Lighting up may soon join chugging as a rite of passage in New Jersey, as the Garden State weighs a first-in-the-nation statewide ban on the sale of tobacco products to those under 21 years of age. In a move being closely watched by other states, New Jersey is well on its way to the ban, with a bill having passed the state Senate and headed to the state General Assembly this fall.
Many local and city governments have passed laws to increase the minimum smoking age to 19 or 21, but there hasn’t been a statewide bill yet. Antismoking activists say the idea is gaining momentum and could even put pressure on Washington to join the movement.
“On the local and state level, we think that each of the states will move towards this,” said Karen Blumenfeld, executive director of the Global Advisors Smokefree Policy (GASP). “We would greatly appreciate if the federal government would take the next step and ban smoking in all public places and workplaces.”
Laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to those 19 and younger have been implemented in local communities and states like New Jersey, Alabama, Alaska and Utah, as well the District of Columbia. The minimum age in every other state is 18. Backers cite public health risks to the young people who are susceptible to becoming addicted, as well as the likelihood that buyers between 18 and 20 will share their purchases with even younger friends.
This move comes in the face of an expanding e-cigarette and marijuana industry, which has cut into traditional tobacco use among the young. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette use among the young has declined significantly: 15.7 percent had smoked cigarettes at least once 30 days before the survey in 2013, down from 36.4 percent in 1997.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has given no indication whether he will sign the bill. The bill covers cigarettes made of tobacco, smokeless tobacco and any electronic smoking devices. Merchants face fines of up to $1,000 for multiple offenses.
“There was a sizable majority of legislators wanting this to happen,” said Ms. Blumenfeld. “Isn’t that the job of policymakers to pass policy to save lives?”
New Jersey state Sens. Richard Codey and Joseph Vitale, the Democratic co-sponsors of the bill, argue that raising the age to 21 saves lives.
“This is a highly addictive and deadly product,” said Mr. Vitale. “We have to do all we can to minimize the risks for young people.”
“We care about them, and we don’t want them to die.”
But critics say the measure infringes on consumer choice and is just the latest misguided “nanny state” legislation.
“It’s a halfhearted attempt to bolster the argument that public health trumps consumer rights,” said Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline-Convenience-Automotive Association (NJGCA). “There’s no way that they are going to stop somebody under 21 years of age from smoking.”
People who love to smoke cigarettes, say that the best way to save time and money is to buy cigarettes online from http://www.dotcigarettes.com/
News source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/
Friday, August 8, 2014
Friday, August 1, 2014
Japan: Smoking rate falls below 20%
Japan’s smoking rate in 2014 fell below 20 percent for the first time since such statistics began in 1965, Japan Tobacco Inc. said Wednesday.
The rate decreased for the 19th consecutive year to stand at 19.7 percent, down 1.2 percentage points from the previous year.
The decline reflected growing health consciousness and a shift away from cigarettes accelerated by the April consumption tax hike from 5 percent to 8 percent.
The rate for men fell 1.9 points to 30.3 percent, and that for women dropped 0.7 point to 9.8 percent, slipping below 10 percent for the first time.
The estimated number of smokers stood at 20.59 million, down 1.36 million.
According to Japan Tobacco, the smoking rate peaked at 49.4 percent in 1966, when the rate stood at 83.7 percent for men and 18.0 percent for women, the highest figures on record.
The latest survey, conducted in May, covered about 32,000 people aged 20 or older. Valid responses were received from 60.5 percent.
Japan Tobacco Inc is manufacturer of Glamour cigarettes available at http://www.dotcigarettes.com/glamour
Source: http://the-japan-news.com
The rate decreased for the 19th consecutive year to stand at 19.7 percent, down 1.2 percentage points from the previous year.
The decline reflected growing health consciousness and a shift away from cigarettes accelerated by the April consumption tax hike from 5 percent to 8 percent.
The rate for men fell 1.9 points to 30.3 percent, and that for women dropped 0.7 point to 9.8 percent, slipping below 10 percent for the first time.
The estimated number of smokers stood at 20.59 million, down 1.36 million.
According to Japan Tobacco, the smoking rate peaked at 49.4 percent in 1966, when the rate stood at 83.7 percent for men and 18.0 percent for women, the highest figures on record.
The latest survey, conducted in May, covered about 32,000 people aged 20 or older. Valid responses were received from 60.5 percent.
Japan Tobacco Inc is manufacturer of Glamour cigarettes available at http://www.dotcigarettes.com/glamour
Source: http://the-japan-news.com
Friday, July 4, 2014
New Jersey smoking age could be raised to 21
New Jersey could become the only state in the country to prevent anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing tobacco products under a measure passed Monday by the state Senate.
The bill, backed by a super majority of senators, would levy a $500 fine against retailers who sell tobacco products or electronic cigarettes to those under 21. A second offense would carry a $1,000 fine.
Retail trade groups testified against the measure, which puts the onus on their members to check identifications, rather than on the minors who attempt to purchase cigarettes.
The Garden State already is one of the states with the highest smoking age in the country, 19. Three other states — Utah, Alaska and Alabama — also prohibit sales to anyone under 19.
Two localities, New York City and Hawaii County, Hawaii, have prohibited anyone under 21 from purchasing tobacco products. Now, states are following suit. Utah and Colorado are also debating measures that would raise the smoking age to 21. Both states advanced their own bans in February.
Both measures would take effect in several years, effectively grandfathering in anyone over 18 who already smokes. The Utah bill would take effect in 2016, while the Colorado measure would be implemented in 2017.
Health officials believe raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products can substantially cut down on smoking rates. Researchers say 90 percent of regular smokers in the United States have their first cigarettes before they turn 18, and 90 percent of cigarettes obtained by underage smokers are purchased by those between 18 and 20 years old.
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com
The bill, backed by a super majority of senators, would levy a $500 fine against retailers who sell tobacco products or electronic cigarettes to those under 21. A second offense would carry a $1,000 fine.
Retail trade groups testified against the measure, which puts the onus on their members to check identifications, rather than on the minors who attempt to purchase cigarettes.
The Garden State already is one of the states with the highest smoking age in the country, 19. Three other states — Utah, Alaska and Alabama — also prohibit sales to anyone under 19.
Two localities, New York City and Hawaii County, Hawaii, have prohibited anyone under 21 from purchasing tobacco products. Now, states are following suit. Utah and Colorado are also debating measures that would raise the smoking age to 21. Both states advanced their own bans in February.
Both measures would take effect in several years, effectively grandfathering in anyone over 18 who already smokes. The Utah bill would take effect in 2016, while the Colorado measure would be implemented in 2017.
Health officials believe raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products can substantially cut down on smoking rates. Researchers say 90 percent of regular smokers in the United States have their first cigarettes before they turn 18, and 90 percent of cigarettes obtained by underage smokers are purchased by those between 18 and 20 years old.
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com
Friday, June 13, 2014
Survey finds concerns over secondhand smoke
A new survey of Tulare County tenants shows support for more protections from secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing, the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency announced Wednesday. The survey, done for the American Lung Association in California in April, found that the majority of tenants surveyed favor rules prohibiting smoking in outdoor common areas of complexes (70 percent) and inside apartment units (66 percent). Despite these findings, only 43 percent of Tulare County tenants report currently living in a building with any rules limiting smoking.
Breathing secondhand smoke in multi-unit buildings is a health problem because smoke drifts from neighboring units, patios, balconies and outdoor common areas through open windows, doors and shared ventilation systems. Survey results indicate almost 28 percent of tenants in Tulare County have experienced secondhand smoke drifting into their unit.
“Drifting secondhand smoke is a real health hazard and this survey shows that residents across our county are highly aware of this fact. So looking at these results, it is not surprising that so many tenants want to be protected from secondhand smoke exposure in their homes,” said Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County Health Officer.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. In 2006, the California Air Resources Board classified secondhand smoke as a “Toxic Air Contaminant” in the same category as asbestos, cyanide and arsenic, all of which can lead to serious illness and death. Restricting smoking in multi-unit housing will protect residents from exposure to a toxic air contaminant, result in financial benefits to landlords and owners through reduced maintenance and turnover costs, and improve the community’s health.
“People should feel safe in their own homes. Yet it is alarming that many residents of Tulare County are experiencing drifting secondhand smoke where they live,” said Kimberly Amazeen, vice president, Programs & Advocacy, American Lung Association in California. “To ensure the health of these tenants, more must be done to give them the protections they need from secondhand smoke.”
The Tulare County Public Health Department is working with residents who want to live in smoke-free environments as well as owners and managers, joining more than 55 municipalities throughout California already addressing the health needs of multi-unit housing tenants.
Tulare County tenants were surveyed as part of polling by the American Lung Association in California for CA4Health, a project of the Public Health Institute funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The poll, conducted by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, included tenants in 12 CA4Health counties: Calaveras, Humboldt, Imperial, Madera, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Tulare, and Tuolumne. In Tulare Count, 154 people were surveyed.
Source: recorderonline.com
Breathing secondhand smoke in multi-unit buildings is a health problem because smoke drifts from neighboring units, patios, balconies and outdoor common areas through open windows, doors and shared ventilation systems. Survey results indicate almost 28 percent of tenants in Tulare County have experienced secondhand smoke drifting into their unit.
“Drifting secondhand smoke is a real health hazard and this survey shows that residents across our county are highly aware of this fact. So looking at these results, it is not surprising that so many tenants want to be protected from secondhand smoke exposure in their homes,” said Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County Health Officer.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. In 2006, the California Air Resources Board classified secondhand smoke as a “Toxic Air Contaminant” in the same category as asbestos, cyanide and arsenic, all of which can lead to serious illness and death. Restricting smoking in multi-unit housing will protect residents from exposure to a toxic air contaminant, result in financial benefits to landlords and owners through reduced maintenance and turnover costs, and improve the community’s health.
“People should feel safe in their own homes. Yet it is alarming that many residents of Tulare County are experiencing drifting secondhand smoke where they live,” said Kimberly Amazeen, vice president, Programs & Advocacy, American Lung Association in California. “To ensure the health of these tenants, more must be done to give them the protections they need from secondhand smoke.”
The Tulare County Public Health Department is working with residents who want to live in smoke-free environments as well as owners and managers, joining more than 55 municipalities throughout California already addressing the health needs of multi-unit housing tenants.
Tulare County tenants were surveyed as part of polling by the American Lung Association in California for CA4Health, a project of the Public Health Institute funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The poll, conducted by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, included tenants in 12 CA4Health counties: Calaveras, Humboldt, Imperial, Madera, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Tulare, and Tuolumne. In Tulare Count, 154 people were surveyed.
Source: recorderonline.com
Friday, May 16, 2014
NY Senate debating public ban on e-cigarettes
State lawmakers are considering whether to include electronic cigarettes in the state's indoor public smoking ban. The Senate Health Committee panel heard testimony Monday from health experts who said that the nicotine liquid and the vapor e-cigarettes produce could be hazardous to both consumers and the public.
The state's Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits smoking traditional cigarettes in nearly all workplaces in the state. Proponents of the ban hope that e-cigarettes will also be included, as they are in New York City as of late last month. Research hasn't yet produced a definitive answer on whether secondhand vapor is a threat to the public, but health experts believe that e-cigarette companies are marketing to teenagers and young adults with flavors like cherry, chocolate and gummy bear.
"Federal law recognizes that the purpose of these flavorings is to addict children to nicotine and create a new generation of tobacco users," said Dr. Harlan Juster, director of the health department's bureau of tobacco control.
Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat, said he has seen e-cigarettes with the image of Hello Kitty, a cartoon cat. According to the state health department, only 12 percent of high school-age kids reported having smoked a cigarette within 30 days in a 2012 survey, down from 27 percent in 2000. The health department says 88 percent of adult smokers began before the age of 18.
E-cigarettes are marketed as safer than regular cigarettes and a transitional measure to bypass quitting cold turkey, but still contain nicotine, the addictive ingredient in traditional cigarettes. Medical and public health professionals have seen no evidence that e-cigarettes help smokers quit, according to Lawrence Eisenstein, president of the state Association of County Health Officials.
Lawmakers also heard from opponents who said the ban would infringe on the rights of business owners. "The Association sees this as another attempt by government to dictate how New Yorkers run their business," said Scott Wexler, executive director of the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association.
Opponents suggest waiting for the Food and Drug administration's review of e-cigarettes before any legislation banning indoor smoking of e-cigarettes is enacted.
Source: Poststar
The state's Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits smoking traditional cigarettes in nearly all workplaces in the state. Proponents of the ban hope that e-cigarettes will also be included, as they are in New York City as of late last month. Research hasn't yet produced a definitive answer on whether secondhand vapor is a threat to the public, but health experts believe that e-cigarette companies are marketing to teenagers and young adults with flavors like cherry, chocolate and gummy bear.
"Federal law recognizes that the purpose of these flavorings is to addict children to nicotine and create a new generation of tobacco users," said Dr. Harlan Juster, director of the health department's bureau of tobacco control.
Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat, said he has seen e-cigarettes with the image of Hello Kitty, a cartoon cat. According to the state health department, only 12 percent of high school-age kids reported having smoked a cigarette within 30 days in a 2012 survey, down from 27 percent in 2000. The health department says 88 percent of adult smokers began before the age of 18.
E-cigarettes are marketed as safer than regular cigarettes and a transitional measure to bypass quitting cold turkey, but still contain nicotine, the addictive ingredient in traditional cigarettes. Medical and public health professionals have seen no evidence that e-cigarettes help smokers quit, according to Lawrence Eisenstein, president of the state Association of County Health Officials.
Lawmakers also heard from opponents who said the ban would infringe on the rights of business owners. "The Association sees this as another attempt by government to dictate how New Yorkers run their business," said Scott Wexler, executive director of the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association.
Opponents suggest waiting for the Food and Drug administration's review of e-cigarettes before any legislation banning indoor smoking of e-cigarettes is enacted.
Source: Poststar
Friday, April 18, 2014
Smoking Ban Faces Opposition
The smoke will soon be clearing from the corners of campus due to the recent progression of UVM’s smoke-free initiative. “I’m indifferent on the matter, but I can imagine that there’s going to be quite a few disgruntled smokers when that ban comes into play next year,” sophomore Abigail Earle said.
The University’s current goal is for campus to be fully tobacco-free by Jan. 1, 2015, according to their website. The University is going tobacco-free in an attempt to create a “healthier” environment for students, according to their website.
The goal is also to “protect” both smokers and non-smokers from the various health risks that both first and second hand smoking can experience, according to an email to students from Tom Gustafson and Jan Carney April 14. Gustafson is vice president of University Relations and Carney is associate dean of public health.
Despite this concern, many smokers remain “irked” by the prospect of not being able to “light up” whenever they wish.“I think it’s kind of futile, I mean I am a smoker, so I am not too happy about it obviously,” senior Jesse Arnaud said. “In New York they have a smoking ban there in beaches and parks and it doesn’t really work too well.”
Pharmacology professor Karen Lounsbury said she is “hesitant” to promote the ban be- cause she feels that “people should have the right to do what is legal.” She went on to say she believes that imposing the smoke-free ban on the whole campus “seems a bit impractical.” Lounsbury has been teaching cigarette toxicology at UVM since 1998.
“I think that the money going into the ban would be better spent on a health awareness campaign which informs students on the potential side effects of smoking rather than an outright ban,” she said.
The health concern comes from reports that 26 percent of UVM students who currently smoke started the habit after living on-campus, according to the University Benefit Advisory Council. Cigarette tar can cause immediate effects such as bronchitis and chronic heart disease, as well as long term effects caused by the mutations of cells which leads to lung cancer,” Lounsbury said.
Second hand smoke can also be “hazardous” to health, she said. Several students have com- plained about being subjected to this second hand smoke while walking across campus.“I’m very much against second hand smoke, and hate being caught behind a smoker on my way to class,” first-year Leah Ricitelli said.
While a smoke-free campus may benefit stu- dent health,it is also attractive to environmentalists.“It would be great to be able to walk through a rainstorm and not see a river of cigarette butts wash by and go right into the storm drain,” senior Matt Gargiulo said.
Source: http://www.vermontcynic.com
The University’s current goal is for campus to be fully tobacco-free by Jan. 1, 2015, according to their website. The University is going tobacco-free in an attempt to create a “healthier” environment for students, according to their website.
The goal is also to “protect” both smokers and non-smokers from the various health risks that both first and second hand smoking can experience, according to an email to students from Tom Gustafson and Jan Carney April 14. Gustafson is vice president of University Relations and Carney is associate dean of public health.
Despite this concern, many smokers remain “irked” by the prospect of not being able to “light up” whenever they wish.“I think it’s kind of futile, I mean I am a smoker, so I am not too happy about it obviously,” senior Jesse Arnaud said. “In New York they have a smoking ban there in beaches and parks and it doesn’t really work too well.”
Pharmacology professor Karen Lounsbury said she is “hesitant” to promote the ban be- cause she feels that “people should have the right to do what is legal.” She went on to say she believes that imposing the smoke-free ban on the whole campus “seems a bit impractical.” Lounsbury has been teaching cigarette toxicology at UVM since 1998.
“I think that the money going into the ban would be better spent on a health awareness campaign which informs students on the potential side effects of smoking rather than an outright ban,” she said.
The health concern comes from reports that 26 percent of UVM students who currently smoke started the habit after living on-campus, according to the University Benefit Advisory Council. Cigarette tar can cause immediate effects such as bronchitis and chronic heart disease, as well as long term effects caused by the mutations of cells which leads to lung cancer,” Lounsbury said.
Second hand smoke can also be “hazardous” to health, she said. Several students have com- plained about being subjected to this second hand smoke while walking across campus.“I’m very much against second hand smoke, and hate being caught behind a smoker on my way to class,” first-year Leah Ricitelli said.
While a smoke-free campus may benefit stu- dent health,it is also attractive to environmentalists.“It would be great to be able to walk through a rainstorm and not see a river of cigarette butts wash by and go right into the storm drain,” senior Matt Gargiulo said.
Source: http://www.vermontcynic.com
Friday, February 21, 2014
Colorado and Utah to raise smoking age to 21
A proposal to raise the tobacco age to 21 in Colorado is up for its first review in the state Legislature.
The bipartisan bill would make Colorado the first with a statewide
21-to-smoke law. It's before the House Health, Insurance, and
Environment Committee Thursday afternoon.
People who are currently between the ages of 18 and 20 would be grandfathered in, meaning the measure wouldn't be fully implemented until today's 17-year-olds are 21.
It's not clear how many of Colorado's current smokers are younger than 21. However, a paper published last year in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine said that 9 out of 10 daily smokers have their first cigarette by 18 years of age.
A Senate committee has approved a bill raising the age Utah young people can legally buy cigarettes from 19 to 21. The Senate Health and Human Services committee voted 4-1 on Thursday to approve the measure. It now advances to the full Senate. Ogden Republican Sen. Stuart Reid sponsors the bill and says it may prevent young people from getting addicted to tobacco.
Opponents say the bill infringes on the freedom of young adults. Utah is one of a handful of states that ban sales for those under 19 years old, instead of 18. Reid's bill could make Utah the first state in the country to raise the age to 21.
People who are currently between the ages of 18 and 20 would be grandfathered in, meaning the measure wouldn't be fully implemented until today's 17-year-olds are 21.
It's not clear how many of Colorado's current smokers are younger than 21. However, a paper published last year in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine said that 9 out of 10 daily smokers have their first cigarette by 18 years of age.
A Senate committee has approved a bill raising the age Utah young people can legally buy cigarettes from 19 to 21. The Senate Health and Human Services committee voted 4-1 on Thursday to approve the measure. It now advances to the full Senate. Ogden Republican Sen. Stuart Reid sponsors the bill and says it may prevent young people from getting addicted to tobacco.
Opponents say the bill infringes on the freedom of young adults. Utah is one of a handful of states that ban sales for those under 19 years old, instead of 18. Reid's bill could make Utah the first state in the country to raise the age to 21.
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