Turkey - smoking ban a year later, goals are being achieved..

July 17, 2010 - On July 19, 2009 the Turkish Government - made a major move to improve the health of its citizens..


Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted government is keen to reduce smoking rates and the effects of second-hand smoke on people's health. He insists the battle against cigarette usage is as crucial as the "struggle against terrorism." Prime Minister Erdogan is now the driving force behind the next phase of a popular ban taking effect on July 19, which aims to curb the habit in a country where 22 million people, including around half the adult male population, smoke. (Smoke like a Turk?’ Not after looming ban But unlike in 17th-century Istanbul, violators won't be executed, MSNNBC - Reuters, 7/16/2009)

July 16, 2009 - Turkey - smoking ban starting July 19th will be enforced - these guys are serious..
Turkey's largest city of Istanbul on Friday, July 16th reported a 20 percent drop in patients checking into emergency rooms for cigarette-related illness thanks to the one- year smoking ban. The results of the study was announced by the Istanbul Health Department and Marmara University Medical School.

The study said that the number of patients checking into emergency rooms for smoking related health complications has decreased in the year after the smoking ban. Istanbul Health Director Ali Ihsan Dokucu said that compared to the same period of last year, the first five months of 2010 had 20 percent less patients checking into emergency rooms for cigarette- related illnesses.

Meanwhile, the reduction in smoking has caused a savings of 2.9 million Turkish Lira (about 1.9 million U.S. dollars) in medicine costs. Dokucu said "this situation is concrete proof of the success of the smoking ban."

President of the Cigarettes and Health National Committee Elif Bagli said that compared to the first five months of 2009, 363 million less packs of cigarettes were sold in 2010, resulting in a saving of 1.8 billion liras. She added that there was also 30 percent reduction in heart attacks, saying "this ban has not only benefited us health-wise, but also generated financial gain."

Those who breaks the ban will be punished by a fine about 45 U. S. dollars.


The ban brings Turkey into line with most European Union states, but while Turkey is an aspirant European Union (EU) member, it said that the ban is being imposed for health reasons.

Reference: Turkey's Istanbul benefits from smoking ban, Editor: Han Jingjin, Xinhuanet.com, 7/17/2010.

Turkey - related news briefs:
Turkey - even in tea houses smoking ban is working..;
Turkey - smoking ban compliance excellent and cigarette sales drop 15 percent..;
Turkey - two television stations successfuly challenge fines..;
Turkey - two TV stations fined for airing shows featuring smokers..;
Turkey - smoking still major problem despite countrywide ban..;
Turkey - state tobacco monopoly sold workers still want jobs..;
Turkey - overall, smoking ban is working..;
Turkey - court overrules TAPDK on tobacco labels..;
Turkey - cigarette producers sue to reduce size of graphic images..;
WHO to unveil new 2009 tobacco epidemic report in Turkey..;
Turkey - graphic/written warning labels starting January 1, 2010..;
Turkey - with expansion of smoking ban cigarette sales drop..;
Turkey - smoking ban, cafes (teahouses) losing business, owners threaten to strike..;
Turkey - hundreds of cafe owners demonstrate against smoking ban..;
Turkey - small--scale retailers to demonstrate against smoking ban..;
Turkey - anti-smoking advocates happy with early results of smoking ban..; Turkey - smoker wounds manager and kills his friend when asked to stop smoking..
Turkey - cafe owners complain about smoking ban..;
Turkey - dangers of secondhand smoke media campaign..;
Turkish Government - makes major move to improve the health of its citizens..;
Turkey - smoking ban starting July 19th will be enforced - these guys are serious..;
Turkey - poll indicates employers, their employees and customers support smoking ban in cafes, bars and restaurants..;
Turkey - July 19th total smoking ban, will employees lose jobs..;
Turkey - on July 19, 2009 will mark the beginning of “100 percent smoke-free air” in this country..;
Turkey - national smoking ban starts July 19, 2009..;
Turkey - quit smoking photo displayed in İstanbul's Taksim Square..;
Turkey - data on tobacco usage - Turkish Statistics Institution..;
Turkey - smoking ban in all bars, restaurants and coffeehouses starting July 19, 2009..;
Smoking ban in Turkey lowers cigarette consumption..;
Turkey's ban on pubic smoking goes into effect on Monday, May 19, 2008..;
British American Tobacco (BAT) reported group volume sales up for first quarter 2008..;
More on the quick fix for outdoor smokers..;
BAT to Acquire Most of Denmark's ST..;
More on Philip Morris International of the Future..;
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008...

Read more...

Part 3: CSP Survey: explores what's new, if any, promotional activity retailers are seeing..

Big Tobacco is talking to our kids
every day. In convenience stores,
in magazines, online, and through
special promotions designed to lure
them into thinking that tobacco is
cool or a way to express their
independence.

Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine..

July 17, 2010 - This is the last of a three-part series, CSP (Convenience Store/Petroleum) explores what's new, if any, promotional activity retailers are seeing.

In the latest CSP-UBS Tobacco Survey, more than 50 retailers, from one-store shops to 5,000-site chains, addressed a number of issues, from supplier field execution and promotion value to new products.

From April through June, few new programs were advanced, and those that were, were generally more modest in scale. Asked whether they saw "sequential changes in the promotional environment during the second quarter (April-June 2010)," retailers were divided, with 28 (51%) saying yes, and 27 (49%) responding no.

On the yes side were increased promotions on single-pack cigarettes, federally-mandated changes in packaging and descriptors, and modest changes in point-of-purchase signage.

"Manufacturers are offering more and more deals like [money] off on a single pack or two packs," said one retailer. An Indiana-based operator added, "R.J. & PM have gone to single pack promotions for cigarettes, usually $1 off a single pack purchase. For moist snuff, most items were pre-booked to hit before June 22."

Others cited Altria's promotion of an extra $1-per-pack buydown on Marlboro Special Blend. A Virginia merchant also pointed to brand buydowns as a way manufacturers are competing during a recessionary period: "More and more monies are being thrown toward buydowns on popular brands such as Pall Mall, Newport and Marlboro. Brand loyalty is taking a hit with the extreme price increases and these brands must now compete at a lower price point than normal."

For those retailers finding little alterations in promotions, most said the biggest changes were driven by the June 22 FDA deadline concerning packaging changes and moving product to the back bar.

This general sentiment is echoed by UBS Securities tobacco analyst Nik Modi, . "We expect the promotional environment to remain stable with what we have seen since the implementation of the federal excise tax (FET). We expect the Big Three to be more strategic on what brands are promoted were. An example of this is PM USA's reallocation of promotional monies from Virginia Slims, BASIC and Parliament to Marlboro."

In other issues covered in the survey:
* Menthol Ban?: Not likely according to survey respondents. Asked whether they expect the FDA to ban menthol cigarettes, 49 retailers, or 89% said no, while six operators said yes.
* Another Cigarette Hike?: Probably, retailers say. Asked if you expect further price increases in cigarettes this year, 48 retailers (87%) said yes, while seven said no.

Part 1: Part 1: CSP survey of retailers - strength of top selling cigarettes..;

Part 2: Part 2: CSP Survey: Which New Tobacco Products Are Scoring?

Reference: CSP Exclusive: Tobacco Promos Flat Menthol ban? Manufacturer increases? CSP-UBS survey provides answers by Mitch Morrison, CSP Daily News, 7/14/2010.

Read more...

Bulgaria - 3-cigarette distributors permitted to merge..


July 16, 2010 - The Bulgarian Competition Protection Commission (CPC) has permitted three big cigarettes distributors to unite in one company. From now on, “Tabac Trading Partner” Ltd., “Delivery” and “Bulgarian Vending Company” will be known as “Tabac Logistic Group” Jsc.

The Bulgarian anti-monopoly institution assigned Tuesday, July 13th immediate execution of the decision, because according to its research, the deal will not have any negative consequences on the market.


“Tabac Logistic Group” will buy, deliver, transport and store tobacco products, made by “Bulgartabac Holding”.

CPC noted that in order to make the decision, they have done a research among producers, distributors and bigger retailers of cigarettes and have not received a negative statement for the deal. The commission's research has also shown that there was a good interchangeability between the Bulgarian and imported cigarette brands.

“The commission is treating the geographical market for cigarette distribution as national. The analysis has established that the market for cigarette distribution is very competitive and there are many companies that are willing to execute distribution of the production of the big producers and importers to the final customers, which are the wholesalers and retailers,” the CPC decision said.

“Delivery” owns stakes in six holdings for selling cigarettes, which are based in the Bulgarian cities of Blagoevgrasd, Razgrad, Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Karlovo and Hissar.

Reference: Bulgaria's Competition Watchdog Oks Merger of Cigarette Distributors, Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency), 7/13/2010.

Bulgaria - related news briefs:
Bulgaria - subsidy for tobacco growers included in govt budget for 2010..;
Bulgaria - an inexpensive place to live...;
Bulgaria - female tennis player Tsvetana Pironkova upsets Venus Williams at Wimbledon..;
Bulgaria - investor shows interest in state-owned cigarette monopoly Bulgartabac..;
Bulgaria - NO decrease in cigarette excise tax..;
Bulgaria - tobacco growers again mass protests over unpaid subsidies..;
Bulgaria - govt no more tobacco growers protests over subsides..;
Bulgaria - were the cigarettes contraband or not..Moldova says NO..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac Holding sales jumped by 15-20 percent..;
Bulgaria - full smoking ban in force for 3-days officially abolished..;
Bulgaria - confusion over which public smoking ban is in force..;
Bulgaria - WHO upset with Bulgaria's weakened smoking ban..;
Bulgaria - weakened smoking ban, just added minors can't be in disco clubs after 10pm..;
Bulgaria - final vote delayed on weakened smoking ban..;
Bulgaria - weakened smoking ban, second reading..;
Bulgaria - commission tightens smoking ban a little..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac buyer may be chosen by end of year..;
Bulgaria - prime minister not happy with giving tobacco growers subsidies..;
Bulgaria - to loosen smoking ban to start June 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - finance minister comments may be good news for tobacco farmers..;
Bulgaria - parliament debates proposal to water down smoking ban..;
Bulgaria - majority of all Bulgarians - 78% are against the smoking ban delay..;
Bulgaria - every increase in excise duty on cigarettes consumption goes down..;
Bulgaria - grace period over, increase in tobacco tax starts Thursday, April 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - Italian authorities arrest 2-Bulgarians smuggling cigarettes..;
Bulgaria - tractor trailer loaded with contraband cigarettes seized in Ancona, Italy..;
Bulgaria - cigarette consumption down, cigarette tax collection up, seeking funds for technology to intercept contraband goods..;
Bulgaria - justifying why smoking ban won't go into effect on June 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - Citigroup chosen as consultant for sale of Bulgartabac..;
Bulgaria - ruling party may delay smoking ban until 2011..;
Bulgaria - Finance Minister Djankov, "Less Smoking Is Good for Economy..";
Bulgaria - govt to weaken full smoking ban to be effective June 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - do producers support contraband cigarettes??;
Bulgaria - sale of Bulgartabac coming - selection of a consultant..;
Greek Farmers Renew Bulgaria Border Blockade..;
Bulgaria - leadership of tobacco fund to be replaced..;
Bulgaria - illegal trade in cigarettes will reach 40% of total trade in 2010..;
Bulgaria - limits on personal imports of tobacco products from outside the EU..;
Bulgaria - European Commission authorizes payment to tobacco producers for 2009 crop..;
Bulgaria -two cigarette smuggling attempts busted on Serbian border..;
Bulgaria - price of cigarettes increases..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac stays in the economy ministry, sold by middle of 2010, starting price 100,000,000 euro..;
Bulgaria - tobacco producers propose Bulgartabac transfer..;
Bulgaria - government, tobacco growers reach subsidy agreement..;
Bulgaria - start of steps leading to the privatization of the state-owned cigarette monopoly Bulgartabac..;
Bulgaria - police hold smoking protest over lack of bonuses..;
Bulgaria - police busts major cigarette contraband ring..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac Holding” will be privatized in 2010..;
Bulgaria - MPs Impose Hefty Fines on Cigarette Sales Violators..;
Bulgartabac Chief - cigarette tax increase as of January 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria Bulgartabac Holding Sells 23% of Shares to Mutual Funds..;
Bulgaria - more than 70% of smokers want to quit..;
Bulgaria - cigarette taxes going up each year except 2011..;
Bulgaria - chair of the economic committee in parliament disapproves of planned raise in excise duties on cigarettes..;
Bulgaria and others - smoking ban, increased cigarette taxes, smuggling..;
Bulgaria - Cigarette excise duties will be increased next year..;
Bulgaria - cigarette contraband, government loses BGN 920M yearly..;
Bulgaria - one third of the tobacco products sold are illicit..;
Bulgaria - new government to speed-up Bulgartabac sale..;
Bulgaria - Fake Victory Light cigarettes..;
Bulgaria's tobacco monopoly may be up for sale..;
Bulgarian lawmakers vote to ban smoking in all publc places from June 2010..; Bulgarian tobacco company Sofia-BT exports increase by 541 percent..;
Does Russia own Bulgaria's tobacco monopoly, Bulgartabac..;
EU percent of adults smokers -highest Greece 1 , Bulgaria 2.. - lowest Slovenia..;
Bulgaria - 1 in 3 youths smoke / half of pregnant women smoke..;
PMI training Bulgarian custom officers to stop cigarette smuggling..;
Philip Morris International (PMI) was truly happy they had been back in the Bulgarian cigarette market for a year and had already had 6.8% of market..;
WHO FCTC Protocol to Prevent Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products Won't Be Completed Until End of 2010..;
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008..;
Bulgaria Enters 2009 with Cigarette Prices Hike...
Bulgaria is marking Tuesday, November 10, 2009, the 20th year since the internal coup at the Bulgarian Communist Party which led to the crumbling of the communist regime..
Read more...

New Zealand - report on illicit trade and options to control growth of illicit trade..







July 16, 2010 - Tax on tobacco in New Zealand has recently increased and will continue to increase over the next two years. Several additional measures to reduce the availability of tobacco are proposed for New Zealand.

Increasing tobacco tax and restricting supply are likely to increase illicit trade. Illicit trade of tobacco includes both tobacco smuggling (products illegally traded across borders) and illicit tobacco manufacturing (illegally manufactured products). Tobacco use is the single biggest cause of preventable death in New Zealand. This report explores the level of illicit trade in New Zealand, and options to control the growth of illicit trade alongside strong, effective regulation of smoked tobacco in New Zealand.

This report is based on information provided in reports, journals, interviews and personal communication with New Zealand Customs staff and health advocates and researchers with experience in illicit trade.

Key Points at a Glance

Illicit tobacco in New Zealand
• Availability of legal tobacco is a major cause of pain, suffering and preventable death in New Zealand
• Illicit trade reduces Government revenue and provides funds for organised crime and corruption. However illicit trade
in New Zealand is a relatively minor problem: it constitutes only 0.7 to 2.0% of total tobacco consumption in New Zealand.
• Tax on New Zealand tobacco is amongst the highest in the world and New Zealand has one of the lowest estimates of illicit tobacco consumption in the world. Price and availability are not the only factors determining the levels of illicit trade.
• New Zealand’s geographical location, population size and limited demand for tobacco compared to other markets means that conditions for illicit trade to flourish are unfavourable.

International factors
• Tobacco smuggling is more prolific in lower income countries than middle to high income countries.
• Case studies around the world during the last decade show that a combination of measures can lead to positive results
in tackling large-scale smuggling operations. Countries that are signatories to the FCTC are in the process of agreeing
to a new treaty containing numerous measures that will tackle illicit tobacco trade across the globe. No country on its
own is able to efficiently combat large-scale smuggling operations. Support from New Zealand for an effective protocol is extremely important.

Tobacco industry conduct
• Tobacco companies have benefited from and have been found guilty of involvement in illicit trade in a number of jurisdictions.
• Tobacco companies play on fears about illicit trade and exaggerate impacts by presenting the issues out of context in
two main ways. Firstly they don’t acknowledge the more substantial problem of legal tobacco use. Secondly they don’t
acknowledge effective measures and how these measures will reduce demand for illicit product.

Recommendations

• New Zealand’s high levels of co-operation with other countries, the high integrity and efficiency of New Zealand Customs and reducing demand for tobacco has been, and will continue to be, the key to maintaining a low level of illicit consumption.
• A number of different methods and data sources are available to monitor illicit trade. Attention to consistency of methods will enable changes in the level of illicit trade to be detected and managed. Improved monitoring could be achieved via additional questions in existing national tobacco use surveys.
• Increasing resources to NZ Customs to monitor and intercept illicit product is a cost effective way to protect and increase excise revenue.
• Duty free tobacco is a large source of New Zealand’s non-duty paid tobacco.
Removing duty free allowances would have a significant impact on reducing illicit trade.
• Ensuring the basis and the evidence supporting tobacco control measures are clear and engage public support is crucial. Measures that are perceived as unreasonable have potential to increase tolerance of illicit trade.

Reference: New Zealand - ASH Year 10 Snapshot Survey - Dramatic youth smoking decline, Dr Janine Paynter, Research and policy analyst, Esther U, Campaign Officer Action on Smoking and Health, Auckland, New Zealand Luk Joossens International expert on illicit tobacco trade, Framework Convention Alliance, Advocacy Officer, European Cancer Leagues, Tobacco Control Expert, Belgian Foundation against Cancer, 6/2010.

New Zealand related news briefs:
New Zealand - ASH Year 10 Snapshot Survey - Dramatic youth smoking decline..;
New Zealand - plain cigarette and tobacco packs could turn teenagers off smoking..;
New Zealand - Tobacco companies target women..;
New Zealand - lobby group of small retailers formed to protest tobacco price hike..;
New Zealand - more than half of the people want to end tobacco sales by 2020..;
New Zealand - revenue department has begun a review of BAT financial transactions..;
New Zealand - increase in tobacco excise forced through Parliament by the Government..;
New Zealand - Christchurch prepares for meeting with tobacco select committee..;
New Zealand - biggest drop in smoking rates seen in a decade..;
New Zealand - Maori affairs committee continues to gather information..;
New Zealand - study quit-smoking products that are acceptabe and effective..;
New Zealand - smoking ban results in decrease in heart attacks..;
New Zealand - BAT attends Maori Affairs select committee meeting on tobacco..;
New Zealanders want cigarettes banned by 2020..;
New Zealand - Maori women - almost 50% smoke..;
New Zealand - more and more teenagers turned off by smoking..;
New Zealand - loophole in the law banning tobacco sponsorship..;
New Zealand - University of Auckland to go smokefree - 1st university in country..;
New Zealand - smoking ban in bars results in less smoking at home..;
New Zealand - study, tobacco displays leads to increase in youth smoking..;
New Zealand - graphic warnings cigarette maker selects less offensive images..;
New Zealand - Maori committee to investigate smoking..;
New Zealand - Tairawhiti Board wants tobacco sold only on prescription..;
New Zealand - health researchers calling on government to ban importation of tobacco..;
New Zealand - 1st trial ever of e-cigarettes..;
New Zealand - BAT reducing prices discouraging people from quitting..;
New Zealand - stop smoking campaigns NOT working..;
BAT awarded worst corporation in New Zealand..;
New Zealand - government may NOT support tobacco display bans..;
New Zealand More Evidence Needed to Ban Tobacco and Cigarette Displays..;
More evidence - tobacco displays increase the risk of teens smoking..;
Horror photos go on New Zealand cigarette packs..;
Country to Eliminate Smoking - The South Pacific nation of Niue;
Ireland to ban tobacco displays..;
Smokefree NZ within 10 years..;
By law, oral snuff cannot (but nasal snuff is allowed) be sold in New Zealand and can be imported only for personal use..
Read more...

The Growth of Lorillard's Newport Cigarettes..



July 16, 2010 - After listening to some of the comments of the Lorillard representatives at the FDA Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee meeting we thought a module we competed a few years back on the growth of Newport cigarettes would be helpful.

First off, Newport cigarette sales are strongest in the Eastern United States while Camel is more popular in the west.


Click to enlarge..


The Growth of Lorillard's Newport Cigarettes..
Read more...

New Zealand - ASH Year 10 Snapshot Survey - Dramatic youth smoking decline..




July 15, 2010 - The Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Year 10 Snapshot Survey is a national census style survey that has been conducted annually since 1999.

Over 330,147 New Zealand 14 and 15 year old teenagers have completed the survey since 1999, which focuses on smoking by teenagers, their family and friends. The Year survey shows the number of daily smokers among the country’s Year 10 students is down to 5.6 percent from 15.6 percent in 1999. The survey has run each year since 1999, when 31.6 percent of students reported having never tried tobacco. The latest results show that 64 percent of students aged 14 and 15 have never smoked a puff.

The report’s author Dr Janine Paynter says, “We’re seeing that some of the inequalities in tobacco use are closing and it is particularly encouraging to see a decent reduction in the daily smoking rate for Pacific girls.” The daily smoking rate amongst Pacific Island girls is down to 7.2 percent from 10.5 percent
on last year’s survey and from a starting point of 23 percent in 1999.

Overall a greater proportion of girls compared to boys smoke with one in eight girls (12.5%) saying they are regular smokers (daily, weekly or monthly) compared to 9.1 percent for boys.

The highest daily smoking rate is among Maori girls at 17.9 percent (36.2 percent in 1999) The Maori boys’ daily smoking rate sits at 11.1 percent (23.6 percent in 1999)

“We are well overdue with policy moves like removing the display of tobacco in shops, as this will provide an extra boost in removing tobacco from young peoples’ lives,” said Dr Paynter.

Nearly 27 000 questionnaires were returned by schools across the country.

National Year 10 ASH Snapshot Survey, 1999-2009: Trends in Tobacco Use by Students Aged 14-15 Years

Reference: National Year 10 ASH Snapshot Survey, 1999-2009: Trends in Tobacco Use by Students Aged 14-15 Years, author Dr. Janine Paynter, On behalf of Action on Smoking and Health, Health Sponsorship Council and the Ministry of Health, 7/15/2010.

New Zealand related news briefs:
New Zealand - plain cigarette and tobacco packs could turn teenagers off smoking..;
New Zealand - Tobacco companies target women..;
New Zealand - lobby group of small retailers formed to protest tobacco price hike..;
New Zealand - more than half of the people want to end tobacco sales by 2020..;
New Zealand - revenue department has begun a review of BAT financial transactions..;
New Zealand - increase in tobacco excise forced through Parliament by the Government..;
New Zealand - Christchurch prepares for meeting with tobacco select committee..;
New Zealand - biggest drop in smoking rates seen in a decade..;
New Zealand - Maori affairs committee continues to gather information..;
New Zealand - study quit-smoking products that are acceptabe and effective..;
New Zealand - smoking ban results in decrease in heart attacks..;
New Zealand - BAT attends Maori Affairs select committee meeting on tobacco..;
New Zealanders want cigarettes banned by 2020..;
New Zealand - Maori women - almost 50% smoke..;
New Zealand - more and more teenagers turned off by smoking..;
New Zealand - loophole in the law banning tobacco sponsorship..;
New Zealand - University of Auckland to go smokefree - 1st university in country..;
New Zealand - smoking ban in bars results in less smoking at home..;
New Zealand - study, tobacco displays leads to increase in youth smoking..;
New Zealand - graphic warnings cigarette maker selects less offensive images..;
New Zealand - Maori committee to investigate smoking..;
New Zealand - Tairawhiti Board wants tobacco sold only on prescription..;
New Zealand - health researchers calling on government to ban importation of tobacco..;
New Zealand - 1st trial ever of e-cigarettes..;
New Zealand - BAT reducing prices discouraging people from quitting..;
New Zealand - stop smoking campaigns NOT working..;
BAT awarded worst corporation in New Zealand..;
New Zealand - government may NOT support tobacco display bans..;
New Zealand More Evidence Needed to Ban Tobacco and Cigarette Displays..;
More evidence - tobacco displays increase the risk of teens smoking..;
Horror photos go on New Zealand cigarette packs..;
Country to Eliminate Smoking - The South Pacific nation of Niue;
Ireland to ban tobacco displays..;
Smokefree NZ within 10 years..;
By law, oral snuff cannot (but nasal snuff is allowed) be sold in New Zealand and can be imported only for personal use..
Read more...

South Korea - BAT launches new cigarette seems similar to Camel Crush..


July 15, 2010 - British American Tobacco (BAT) Korea plans to launch KENT Convertibles this week in which the Seoul-based company says consumers will be able to experience two different smoking sensations in a single cigarette.

The product is composed of a two-part, charcoal and cellulose filter with a small liquid-filled flavor capsule. When customers click the filter to release the flavor from the capsule while smoking, they can indulge in a second taste. BAT Korea labels the out-of-the-box technology as the biggest innovation in tobacco since the creation of the filter. The cigarette has 6mg tar content and priced at 2,500 won (2.08 USD) a pack.

"The cutting-edge taste transmission technology of KENT Convertibles now allows consumers to interact with their cigarettes to choose whenever they want to experience a new smoking sensation," BAT Korea's Marketing Executive Director Guy Meldrum said. "KENT's leading role in product technology continues, and the launch

This cigarette reminds us of Camel Crush.. August 25, 2008 - Camel Crush now available throughout the U.S.A..

Reference:
BAT offers 2-in-1 taste products
by Kim Tae-gyu Staff Reporter, The Korea Times, 7/13/2010.

South Korea - some related news briefs:
South Korea - rate of male smokers probably higher than any other OECD country..;
South Korea - BAT to further invest in Sacheon factory..;
South Korea - a look at KT&G Corporation with 63% of the market..;
South Korea - streets and parks of Seoul City could be designated as non-smoking areas..;
PMI - slide presentation South Korean Cigarette Market..;
South Korea - KT&G forms alliance with Imperial Tobacco Group..;
South Korea - more smokers in 2009 than in 2008..;
South Korea - remote island going smoke-free, car-free and night lights-free..;
South Korea - Stressed-out Koreans smoking more..;
South Korea - to ban smoking in public places from 2011..;
Korea - BAT - winning the hearts and minds of customers based on tactics tailored to local tastes..;
Korea - sets target to reduce smoking 10% in 5-years..;
Korea - stricter regulation of the tobacco industry coming..;
South Korea - tobacco imports surge 396-fold over 10-years..;
Korea - slight increase in men smoking.. ;
South Korea - anti-tobacco campaign - body painting..;
Korea - smoking ban just about everywhere by end of 2009..;
Tobacco marketing in South Korea has been deliberately aimed at girls and young women..;
Korea - smoking rates fall for men and women...
Read more...

Nevada - federally funded Las Vegas approach aimed at reducing smoking among teens and young adults..


Click to enlarge..
July 15, 2010 - The Southern Nevada Health District is ramping up its very Las Vegas approach aimed at reducing smoking among teens and young adults. District officials say the best way to get young people to stop — or not start — smoking is to use the bar and nightclub scene and ads that feature scantily clad men and women in sexually suggestive poses. The district plans to spend millions of dollars over the next couple of years on a campaign that uses that plan of attack.

Local health officials determined several years ago that to counter the methods that tobacco companies have used for decades to lure young people into thinking it is cool to smoke, the most effective option was fighting fire with fire.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention apparently doesn’t mind. In March it awarded $14.6 million economic stimulus money to the Health District to spend over the next two years on its smoking prevention programs — the third largest anti-tobacco grant in the nation.

Smoke-Free Gaming Chairwoman Stephanie Steinberg, who advocates smoke-free casinos nationwide, said last week she thinks the district’s anti-smoking message to teens and young adults is diluted by ads whose images promote boozing and sex. “They are basically promoting a party scene in Vegas,” Steinberg complains. “Are they promoting a healthy lifestyle? No they are not. They’re promoting drinking and promiscuity.”

Part of her anger is directed toward three websites that the district uses to reach young people:
xpozlv.com, which targets youths aged 13 to 17 attracted to the hard-core rock scene;

urbanfuel.org, for adults 18 to 24, particularly those attracted to the nightclub scene; and

socrush.com for young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.

The latter two websites contain photos of people in bikinis, underwear or otherwise barely dressed. Urbanfuel has shown photos of people drinking in nightclubs. And xpozlv promotes some bands that have penned pro-drinking songs, such as “Pints of Guinness Make You Strong” by Against Me! and “Whiskey Scotch Whiskey” by the Real McKenzies.

The Health District’s Tobacco Control Program manager, Maria Azzarelli, counters that young people would be turned off by any attempt from her agency to combine an anti-drinking message with one that opposes smoking. “You can’t go into this looking like a health Nazi,” Azzarelli says. “You can’t address things like drinking and driving and HIV all at once because you won’t be successful.”

This philosophy, he says, is the opposite of many government-funded health programs that tend to preach to young people rather than attempt to fit into their culture.

Before this year, the Health District paid Rescue $60,000 annually to spread the anti-smoking message in Southern Nevada, roughly one-tenth of the district’s smoking prevention budget. That contract and other anti-smoking initiatives were jeopardized this year, though, when state lawmakers forced with addressing Nevada’s widening budget deficit took money away from smoking prevention programs.

The federal grant not only was a savior, it was a windfall that will enable the Health District to substantially increase Rescue’s annual budget to $1.2 million a year over the next two years, all with the blessing of the CDC. The money will enable Rescue to host many more anti-smoking events and reach a higher percentage of its target audience. Rescue also plans for the first time to air television ads in Las Vegas aimed at teens and young adults.

Although Azzarelli said smoking rates dropped in Nevada for several years — a trend reflected nationally from the 1960s through 2007 — she and Jordan conceded it is not yet possible to quantify the effect their counter-advertising program is having on teens and young adults.

The CDC this year reported mixed results for Nevada — while the smoking rate among high school students in 2009 was 17 percent, below the national average of 18.2 percent, only seven states in 2008 had a higher smoking rate among adults than Nevada’s 22.2 percent.

Reference: To reach the young, anti-smoking ads fight vice with vice Images of, references to drinking, sex surround anti-smoking messages by Steve Kanigher, BannerView.com, 7/13/2010.

Related Las Vegas Sun articles:
Study arms smoking foes Dealers display ill effects of secondhand smoke in long-awaited results, by Liz Benston, Las Vegas Sun, 5/7/2009;
Closer look at smoking ban by Nicole Lucht, Las Vegas Sun, 5/1/2009;
Casino restaurant patrons can’t elude secondhand smoke
by Nicole Lucht, Las Vegas Sun, 1/16/2009;
Study finds high pollution levels in casino restaurants
UNLV testing shows 12 of 16 at levels that exceed EPA standards
by Amanda Finnegan, Las Vegas Sun, 1/15/2009;
Serve food or allow smoking: Trendy spots may face choice by Liz Benston, 8/15/2007;
Smoking ban tests resourcefulness by Ed Koch, Las Vegas Sun, 7/30/2007;
Smoking ban not doing all the banning its sponsors hoped Many taverns thumb their noses at the law, which has little teeth by Mike Trask, Las Vegas Sun, 6/21/2008;
Smoking ban is ignored by many by Liz Benston, 1/8/2007.

Reference: Officials to strengthen penalties for smoking ban
Draft regulations show authorities plan to pull health permits of bars that ignore rules
by Valerie Miller, Las Vegas Business Press, 10/7/2009.
Related news brief: Nevada - lawmakers may weaken smoking ban...
Study arms smoking foes Dealers display ill effects of secondhand smoke in long-awaited results, by Liz Benston, Las Vegas Sun, 5/7/2009;
Closer look at smoking ban by Nicole Lucht, Las Vegas Sun, 5/1/2009;
Casino restaurant patrons can’t elude secondhand smoke
by Nicole Lucht, Las Vegas Sun, 1/16/2009;
Study finds high pollution levels in casino restaurants
UNLV testing shows 12 of 16 at levels that exceed EPA standards
by Amanda Finnegan, Las Vegas Sun, 1/15/2009;
Serve food or allow smoking: Trendy spots may face choice by Liz Benston, 8/15/2007;
Smoking ban tests resourcefulness by Ed Koch, Las Vegas Sun, 7/30/2007;
Smoking ban not doing all the banning its sponsors hoped Many taverns thumb their noses at the law, which has little teeth by Mike Trask, Las Vegas Sun, 6/21/2008;
Smoking ban is ignored by many by Liz Benston, 1/8/2007.

Reference: Officials to strengthen penalties for smoking ban
Draft regulations show authorities plan to pull health permits of bars that ignore rules
by Valerie Miller, Las Vegas Business Press, 10/7/2009.
Related news brief: Nevada - lawmakers may weaken smoking ban...
Read more...

PMI - child labor laws - Kazakhstan - tobacco farming..

Photo: Moisess Saman, Human Rights Watch,
Click to enlarge..
July 15, 2010 - Human Rights Watch, the group best known for documenting governmental abuse and war crimes, released a report on Wednesday, July 14th showing that child and forced labor is widespread on farms that supply a cigarette factory owned by Philip Morris International (PMI) in Kazakhstan, in Central Asia.

VIDEO - Hellish Work: Tobacco Workers in Kazakhstan, July 14, 2010.

While child labor should be condemned in any setting, the report said, employing children on tobacco farms is particularly hazardous because tobacco field laborers are exposed to high levels of nicotine while doing their jobs.

Only a tiny fraction of Philip Morris’s global tobacco purchases are made in the Kazakhstan, and no tobacco raised on the farms employing child labor went into cigarettes sold outside of former Soviet countries. Philip Morris, after being provided with an advance copy of the report, said it agreed to sweeping changes in its purchasing policies in Kazakhstan. “Philip Morris International is firmly opposed to child labor,” Peter Nixon, a spokesman, said in a telephone interview from the company’s office in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The group interviewed 68 tobacco farm employees in one district of Kazakhstan during the harvest last fall, identifying them only by their first names and initials. All, including the children, were migrant laborers from neighboring Central Asian countries, mostly from impoverished Kyrgyzstan. The report also documented violations of basic farm safety rules, like laborers wearing open-toed shoes while working with sharp hoes.

Human Rights Watch researchers documented 72 instances of children working in the Kazakh tobacco fields, which employ about a thousand migrants each season.

Many are paid on a piecework basis, by the ton of harvested tobacco. The group said this was an inducement for parents to bring their children into the fields at harvest time. Even then, the report said, families made only a few hundred dollars for a half-year of farm work, after covering debts to farmers for board and travel.

“A company like Philip Morris certainly has the resources to put an end to these practices,” Jane Buchanan, a senior Human Rights Watch researcher and the author, said in an interview.

Mr. Nixon, the Philip Morris spokesman, said the company already had policies in place prohibiting purchases from farms that used child labor. Over the years, he said, this policy had reduced abusive practices at Kazakh tobacco farms — an assertion that Human Rights Watch said was supported in its interviews. All the same, Mr. Nixon said, Philip Morris would step up its efforts to eliminate child labor. The company, he said, was “appreciative” of Human Rights Watch for drawing the continuing abuse to its attention.

But Ms. Buchanan said Philip Morris bore moral responsibility for the fate of child laborers in Kazakhstan, even though it was not their direct employer, citing precedents established by apparel and athletic shoe companies that over the last decade had demanded Asian suppliers prohibit child labor. “Companies are supposed to have policies to recognize and rectify problems with human rights in their supply chain,” she said.

That many of the children worked alongside their migrant-laborer parents during the harvest, she said, did not diminish Philip Morris’s responsibility for their safety.

Tobacco can be an unhealthy crop even before it winds up in cigarettes. Nicotine is absorbed through the skin through continual handling of tobacco leaves. The resulting ailment in tobacco farm laborers is called green tobacco sickness, causing nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Rashes are also common. The report cited studies indicating that laborers can absorb, in one day, the amount of nicotine equivalent to smoking 36 cigarettes. “Children are especially vulnerable due to their small body size in relation to the dose of nicotine they absorb,” the report said.

Mr. Nixon said the company would require farmers to sign written contracts with adult laborers during this year’s growing season, and would hire an outside monitor to police farms for compliance with child labor laws. This year, the company opened a summer camp for the children of migrant laborers in Kazakhstan’s tobacco-producing region. It will also require its suppliers to pay monthly salaries, rather than piecework pay, to discourage migrant parents from enlisting the help of their children.

In 2009, Philip Morris International’s net revenue was $25 billion on sales of cigarettes including globally marketed brands like Marlboro, L&M, Chesterfield and Bond Street. The company’s purchases in Kazakhstan are tiny compared to its global operations; it bought 1,500 tons in 2009, compared to its global total of 400,000 tons. The company said it contracts with 300 farms in Kazakhstan, employing about 1,200 seasonal workers. These workers are typically accompanied by about 200 children, Mr. Nixon said. The Kazakh tobacco is used only in local brands unknown outside their markets in former Soviet countries, including Polyot and Apollo-Soyuz.

Reference: Philip Morris Is Said to Benefit From Child Labor by ANDREW E. KRAME, The New York Times, 7/13/2010.

Similar problems with exploiting children exist in other developing countries growing tobacco, e.g. Malawi - children - green tobacco sickness (nicotine poisoning)..; Malawi - kids working in tobacco production...

Read more...

More on the defense of menthol - the Tobacco Industry..

July 15, 2010 - The tobacco industry is running a full-court press ahead of a federal scientific panel's meeting to discuss how to regulate menthol cigarettes, a still-growing part of the shrinking cigarette market, said the Associated Press.

FDA CTP Scientific Advisory Committee (CTPSAC) to meet - menthol..

While most believe a ban is unlikely, several companies are voicing their concerns in their submissions to the federal Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC), which will hear industry presentations on how menthol is used in cigarettes, health effects, marketing efforts and impacts on specific groups of people.

In their submissions to the panel, the nation's top three cigarette makers, Philip Morris USA parent Altria Group Inc., Reynolds American Inc. and Lorillard Inc. all said scientific evidence does not show that menthol cigarettes create greater health risk than non-menthol cigarettes.

Lorillard, which holds about 35% share of the U.S menthol cigarette market with its top-selling Newport brand, even launched a website late last month explaining the company's position, the science that is under review by a the committee, and the consequences of a potential ban on menthol cigarettes.

The law banned cigarettes with flavors such as clove, chocolate or fruit, because they are believed to appeal to youth. However, menthol smokes were exempt. The FDA could order a reduction of menthol levels, bigger or more descriptive warning labels or higher mandated prices for menthol cigarettes. The committee is to make its recommendations to the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products by March. The 12-member panel includes three nonvoting members representing the tobacco industry.

The share of smokers using menthol cigarettes increased from 31% in 2004 to 33.9% in 2008, with more pronounced increases among young smokers, according to AP, citing a study released by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)in November. It also showed that among black smokers, 82.6% used menthol cigarettes, compared with 32.3% for Hispanic smokers and 23.8% for white smokers.

But studies vary on menthol's health impacts and whether it plays a large role in enticing people to start smoking. Greensboro, N.C.-based Lorillard Tobacco Co. released a submission to TPSAC of the FDA, urging it to use objectivity and a single scientific standard in considering all worthy studies on the health effects of menthol in cigarettes rather than cherry picking studies and misrepresenting findings.

The submission presented findings of scientific studies about the impact of menthol to clarify presentations made by FDA staff members to TPSAC members in March that contained significant omissions and inaccurate reports. The best available science "demonstrates that menthol in cigarettes has no meaningful effect on public health," Lorillard said in the submission. "And the overwhelming body of epidemiology shows that smoking-related disease risk is not increased by the presence of menthol."

"Some presentations failed to include important available published scientific studies on menthol in cigarettes and made only passing mention of, or entirely omitted, worthy studies that have not found menthol to be associated with meaningful adverse health effects," the submission said. "In some instances, the presentations delivered to the TPSAC included interpretations that were contradictory to those of the authors of the cited published papers."

The Lorillard submission said FDA presentations omitted five smoking topography studies that are inconsistent with an assertion that menthol in cigarettes may increase smoking intensity. Omitting those studies, Lorillard said, "is exemplary of the bias evident in the FDA staff briefings that were represented to the TPSAC as objective summaries of published scientific literature."

The submission also cited a presentation on tobacco-related diseases that attempted to cast doubt on the overwhelming body of epidemiology data that shows that menthol does not increase smokers' disease risk by stating that the findings "may not be so straightforward." Any suggestion that the results of menthol epidemiology "are equivocal or mixed is scientifically invalid," Lorillard said.

A total of 13 existing epidemiological studies compare smoking-related disease outcomes between menthol and nonmenthol cigarette smokers. "Twelve of the 13 studies reported no significant differences between menthol versus nonmenthol smokers for any of the health outcomes evaluated," the submission said. "The overwhelming findings of these studies demonstrate that menthol in cigarettes plays no role in the inherent disease risks of smoking."

Lorillard is the third largest manufacturer of cigarettes in the United States. Newport, Lorillard's flagship menthol-flavored premium cigarette brand, is the top-selling menthol and second-largest selling cigarette in the United States. In addition to Newport, the Lorillard product line has five additional brand families marketed under the Kent, True, Maverick, Old Gold and Max brand names. These six brands include 41 different product offerings which vary in price, taste, flavor, length and packaging.

Meanwhile, the union representing nearly 4,000 tobacco workers sent a letter to the FDA's TPSAC, warning that a ban could lead to "severe jobs loss" and black market cigarettes. "These are good, hardworking men and women.... They are an economic linchpin of the communities in which they live," Frank Hurt, president of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers (BCTGM) International Union wrote in a letter submitted late last month for the panel's second meeting Thursday, July 15th.

Reference: Defending Menthol Tobacco industry voicing concerns over FDA examination of menthol cigarettes, Convenience Store/Petroleum (CSP) Daily News, 7/15/2010.


Read more...

UK government could scrap tobacco control plans..

July 15, 2010 - UK government could scrap Labour legislation to ban cigarette vending machines from pubs and tobacco displays from retailers. The possibility of reversing the Tobacco Act emerged in a reply to parliamentary question to the Department of Health, which said that given "the challenges facing business competition and costs", it would give further consideration to "the policy on display of tobacco products and sales from tobacco vending machines".

The vending machine ban was proposed by Ian McCartney, a former Labour minister, who said the machines gave young children access to cigarettes. The act also requires cigarettes to be sold "out of sight". Similar schemes have been introduced in Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Thailand and Canada.

Anti-smoking groups are angry about the prospect of a U-turn. Martin Dockrell, director of policy and research at Action on Smoking and Health, said: "The public health community is firmly behind this and the only people who oppose it are the people who profit from making and selling cigarettes. After all their election promises about public health surely the coalition can make a better start than by caving in to the tobacco lobby?" Medical charities, which had lobbied MPs over the issue, were also angered by news of the review. Jean King, director of tobacco control at Cancer Research UK, said: "The evidence is clear and public support is overwhelming – removing tobacco from the point of sale is important if we are to protect children from tobacco."

Campaigners have also been angered by a report from the Institute of Economic Affairs, which is influential in rightwing circles, claiming countries that introduce tobacco display bans could risk "significant economic damage and a deterioration in public health". This claim is "unjustified" according to Casey Quinn, a health economist at the University of Nottingham.

Backround:

July 1, 2010 - Scotland - Imperial Tobacco in legal action to stop ban on cigarette displays and vending machine removal..;

April 26, 2010 - Scotland - retailers can provide input on future to ban the display of tobacco..;

February 11, 2010 - UK - Vending Machines..Imperial Tobacco seeks Judicial Review..;

February 2, 2010 - United Kingdom - halve the number of smokers by end of decade..;

January 29, 2010 - Scotland - parliament votes to ban retail cigarette displays and vending machines.

December 19, 2009 - United Kingdom - govt cabinet business secretary has reservations about new anti-smoking strategy..

November 12, 2009 Across the UK - a ban on cigarette vending machines is set to begin 2011..;

October 17, 2008 - United Kingdom - Packaging people - tobacco display ban - Counterfeit cigarettes could thrive..;

October 16, 2009 - UK - Retailer tells small shops to ignore tobacco industry 'scare tactics'..;

October 16, 2009 - UK - Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) unhappy with tobacco displays ban..;

October 13, 2009 - United Kingdom - House of Commons - ban cigarette displays a step closer/vending machine ban even closer..;

October 12, 2009 - JTI attacks UK government for plan to ban tobacco displays..

October 11, 2009 - United Kingdom - 3rd reading of Public Health Bill including ban on tobacco displays..;

October 8, 2009 - United Kingdom - limiting access to cigarette vending machines not possible..;

September 17, 2009 - Scotland - tobacco firms claim proposed display ban is unnecessary..;

August 22, 2009 - Updated - England - tobacco display ban - the Lords got it right..;

July 7, 2009 - Scotland - tobacco industry will try to stop attempts to curb sales to young people..;

May 20, 2009 - Scotland - cigarette vending machines removal..;

May 16, 2009 - Scottish politicians most have the courage to protect the health of their constituents..;

May 8, 2009 - England, House of Lords votes to ban shop tobacco dislays and restrict vending machine use..;

March 3, 2009 - Northern Ireland - assembly approves ban on display of tobacco items..;

February 26, 2009 Scotland to ban cigarette displays and outlaw cigarette vending machines..;

December 9, 2008 - UK - Strategies to be implemented to prevent underage tobacco use..;

December 8, 2008 - England, Wales to ban tobacco displays in shops..;
Reference: Anti-smoking law may be overturned in government review, Randeep Ramesh, social affairs editor, Guardian.co.uk, 7/14/2010.
(United Kingdom, British, Briton)
Read more...

Boston, MA. - gets federal stimulus funding for obesity and tobacco prevention projects..


July 14, 2010 - Boston was one of 44 communities that US Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced in March, 2010 were being awarded two-year stimulus grants for "Communities Putting Prevention to Work," a national initiative to address two leading causes of premature death and disability – obesity and tobacco use. Boston was the only city in Massachusetts to receive funding and one of only seven communities nationwide to get both grants - $6.4 million for obesity prevention and $6.1 million to reduce tobacco use, including connecting residents to tobacco-cessation services and creating smoke-free environments.

About $1 million of the $6.4 million for obesity prevention is being used to improve access to affordable produce in Roxbury, Mattapan, and Dorchester, which have higher rates of obesity – at 40 percent, 33 percent, and 31 percent, respectively – and chronic disease than the city as a whole. The plans include hiring and training up to 250 youths to work with The Food Project to build 400 backyard gardens in the three neighborhoods; transforming a vacant 10,000-square foot greenhouse in the heart of Roxbury into a community growing and education center; doubling the number of community plots in Dorchester, and expanding the Nightingale Garden in Dorchester by 65,000 square-feet so that stretches across 1.5 acres.

“The next two years will be an exciting time for Boston, as we join forces with our community partners to make real change happen in our city, both on reducing exposure to tobacco and fighting obesity,’’ said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, the agency that received the federal funding. ``We are fortunate to have the strong, capable leadership of Mayor Menino and Secretary Sebelius supporting those efforts.’’

Besides the gardening initiatives, the $6.4 million obesity prevention grant will be used to:
* Decrease consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages through counter-advertising and policy change
* Increase active transit through bike share programs and land-use policies
* Enhance the integration of high-quality and frequent physical activity and education into the school day

The $6.1 million tobacco reduction grant will be used to:
* Change attitudes toward smoking to reduce demand
* Enact regulatory and other policy changes that limit tobacco access, influence price, and increase the number of smoke-free environments
* Increase structural capacity to connect Boston residents to tailored tobacco-cessation services
* Create 1,000 smoke-free residences in Boston

The city’s progress on achieving the goals of the grants are being monitored by a high-level leadership team, headed by Mayor Menino and consisting of representatives from the public and private sector, whose institutions will likely play a critical role in the implementation of policy changes.

Reference: Mayor Menino and HHS Secretary Sebelius Highlight New Obesity and Tobacco Prevention Projects, CityofBoston.com, 7/12/2010.

Massachusetts - some related news briefs:
Massachusetts - senate votes to license 3-totally no-smoking casinos..;
Massachusetts - City of Everett to ban tobacco sales in pharmacies..;
Massachusetts - may force retailers to display graphic warning signs of perils of tobacco..;
Massachusetts - jury rejects condo owner's lawsuit that realtor did not inform that neighbor smoked..;
Massachusetts - YOUTH - cigars and smokeless tobacco use surpasses cigarettes..;
Successful Massachusetts tobacco cessation program gets national attention..;
Massachusettes - lower income smokers giving up their nicotine addiction..;
Massachusettes - smoker loses job and then loses in federal court..;
Massachusetts - smokeless tobacco purchasers settle class action suit..;
Boston's ban on blunt wraps stands..;
Boston - NO Tobacco Products Sold - Pharmacies/College Campuses..;
Massachusetts cigarette tax jumps $1 per pack..;
Massachusetts (MA) Likely to Increase Tobacco tax..;
Massachusettes - Smoking ban drop in fatal heart attacks..;

Read more...

Ireland - Office of Tobacco Control 2009 Annual Report..


July 14, 2010 - Last year (2009) was a ‘very significant year' for tobacco control in Ireland, however continued strong leadership on this issue is needed if smoking rates are to be reduced, the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) has said.

Releasing its 2009 Annual Report, the OTC noted that last year was a significant year for tobacco control following the removal of point of sale advertising and tobacco product displays in retail units. Last year also saw the establishment of a national register of licensed tobacco retailers.

According to OTC chairperson, Norma Cronin, these moves kept Ireland at the forefront of global policy initiatives and will help to reduce the number of young people taking up smoking in the longer term.

"Initial findings from research into the impact of the removal of point of sale advertising suggests that the measure is already having a positive effect," she said.

In fact, a survey of young people commissioned by the OTC during 2009 showed that:
• Support for the removal grew from 56% before it was introduced to 68% afterwards.
• Before the removal, 81% could recall seeing any cigarette or tobacco packs in shops in the previous month. Afterwards this dropped to less than 25%.
• 33% thought they or their friends could successfully buy cigarettes before the removal while afterwards only 25% thought they could get away with it.

OTC research carried out last year also showed a high degree of compliance, with 98% of stores compliant with the legislation regarding the display of tobacco advertising and 97% of stores compliant with the legislation regarding the display of tobacco products for sale in stores.

Other research commissioned by the OTC during 2009 included the 'National Tobacco Retail Audit - 2009 Monitoring Report', which showed that the percentage of retailers refusing to sell cigarettes to young people under the age of 18 increased by eight points to 68%. This compared to a 60% refusal rate in 2008 and 52% in 2007.

The Annual Report also contained details of the work of the HSE's environmental health officers in enforcing tobacco control legislation in 2009.

Last year, 25 cases were taken for non-compliance with smoke-free workplace legislation, resulting in 19 convictions. Eleven of these were for permitting smoking in non-compliant outdoor areas. Meanwhile, eight cases were taken for sales to minors offences, resulting in six convictions.

Ms Cronin insisted that the Annual Report showed that progress was made in 2009, however she stressed that the battle to protect people against the scourge of tobacco is a long-term one and it must continue to be resourced and prioritised.

"Tobacco is the leading cause of premature death and ill health in Ireland, as there are 6,000 deaths each year from tobacco-related diseases. In terms of overall population smoking rates, the most recent Slán survey indicated a smoking prevalence rate of 29%. This rate is high by international standards and is in fact much higher than England," she pointed out.

"We need sustained investment in comprehensive social marketing campaigns to encourage people to quit smoking. We know that the more times people try to quit the greater their chances of succeeding. These campaigns are also an effective way to discourage young people from taking up smoking," she said.

The launch of the OTC's 2009 Annual Report follows the recent announcement that the Office is to merge into the HSE (Health Services Executive) in 2011 as part of the Government's ongoing rationalisation programme for state agencies. The OTC has welcomed this move and said it is crucial that tobacco control remains a political and public health priority.

Ireland - Office of Tobacco Control 2008 annual report - Positive..

SLIDES: Anti-smoking Policies in Ireland by Siobhan Jennings..

Ireland has the highest tobacco prices in the European Union (EU) – it costs more than twice the average.
Reference: 2009 a significant year for tobacco control by Deborah Condon, IrishHealth.com,
7/13/2010.

Some Ireland related news briefs:
Ireland retailers claim since display ban smuggling up - denied by health campaigners..;
Ireland - highest tobacco prices in the EU..;
Ireland - smoking on the increase with young women in lower-income groups..;
Ireland - Illicit tobacco trade booms..;
Ireland - no increase in excise duty on tobacco products worry about smuggling..;
reland - ASH will never give up - get smoking out of cars (and homes) when kids are present..;
Ireland - harder to quit when switching to low tar cigarettes..;
Ireland - after 2004 smoking ban decline in maternal smoking rates as well as lower risk for preterm births..;
Ireland - cancer society urges government to increase cigarette tax..;
Ireland - increase fine for cigarettes imported illegally..;
Ireland - roll your own cigarettes making a comeback..;
Ireland - lots of smokers - lots of sickness - resulting in premature death - THIS HAS TO STOP..;
Ireland - people responding well to the ban on cigarette displays..;
Ireland - Prof Clancy not enough spent on prevention..;
Ireland - tobacco vendors must register by October 1, 2009..;
Children - exposed to cigarette smoke in cars have greater chance of respiratory distress..;
Ireland - tobacco companies not helping small retailers - display ban..;
Tobacco control initiatives starting Wednesday, July 1, 2009..;
Ireland - Office of Tobacco Control 2008 annual report - Positive..;
Ireland - modest penalty for cigarette smuggling..;
Ireland - to amend tobacco legislation to to include pictoral warnings..;
Ireland - as of July 1, 2009 no advertising or display of tobacco products will be permitted in retail outlets..;
Ireland - cigarette tax abandoned over smuggling fears..;
Ireland - may raise tax on cigarettes as part of emergency budget..;
Ireland - ban smoking in cars when kids are present..;
Ireland - further provisions of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004 are to be commenced on 1 July 2009.;
Ireland - 80% of smokers want a ban on tobacco advertising in shops to stop youngsters starting the habit..;
Ireland to ban tobacco displays..;
Ireland - reduction in admissions for acute coronary syndrome...

Read more...