Jun 13, 2012

Tobacco Use Not Permited in Sparta

Smokers may have to find another place to light up because Sparta is considering a tobacco ban on township property. Ordinance 12-08 to prohibit smoking, tobacco use or tobacco-related products on township property was unanimously introduced in May. The ordinance was scheduled for a public hearing and final vote Tuesday night, but the Township Council's meeting was rescheduled to Thursday at 7:30 p.m. "Tobacco has no place at our parks and ball fields,"

Jun 5, 2012

Tobacco Companies Love French Movies

A public health advocacy group called the French League Against Cancer is taking advantage of World No Tobacco Day - today - to sound the alarm about “hidden advertising” for cigarettes. Tobacco advertising was outlawed in France in 1991. And yet cigarette manufacturers are still finding a way to get their products into mass media: French movies. According to the League, a recent survey found that "about 80% of the 180 movies included in the sample have scenes in which cigarettes brands and smokers are represented,” Le Parisien reports. More than 70% of these silver screen smokers are “honorable characters,” who could thus encourage young people to start smoking. Tobacco addiction is the leading cause of death in France. On average, French smokers take their first puff at 14.

May 30, 2012

Tobacco Products Sales Banned

A clause in Section 6 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) prohibits sale of tobacco products within 100-metre radius of educational institutes, but there are several areas in the city where the rule is being defied. Even after complaints by some colleges, many stalls within this radius are openly selling items like cigarettes and gutkhas. However, most of the colleges are taking all necessary steps to ensure that students do not smoke on the campuses. Places like Fergusson College (FC) Road and Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) Road have several shops and stalls selling tobacco products. The police department and Pune Municipal Corporation have not taken any action in spite of colleges sending letters to them to remove such stalls. So now the colleges are trying their best to control the menace at least on the campuses. FC principal Ravindra Pardeshi said, "We had written to the police department and PMC about a year ago, but did not get a reply and the stalls are still functioning. However, we have kept our campus completely smoke free.

May 22, 2012

Lack of Knowledge Kill a Lot of Smokers

Ignorance is a harsh word. But imagine reaching for that next cigarette until it kills you, without ever really understanding why. Imagine wanting to stop yet not knowing the only rule needed to succeed. And imagine never once investigating the truth as to how most ex-smokers quit. Half of adult smokers smoke themselves to death. More than five million smoking deaths annually, with one billion expected by century's end, why don't smokers take their self-destruction and slow suicide more seriously?

May 16, 2012

Korean Tobacco Maker Urged to Cut Illegal Cigs

Billions of pine brand cigarette sticks have long been smuggled into Pakistan, most likely from the neighboring Afghanistan, revealed industry sources latest data here on Tuesday. They told Business Recorder that the amount of smuggled pine cigarettes was so substantial that it prompted Pakistani authorities to formally complain to the Korean government and KT&G last year. The KT&G, the nation's leading tobacco maker, exports to 45 countries, including four countries in the Middle East - Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq and Iran - through the firm's regional offices and UAE-based importer Alokozay International. The company does not have any official dealer or representative office in Pakistan. A pack of 20 cigarettes is said to be sold at around Rs 30 (400 won). Sources said tobacco maker was made aware of the smuggling when Pakistan Embassy in Seoul raised the issue with Korean Ministry of Strategy and Finance in April 2011.

May 8, 2012

Smokers Responsability, Councils Decision

Regarding the non-smoking OAP who was fined for dropping a cigarette (Post, April 28), I am not a big fan of Swansea or Neath Port Talbot councils but in their defense I have to point out the council did not throw that butt on the ground an irresponsible smoker did. Councils are spending thousands of our taxes to clean up the disgusting mess made outside all buildings where employees and customers step outside to smoke. A few places have bins for stubs but many smokers don't use them.

May 3, 2012

Japaness Tobacco Companies Tax

British American Tobacco, the world’s second-largest cigarette maker, has asked the government to remove the preferential treatment the products of PMFTC Inc. and other old cigarette brands to level the playing field in the Philippines. James Lafferty, general manager of British American Tobacco Philippines, said the company was open to any increase in the excise tax rates and a change in the structure of the so-called sin taxes if it would allow new entrants like BAT to do business in the country.

Apr 24, 2012

Indian Smokers and Tobacco Addiction

Smoking kills, but most smokers still don’t know how. One in two Indian smokers isn’t aware that tobacco addiction can lead to stroke and 38% that it can cause heart disease. These are some of the startling findings of a World Heart Federation report that will be released at the World Congress of Cardiology (WCC) in Dubai on Saturday. India is high on tobacco addiction. It has 138 million smokers and 28% of its people in the 15-49 age group use tobacco in some form or the other. Bidis are the most popular (48%) followed by tobacco-chewing (38%) and cigarettes (14%).