Manila urged to ban cigarette vendors - Philippine Daily Inquirer January 14, 2009Tina Santos Tobacco control advocates have asked the Manila government to ban ambulant vendors selling cigarettes in the city. Members of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP) hailed Mayor Alfredo Lim’s directive to rid the city streets of sidewalk vendors, but they urged him to take his move further by banning and arresting ambulant cigarette vendors. But the group likewise called on the mayor to give assistance to the displaced vendors to find alternative means of livelihood. “Sidewalk and ambulant vendors are the most accessible sources of cigarettes. Because they sell by the stick, it makes cigarette products very affordable even to the youths,” said FCAP executive director Dr. Maricar Limpin. Limpin cited the 2007 Global Youth Tobacco Survey which states that one in five Filipino youths between the ages 12 and 18 are smokers or have tried smoking. At least 55.9 percent of the respondents said they bought cigarettes from sidewalk vendors or from variety stores, while 63.9 percent said they were not refused sale despite their age, the survey showed. “Data show that sidewalk vendors make it easy for the youths to take on the smoking habit. If these sidewalk vendors are given alternative livelihood, we can foresee a significant decrease in the incidence of smoking as inaccessibility to cigarettes has been proven an effective way to cut down on the habit,” Limpin pointed out. Likewise, Limpin appealed to Lim to implement the ban on cigarette selling in stores within 100 meters of schools and other places of youth-oriented activities like parks and playgrounds, to discourage students from smoking, as stipulated in Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Any attempt to tackle tobacco is worth it - Belfast MediaFebruary 13, 2009Smoking is the single greatest preventable cause of premature death and avoidable illness in Northern Ireland, claiming some 2,300 lives here each year. Our smoke-free legislation and the rise in the age of sale to 18 have been extremely positive steps, but the harmful impact of smoking in Northern Ireland is still very real.  As health minister, my aim is to create a tobacco-free society and prevention is most certainly the key, particularly amongst our children and young people. With this in mind, last week I announced my plans to remove cigarette displays in shops and prevent underage access to vending machines. The move is a further step aimed at reducing the level of smoking amongst children and young people in South Belfast and across Northern Ireland.  Following the introduction of the ban on advertising and promotion of tobacco, retail displays have grown in size and prominence. Research has shown that young people are particularly susceptible to tobacco marketing at point of sale and are more likely to take up smoking as a result of exposure to such marketing. I feel that it is time to put a stop to this. Smoking is a life-threatening habit and we should do everything we can to reduce its prevalence. In 2007, almost nine per cent of children aged between 11 and 16 were regular smokers. These children are three times more likely to die of cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their mid-twenties. My goal is to protect children from smoking and I believe that this is a strong opportunity to do just that. In South Belfast, we are fortunate to have the Cancer Centre on our doorstep with world leading experts providing a highly specialised service. From speaking to these clinicians, I know that any attempt to tackle the uptake in tobacco use is a worthy step. The new measures will also impact on vending machines which are currently a common and easily accessible source of cigarettes for young people. I plan to use the change in legislation to further restrict access to these machines by those aged under 18. Across the world, an increasing number of governments have taken action to prohibit the display of tobacco products.  In these countries, smoking prevalence among young people has fallen by up to 10 per cent. Whilst the proposed changes will primarily benefit children and young people, they will also help those adults who are trying to quit. Following the introduction of smoke-free legislation, we have enjoyed great success with over 21,000 people setting a quit date through smoking cessation services in 2007/08 and this is something I wish to build upon. The cessation services throughout Northern Ireland are doing a fantastic job in encouraging and supporting people in their efforts to quit. The Smoker’s helpline on 0800 858 585 is a freephone service which provides advice and support about stopping smoking.  I would encourage anyone thinking about quitting to contact the cessation services and take the first step. I believe this announcement is yet another example of how a local politician can respond to local issues.  By acting responsibly I know we can make a real difference.

Source: Belfast Media

Over 50 p.c. of pre-university Bangalore students are smokers - The HinduFebruary 18, 2009Nagesh PabhuRules to discourage tobacco use have had no impact on youth -At least 18 colleges had tobacco selling points-Many students influenced by peer pressureThe findings of a study, conducted by the Institute of Public Health (IPH), Bangalore, this year, shows that over 50 per cent of pre-university (PU) students pursuing courses in arts and humanities are smokers.The rules and advertisements to discourage the use of tobacco products by the youth have had no impact on students in Bangalore.The study revealed that 58.9 per cent of students of arts and humanities, followed by 30.6 per cent and 10.6 per cent students of science and commerce streams, respectively, use tobacco products.The study was conducted in two stages in Bangalore’s 19 PU colleges on 1,087 students of first year PU (53 per cent) and second year PU (47 per cent). At least 18 colleges had one or more tobacco selling points within 100 yards of their campus. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2005 prohibits sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of any educational institution. As much as 55.8 per cent of students said that peer pressure had influenced them to use tobacco products.More than 30 per cent said their teachers were smokers, while 31.74 per cent said that at least one parent used tobacco products. Cinema influence as much as 18 per cent felt the need to smoke or consume tobacco when they saw film stars smoking or chewing gutka in films, IPH’s Upendra Bhojani, who conducted the study under the guidance of the Institute for Social and Economic Change, told The Hindu.
Source: The Hindu

India is the third largest consumer of tobacco in the world. Its not cigarettes that majority of Indians prefer but bidis, which constitute 70% of the tobacco smoked.

Bidis are more harmful then cigarettes, as they give more toxins like carbon monoxide, ammonia, phenol and hydrogen cyanide and contains more tar and nicotine than conventional cigarettes. So it causes more damage to the body then a cigarette.

Less tax on Bidis, more deaths

Smoking bidi is a growing menace in India with 100 million people smoking bidis, and 6 lakh deaths caused every year. The younger generation try bidi under the belief that its less harmful, since its cheap and has no warning label. Many a times, tobacco used in bidis may be mixed with flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, clove or pineapple to make them attractive to youth.

Bidis are smoked primarily by men, especially in rural areas, and are rolled by women, often in their homes. Since it provides large-scale employment, bidis are under-taxed compared to cigarettes.

A roller can make about 1,000 bidis a day and is paid Rs 40 to Rs 80 for the day’s work. But 10% of all female bidi workers and 5% of all male bidi workers are children under 14, and nearly 50% of these workers ultimately die of tuberculosis or asthma.

Tax on bidis are currently just one-twelfth of the tax levied on non-filter micro cigarettes (purchased by the poor) and just 2% of the tax on more expensive standard filters cigarettes.

But if the price of a pack of bidis was doubled from about Rs 4 to Rs 8, or if the excise duty was at par with other tobacco products it can reduce the consumption of tobacco.

With increasing number of people leading fast-paced and stressful lives, getting addicted to something that makes you feel good for a moment could be easy. But only later on do you realise the ill-effects of that addiction. We know that tobacco can make us more susceptible to diseases like cancer, but we still pick up the habit, perhaps due to cleverly marketed strategies?

The good feelings that result when an addictive drug is present, and the bad feelings when it’s absent, make breaking any addiction very difficult. Smoking is a common addiction, because it leads to changes in the brain that make people want to use it more and more.

Historically, nicotine addiction has been one of the hardest addictions to break. In fact nicotine is not only as addictive as alcohol, tea and coffee, but even more addictive then psychoactive drugs like heroin and cocaine.

As a result tobacco addiction is the second-leading cause of death in the world. Nicotine meets the criteria of a potent psychoactive drug, as you can see in the image below. Depending on nicotine at various levels, leads to addiction.

Nicotine induces euphoria, serves as a reinforcer of its use, and leads to nicotine withdrawal syndrome when it is absent. Nicotine acts a stimulant and also a depressant.

The association between depression and smoking is well-known, many times the decreased ability to quit smoking can lead the person into depression. Relapse rates of major depression are higher after smoking cessation.

What are the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal?

Irritability

Impatience

Hostility

Anxiety

Depressed mood

Difficulty concentrating

Restlessness

Decreased heart rate

Increased appetite or weight gain

Quitting an addiction might sound difficult, but if you want to lead a happy life without the intake, then the time is now, tomorrow may be too late!

In 2005, the then I&B Minister, Jaipal Reddy, said, “A cinematic classic like Shatranj ke Khiladi cannot be made without the hookah,” proposing an exemption for films based on literary classics.

This was followed by the health ministry’s proposal to ban smoking in films by notifying the Cigarette and Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Rules 2005.

Despite, evoking the much debate on creative expression, the central government notified the ban in October 2006. But, director Mahesh Bhatt challenged the ruling in Delhi High court, and he was supported by many filmmakers. 

And, to their relief, in January 2009, the Delhi High Court quashed the central government’s notification banning on-screen smoking on grounds that it violates the fundamental rights of filmmakers. 

A single judge bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, said, “Banning smoking in films violated filmmakers’ fundamental rights of freedom of expression and speech as enshrined in the Constitution of India. Also, the film directors should not have multifarious authorities breathing down their necks when indulging in a creative act.” 

It is felt that in addition to creative expression, films depict reality of life and smoking plays a vital role in our daily lives. However, if there is a fear that such films will have a negative impact on young minds, then the decision to allow smoking or not in certain films, should be left to the Censor board. This clearly calls for responsible display of smoking and tobacco consumption in films.

Besides, constitutional or not, one cannot make Devdas without a bottle of alcohol in his hands or the modern day Dev D, without a puff of smoke. But, yes the ministry is not completely wrong with it tries to urge all of us to kick the butt on a more personal front. 

Lets take a look at some popular actresses smoking in Hollywood movies. This is not just used as advertisement techniques for a particular brand but to lure teenagers to this vice.

We’ve all heard of the ill-effects of smoking, right? Also, we are all aware of the statutory warning: Cigarette Smoking is Injurious to Health. But, what most of us don’t realise is that exposure to smoke is a bigger threat. 
Yes, passive smoking is more harmful than we think. According to a study released by Stanford University, a brief exposure to second hand tobacco smoke can cause similar damage or more damage to non-smokers than smokers. In fact, if one is exposed to outdoor passive smoking it is even more dangerous. 

Experts say the reason is simple: there are enough pollutants in the air and this air combined with toxic pollutants produced while smoking makes it really worse, which in turn poses higher health risk. 

So, the next time you are outside with your friends or family, try and spare a thought on the risks you could pass on, before you light a smoke. And, it’s not that passive smoking indoors is any safer. It might pose a little less threat than outdoor passive smoking, but the effects and risks are almost similar. 

These health hazards could be asthma, chronic bronchitis, breathlessness at night and even irregular heartbeat. If you have been smoking in the company of your non-smoker friends or family for a long time, chances are that they could be facing a risk of premature death or non-fatal heart attacks. 

If numbers is what you are likely to believe, then here is some fact. In 2006, a report released in the US, stated that second hand cigarette smoke or passive smoking exposed about 126 million people at risk of heart disease, lung cancer and death. 

Here’s a thought, you may have felt like a man or in control with that puff of smoke, but can you put yourself at a high pedestal, when you could be responsible for your friends’ or loved ones health.