the one proposal at the heart of the movement will reduce the risk of injury or death in this area, not by a fraction, but completely. Everyone interested in protecting lives must join together to prevent the deaths of more than 40,000 Americans annually.

Some will argue big government is dictating our lives. Some will say such a move will cripple the economy. What are such concerns in comparison to lives saved? Regardless of the concerns and consequences, driving must be banned immediately before the next needless death. . . .

Though we rightly embrace anti-smoking measures, and the connection between the smoke and death is more questionable, the enforcement of these measures is more difficult than enforcing a driving ban would be. Eliminating smoking requires telling the owners of private businesses and property what they and their guests can do. To prohibit indoor, private activity, it is necessary to enter the property and see if the activity is occurring.

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THE BOWL GOES NON-SMOKING 

The owners Mark and Lori Kottwitz have decided that the October 2009 deadline is too far away. The bowl has been smoke free since august first.

Lori Kottwitz said "We just decided, (were) new owners, (we) might as well get a fresh start. Just go ahead and do it now. We've done some remodeling, cleaning up some things, and decided now would be a good time to go smoke free."

One family from Ennis we spoke with said that "The Bowl" being non-smoking was a reason they went there. though they do not receive any compensation for the voluntary ban, the state advertises the alley because it is smoke free.

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Village Board hears new pitch for local smoking ban ordinance  

West Salem smokers and business owners once again face the possibility of a locally imposed ban.

When the West Salem Village Board tabled a smoking ban ordinance in February, trustees saw no reason to continuing working on a bill that could be superceded by a statewide ban that was in the works.

But that never happened. The bill, which would have banned smoking in all Wisconsin workplaces, died in committee.

Sue Lynch, a West Salem resident and a consultant for Smoke Free Wisconsin, approached the village board at its regular meeting Tuesday asking to begin the process anew.

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