Anti-Smoking Advertisements Have Positive Result

The Tips from Former Smokers ad campaign was launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office on Smoking and Health on March 19. The commercials profile former smokers and others who have been affected by second-hand smoking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says just two weeks after the ads started running, the Tips from Former Smokers campaign caused the quit line's numbers to spike from 14,000 per week to more than 34,000. The graphic ads depict real people living with the after-effects of tobacco-related diseases.

New Plan to Ban Smoking in Public

Smoking could be banned in children’s playparks in Cumbria after the county council called on all districts to consider it. The health and wellbeing scrutiny committee made the call after hearing market research showed 70 per cent of people supported a ban on smoking in playgrounds. The research also indicated three quarters of those asked agreed children had the right not to be exposed to second-hand smoke outdoors. Councillor Bill Wearing, chairman of the committee, has raised the issue in the past and said he was in favour of a voluntary ban. “I’ve already come out in favour of a ban on smoking in children’s play areas – it’s clear that people find it socially unacceptable,” he said.

Orland Moves Toward New Smoking Law

Orland got a few steps closer to tightening rules on smoking in town, further refining ideas presented last month by Orland students working with health organizations. The plan now is to bring back the topic for a first reading of a new policy, then a second reading before possible adoption. As it stood after the Nov. 21 meeting of the City Council, the rules would ban smoking in local parks, outdoor cafes and 20 feet from business entries. The Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) group worked many months talking to business owners, gathering citizen signatures and picking up best Kiss cigarette butts before making their presentation to the council in October. Students also have spoken at several council meetings.