The Big Easy becomes one of the last major American cities to pass a sweeping smoking ban
The New Orleans City Council unanimously passed a ban on smoking in bars and gambling halls on Thursday. The law is applied to cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, pipes.
The law will take effect in about three months, the Associated Press reports. While owners of bars and casinos expressed concerns that the ban would hurt business, city officials decided the health of musicians and others exposed to secondhand smoke while working in those establishments is paramount.
New Orleans, a major tourism hub known for its nightlife, is one of the last major American cities to allow people to smoke in bars. Logan Gaskill, a lawyer for a large casino next to the French Quarter, estimated at the meeting that revenues would decline 20% as a result from the ban, the AP reports.
But lawmakers were convinced by a teary speech from Councilman James Gray II, who read off the names of people he knew who died from lung-cancer. Another member, Jason Williams, said they had an obligation to protect “the heart and soul” of New Orleans, the musicians and barroom workers.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
Smoking restrictions kick in January 1
There will be fewer places for smokers to light up come the new year. New Ontario regulations that ban smoking on all bar and restaurant patios take effect Jan. 1.
At the same time, the province is prohibiting smoking on or around playgrounds and publicly-owned sports fields. The Ontario government will also no longer allow tobacco to be sold on university and college campuses.
“These changes are to protect kids and youth from accessing tobacco products and the harmful effects of smoking, and to protect the people of Ontario from exposure to tobacco use,” said Andrew Robertson, a spokesman for Associate Health Minister Dipika Damerla. “Making smoking less visible will make it seem less socially acceptable to kids and can reduce the likelihood that they start smoking.”
The vast majority of Ontario residents support banning smoking on playgrounds and sports fields, he added. Sixty-five municipalities have already invoked bylaws to shelter kids on playgrounds from second-hand smoke, while 60 municipalities ban it on sports fields. The new Ontario-wide regulation means all children will get these protections, he said.
Under the new rules, there will be no smoking around basketball and soccer courts, ice rinks, tennis courts, splash pads and swimming pools owned by a municipality, province or a post-secondary institution.
Children’s playgrounds at motels, hotels and inns are also included in the smoking ban. Anti-tobacco activists heralded the changes as a positive step forward for people’s health.
At least one restaurant industry spokesman warned that customers will now move on to sidewalks for a puff, exposing passersby to secondhand smoke. Robertson said the current tobacco law prohibits smoking on covered bar and restaurant patios, but the new regulation extends to those that are completely open to the air.
“Evidence shows that nearly 70% of people in Ontario want completely smoke-free patios,” Robertson said. “People can still be exposed to second-hand smoke on patios, even uncovered patios, and this regulation will reduce people’s exposure to second-hand smoke, including children and youth.”
Some of the more controversial measures are still to come. Ontario intends to ban the sale of flavoured tobacco, including the popular menthol brands, within a few years.
One group has warned that adult smokers who like menthol will turn to contraband tobacco suppliers for their fix. NDP MPP France Gelinas, who has pushed hard for a ban on flavoured tobacco, said that these products are developed specifically to create a new generation of young smokers.
At the same time, the province is prohibiting smoking on or around playgrounds and publicly-owned sports fields. The Ontario government will also no longer allow tobacco to be sold on university and college campuses.
“These changes are to protect kids and youth from accessing tobacco products and the harmful effects of smoking, and to protect the people of Ontario from exposure to tobacco use,” said Andrew Robertson, a spokesman for Associate Health Minister Dipika Damerla. “Making smoking less visible will make it seem less socially acceptable to kids and can reduce the likelihood that they start smoking.”
The vast majority of Ontario residents support banning smoking on playgrounds and sports fields, he added. Sixty-five municipalities have already invoked bylaws to shelter kids on playgrounds from second-hand smoke, while 60 municipalities ban it on sports fields. The new Ontario-wide regulation means all children will get these protections, he said.
Under the new rules, there will be no smoking around basketball and soccer courts, ice rinks, tennis courts, splash pads and swimming pools owned by a municipality, province or a post-secondary institution.
Children’s playgrounds at motels, hotels and inns are also included in the smoking ban. Anti-tobacco activists heralded the changes as a positive step forward for people’s health.
At least one restaurant industry spokesman warned that customers will now move on to sidewalks for a puff, exposing passersby to secondhand smoke. Robertson said the current tobacco law prohibits smoking on covered bar and restaurant patios, but the new regulation extends to those that are completely open to the air.
“Evidence shows that nearly 70% of people in Ontario want completely smoke-free patios,” Robertson said. “People can still be exposed to second-hand smoke on patios, even uncovered patios, and this regulation will reduce people’s exposure to second-hand smoke, including children and youth.”
Some of the more controversial measures are still to come. Ontario intends to ban the sale of flavoured tobacco, including the popular menthol brands, within a few years.
One group has warned that adult smokers who like menthol will turn to contraband tobacco suppliers for their fix. NDP MPP France Gelinas, who has pushed hard for a ban on flavoured tobacco, said that these products are developed specifically to create a new generation of young smokers.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Slim cigarette smokers not exposed to more harmful chemicals
A new study confirms that the exposure to tar tended to be lower for smokers of slim cigarettes than of regular cigarettes. Similarly, exposure to nicotine tended to be lower.
Slim cigarettes are an increasingly popular type of cigarette in several countries around the world. Previous studies have shown that the levels of certain toxic chemicals in the smoke of these cigarettes are lower than those in regular cigarettes. However, because lower levels of chemicals in the smoke are not necessarily linked to a reduced exposure to harmful chemicals, concerns had been raised about whether or not smokers of these cigarettes are at a greater health risk than those who smoke regular cigarettes.
To determine the chemical exposure to smokers of slim cigarettes, scientists at British American Tobacco conducted a study in Russia, where slim cigarettes are popular. The study group contained 360 smokers of regular and slim cigarettes and their exposure to tar and nicotine were measured. This was done using a cutting-edge technique that involves measuring levels of chemicals in the smokers' used cigarette filters.
These findings tally with measurements made using high-tech smoking machines, which showed reductions in the levels of a number of chemicals in the smoke including carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, nitric oxide, acrylonitrile and benzene.
Lead Scientist Madeleine Ashley says that differences in the size of the puffs that the smokers of slim cigarettes took may explain the lower exposure to tar and nicotine. Ashley further stated that 'this is likely to be due to the reduced circumference of slim cigarettes, making it harder to draw on.'
Ian Fearon, Principal Scientist at British American Tobacco, added: 'More studies measuring the levels of smoke chemicals in the blood of smokers are needed to fully understand the exposure of people who smoke slim cigarettes. However, we can assume, based on our current findings, that smokers of slim cigarettes are at no greater risk of exposure to smoke chemicals than regular cigarette smokers. Further work would be needed to assess how this relates to a smoker's health risk.'
Slim cigarettes are an increasingly popular type of cigarette in several countries around the world. Previous studies have shown that the levels of certain toxic chemicals in the smoke of these cigarettes are lower than those in regular cigarettes. However, because lower levels of chemicals in the smoke are not necessarily linked to a reduced exposure to harmful chemicals, concerns had been raised about whether or not smokers of these cigarettes are at a greater health risk than those who smoke regular cigarettes.
To determine the chemical exposure to smokers of slim cigarettes, scientists at British American Tobacco conducted a study in Russia, where slim cigarettes are popular. The study group contained 360 smokers of regular and slim cigarettes and their exposure to tar and nicotine were measured. This was done using a cutting-edge technique that involves measuring levels of chemicals in the smokers' used cigarette filters.
These findings tally with measurements made using high-tech smoking machines, which showed reductions in the levels of a number of chemicals in the smoke including carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, nitric oxide, acrylonitrile and benzene.
Lead Scientist Madeleine Ashley says that differences in the size of the puffs that the smokers of slim cigarettes took may explain the lower exposure to tar and nicotine. Ashley further stated that 'this is likely to be due to the reduced circumference of slim cigarettes, making it harder to draw on.'
Ian Fearon, Principal Scientist at British American Tobacco, added: 'More studies measuring the levels of smoke chemicals in the blood of smokers are needed to fully understand the exposure of people who smoke slim cigarettes. However, we can assume, based on our current findings, that smokers of slim cigarettes are at no greater risk of exposure to smoke chemicals than regular cigarette smokers. Further work would be needed to assess how this relates to a smoker's health risk.'
Friday, October 3, 2014
As Georgia colleges ban tobacco, some schools still considering options
As 31 Georgia universities adopt a ban on all tobacco products, colleges in and near Augusta support the measure but students remain unsure the bans will stop smoking on campus. All colleges that are part of the University System of Georgia went smoke-free on Wednesday, banning all tobacco-related products from their campuses. The ban, which includes e-cigarettes, hookahs and “all forms of smokeless tobacco,” will prevent anyone from using tobacco products while on campus property, according to the university system’s tobacco policy page. However, smokers may continue to buy cigarettes online.
Visitors who violate the policy could be asked to leave campus, and students that continue to use products despite the ban could be sanctioned under the school’s Student Code of Conduct. Many colleges are readying “smoke cessation” programs designed to help students, staff and faculty members quit smoking. About 1,500 colleges nationwide have adopted smoke-free policies, according to the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights organization.
Campuses in the Augusta area that already have similar programs in place said the bans are a step in the right direction. Georgia Regents University’s medical college and Summerville campus have adhered to smoking and tobacco product bans for several years. The medical college banned smoking in 2007, and when GRU consolidated in 2013, all campuses agreed to adopt an updated tobacco product policy, which included a ban on e-cigarettes.
Director of Cancer Information and Awareness Christine O’Meara, who worked on a committee to help create the system’s new tobacco product policy, said the college’s ban protected students, faculty and staff from health problems later in life.
“It’s important for everyone here to have a healthy environment to work and study in. Our North Star is promoting health and preventing disability and death, which tobacco products cause,” O’Meara said. “Working to promote these bans helps establish a good example for future public health officials to follow, which is something we definitely want our students to see.”
O’Meara said the next step for the campus’s tobacco product ban is complete compliance. While “a large part of the student population” supports the ban, according to school surveys, there are small percentages of students who still use tobacco on the school campus.
“It’s a cultural change for the Summerville campus. And change of that nature can come very slowly,” O’Meara said. “But we are working to educate our students and faculty about the policy. We will be showing videos to our population here on how to approach people kindly and inform them about the campus’s policies.”
GRU campuses do not use a fine levying system. Instead, they use students and faculty members to voluntarily approach those violating the ban and inform them of the school’s tobacco policy. If an individual refuses, students can call public safety or the college’s “compliance hotline” to report them.
For the University of South Carolina Aiken campus, which does not have a tobacco ban in place yet, the bans are an example to follow.
USC Aiken Chancellor Sandra Jordan said the campus currently restricts where students can smoke, and is exploring a complete tobacco ban as part of a healthy lifestyle initiative, planned to go into effect in the fall of 2015. Jordan said the “vast majority” of students want tobacco bans in place at the school.
“We’ve sent out surveys to our student population, and around 75 to 78 percent of survey takers think a ban would help improve their lives on campus, so we know our population wants it to happen here. We’ve also found that those who smoke on campus started their habit during their freshman or sophomore year. That’s not a culture we want,” Jordan said. “In order to foster healthy lifestyles among our students, a tobacco product ban is very important to have.”
Jordan said she “applauded” Georgia colleges for adopting tobacco bans, saying it placed them “in the vanguard” of colleges hoping to improve their students’ lives. “It’s a forward looking approach,” Jordan said. “Most universities are on track for putting bans like this in place over the next five years, according to what I’ve heard. This means that Georgia is really making gains ahead of other colleges.”
While many students at USC Aiken feel the ban could be beneficial to the campus, some are skeptical of how well the ban will be enforced. “It’s definitely good overall for students’ health, especially considering secondhand smoke,” 18-year-old Rina Lowder said. “But I’m not sure the ban could be really enforced or be fair to those that do smoke. I don’t know if it will really encourage anyone to quit.”
Visitors who violate the policy could be asked to leave campus, and students that continue to use products despite the ban could be sanctioned under the school’s Student Code of Conduct. Many colleges are readying “smoke cessation” programs designed to help students, staff and faculty members quit smoking. About 1,500 colleges nationwide have adopted smoke-free policies, according to the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights organization.
Campuses in the Augusta area that already have similar programs in place said the bans are a step in the right direction. Georgia Regents University’s medical college and Summerville campus have adhered to smoking and tobacco product bans for several years. The medical college banned smoking in 2007, and when GRU consolidated in 2013, all campuses agreed to adopt an updated tobacco product policy, which included a ban on e-cigarettes.
Director of Cancer Information and Awareness Christine O’Meara, who worked on a committee to help create the system’s new tobacco product policy, said the college’s ban protected students, faculty and staff from health problems later in life.
“It’s important for everyone here to have a healthy environment to work and study in. Our North Star is promoting health and preventing disability and death, which tobacco products cause,” O’Meara said. “Working to promote these bans helps establish a good example for future public health officials to follow, which is something we definitely want our students to see.”
O’Meara said the next step for the campus’s tobacco product ban is complete compliance. While “a large part of the student population” supports the ban, according to school surveys, there are small percentages of students who still use tobacco on the school campus.
“It’s a cultural change for the Summerville campus. And change of that nature can come very slowly,” O’Meara said. “But we are working to educate our students and faculty about the policy. We will be showing videos to our population here on how to approach people kindly and inform them about the campus’s policies.”
GRU campuses do not use a fine levying system. Instead, they use students and faculty members to voluntarily approach those violating the ban and inform them of the school’s tobacco policy. If an individual refuses, students can call public safety or the college’s “compliance hotline” to report them.
For the University of South Carolina Aiken campus, which does not have a tobacco ban in place yet, the bans are an example to follow.
USC Aiken Chancellor Sandra Jordan said the campus currently restricts where students can smoke, and is exploring a complete tobacco ban as part of a healthy lifestyle initiative, planned to go into effect in the fall of 2015. Jordan said the “vast majority” of students want tobacco bans in place at the school.
“We’ve sent out surveys to our student population, and around 75 to 78 percent of survey takers think a ban would help improve their lives on campus, so we know our population wants it to happen here. We’ve also found that those who smoke on campus started their habit during their freshman or sophomore year. That’s not a culture we want,” Jordan said. “In order to foster healthy lifestyles among our students, a tobacco product ban is very important to have.”
Jordan said she “applauded” Georgia colleges for adopting tobacco bans, saying it placed them “in the vanguard” of colleges hoping to improve their students’ lives. “It’s a forward looking approach,” Jordan said. “Most universities are on track for putting bans like this in place over the next five years, according to what I’ve heard. This means that Georgia is really making gains ahead of other colleges.”
While many students at USC Aiken feel the ban could be beneficial to the campus, some are skeptical of how well the ban will be enforced. “It’s definitely good overall for students’ health, especially considering secondhand smoke,” 18-year-old Rina Lowder said. “But I’m not sure the ban could be really enforced or be fair to those that do smoke. I don’t know if it will really encourage anyone to quit.”
Friday, September 19, 2014
Park commission wants to ban smoking at 77 Ann Arbor parks
Want to light up at an Ann Arbor park or playground? Think again. The Parks Advisory Commission is trying to turn 77 parks into smoke-free zones.
The PAC looked at other cities with similar bans and consulted with a public health expert before sending their recommendation to Ann Arbor's city administrator, Steve Powers. He is the one who has the power to approve it.
Some didn't like the idea.
“I come here and smoke at Liberty Plaza every morning," said Ann Arbor resident Vittorio Riley. “This is how I start my day before I go to work. It’s a public place, open air and not close to businesses. How can it be banned?”
Others were in support.
“I have a child and I think it’s great idea for parks with playgrounds,” said Nicole Minney. “No one wants to breathe in that secondhand smoke and I wouldn’t have to tell my child, 'OK, let’s move over here.'"
The Ann Arbor City Council already approved an ordinance this year that bans smoking near bus stops and store fronts.
Local 4 reached out to Powers, who is out of town, and he responded with this statement: “I will be receiving the Parks Advisory Committee's recommendations in the next few days. I will then review the recommendations and decide on implementation using city council's policy direction and PAC's work.”
There are 158 parks total in Ann Arbor. The ban would apply to 73 parks with playgrounds and four others. The PAC would monitor the effectiveness before recommending the ban at all parks.
This is the list from PAC for the potentially smoke-free parks:
City of Ann Arbor parks with playgrounds
1. Allmendinger Park
2. Arbor Oaks Park
3. Bader Park
4. Baxter Park
5. Beckley Park
6. Belize Park
7. Bromley Park
8. Brookside Park
9. Bryant Community Center
10. Buhr Park
11. Burns Park
12. Burr Oak Park
13. Churchill Downs Park
14. Clinton Park
15. Cloverdale Park
16. Cranbrook Park
17. Creal Park
18. Ellsworth Park
19. Esch Park
20. Evergreen Park
21. Foxfire North Park
22. Frisinger Park
23. Fritz Park
24. Fuller Park
25. Gallup Park
26. Garden Homes Park
27. Glacier Highlands Park
28. Greenbrier Park
29. Hansen Nature Area
30. Hunt Park
31. Huron Highlands Park
32. Island Park
33. Kelly Park
34. Kilburn Park
35. Landsdowne Park
36. Las Vegas Park
37. Leslie Park
38. Longshore Park
39. Mary Beth Doyle Park
40. Maryfield Wildwood Park
41. Meadowbrook Park
42. Mixtwood Pomona Park
43. Mushroom Park
44. North Main Park
45. Northside Park
46. Olson Park
47. Pilgrim Park
48. Placid Way Park
49. Plymouth Parkway Park
50. Riverside Park
51. Rose Park
52. Rose White Park
53. Scheffler Park
54. South Maple Park
55. SouthEast Area Park
56. Sugarbush Park
57. Sylvan Park
58. The Ponds
59. Turnberry Park
60. Veterans Memorial Park
61. Virginia Park
62. Ward Park
63. Waterworks Park
64. Waymarket Park
65. Wellington Park
66. West Park
67. Wheeler Park
68. White Oak Park
69. Winchell Park
70. Windemere Park
71. Winewood Thaler Park
72. Woodbury Park
73. Wurster Park
City of Ann Arbor parks within DDA District:
1. Farmers Market
2. Kempf House
3. Liberty Plaza
4. Sculpture Plaza
The PAC looked at other cities with similar bans and consulted with a public health expert before sending their recommendation to Ann Arbor's city administrator, Steve Powers. He is the one who has the power to approve it.
Some didn't like the idea.
“I come here and smoke at Liberty Plaza every morning," said Ann Arbor resident Vittorio Riley. “This is how I start my day before I go to work. It’s a public place, open air and not close to businesses. How can it be banned?”
Others were in support.
“I have a child and I think it’s great idea for parks with playgrounds,” said Nicole Minney. “No one wants to breathe in that secondhand smoke and I wouldn’t have to tell my child, 'OK, let’s move over here.'"
The Ann Arbor City Council already approved an ordinance this year that bans smoking near bus stops and store fronts.
Local 4 reached out to Powers, who is out of town, and he responded with this statement: “I will be receiving the Parks Advisory Committee's recommendations in the next few days. I will then review the recommendations and decide on implementation using city council's policy direction and PAC's work.”
There are 158 parks total in Ann Arbor. The ban would apply to 73 parks with playgrounds and four others. The PAC would monitor the effectiveness before recommending the ban at all parks.
This is the list from PAC for the potentially smoke-free parks:
City of Ann Arbor parks with playgrounds
1. Allmendinger Park
2. Arbor Oaks Park
3. Bader Park
4. Baxter Park
5. Beckley Park
6. Belize Park
7. Bromley Park
8. Brookside Park
9. Bryant Community Center
10. Buhr Park
11. Burns Park
12. Burr Oak Park
13. Churchill Downs Park
14. Clinton Park
15. Cloverdale Park
16. Cranbrook Park
17. Creal Park
18. Ellsworth Park
19. Esch Park
20. Evergreen Park
21. Foxfire North Park
22. Frisinger Park
23. Fritz Park
24. Fuller Park
25. Gallup Park
26. Garden Homes Park
27. Glacier Highlands Park
28. Greenbrier Park
29. Hansen Nature Area
30. Hunt Park
31. Huron Highlands Park
32. Island Park
33. Kelly Park
34. Kilburn Park
35. Landsdowne Park
36. Las Vegas Park
37. Leslie Park
38. Longshore Park
39. Mary Beth Doyle Park
40. Maryfield Wildwood Park
41. Meadowbrook Park
42. Mixtwood Pomona Park
43. Mushroom Park
44. North Main Park
45. Northside Park
46. Olson Park
47. Pilgrim Park
48. Placid Way Park
49. Plymouth Parkway Park
50. Riverside Park
51. Rose Park
52. Rose White Park
53. Scheffler Park
54. South Maple Park
55. SouthEast Area Park
56. Sugarbush Park
57. Sylvan Park
58. The Ponds
59. Turnberry Park
60. Veterans Memorial Park
61. Virginia Park
62. Ward Park
63. Waterworks Park
64. Waymarket Park
65. Wellington Park
66. West Park
67. Wheeler Park
68. White Oak Park
69. Winchell Park
70. Windemere Park
71. Winewood Thaler Park
72. Woodbury Park
73. Wurster Park
City of Ann Arbor parks within DDA District:
1. Farmers Market
2. Kempf House
3. Liberty Plaza
4. Sculpture Plaza
Friday, August 8, 2014
New Jersey mulls bill raising state smoking age to 21
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/
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 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
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