Stricter Laws on Cigarette Machines and Ads

Smoking is set to be banned at the Western Wall and other communal spots in Israel after the country's legislators approved new rules on lighting up in public. The legislation, which includes stricter rules on cigarette machines and advertising, as well as a ban on smoking at bus and train stations, was backed by the Knesset health committee. The new rules mean that after a 30 - day window Israelis will be unable to smoke in public places including concert venues, swimming pools and near hospital entrances, while smokers will be designated no more than 25 per cent of the room in bars and restaurants.

Public Smoking Laws, Secondhand Smoke

Drive by any downtown restaurant or bar on a busy night, and you'll see a group of customers near the entrance smoking. Stop into a pharmacy to pick up some cold medicine and you might see someone buying a pack of cigarettes. Go to an event in a private club and people sitting at the next table might be lighting up. Those scenarios would end if the city's Health Board adopts new public rules proposed for Haverhill. The board is considering regulations aimed at protecting the public from second-hand cigarette smoke by limiting where people can light up. Health Board member Peter Carbone said the new regulations are a work in progress and he expects changes once the board begins to gather public input and holds public hearings. He said the board announced its plans to stiffen smoking rules at its March meeting and will discuss a draft of the proposed new regulations May 8.

Counterfeit Cigarettes Packs

A bitter row is growing over Government moves to strip cigarette packets of branding. Health campaigners welcomed plans for plain packaging on tobacco products in a bid to cut smoking, but opponents claimed the proposals would lead to increased smuggling and job losses. As the Government prepared to launch a public consultation on Monday, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Health ministers across the UK have a responsibility to look closely at initiatives that might encourage smokers to quit and stop young people from taking up smoking in the first place. "Through the forthcoming consultation we want to hear as many views as possible about whether tobacco packing should remain unchanged, plain packaging should be adopted or a different option should be considered."

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.

Tobacco-Free Outdoor Places, Lewisboro Smoking Legislation

Recently, the Lewisboro Town Board unanimously agreed to implement an ordinance that stands to benefit all of their residents and the environment. The ordinance will call for “tobacco-free zones” in parks, playgrounds and picnic areas. I applaud the board for passing an ordinance that serves to protect the health of its residents. Let’s be clear; this ordinance is not about “nannying,” it’s about health preservation. Throughout New York State, tobacco-free outdoor areas have become a growing trend over the past two years.

Tobacco Sales Season

The 2012 tobacco-selling season and cheapest Monte Carlo cigarettes smoking opened in Harare yesterday with the price averaging US$4 per kilogramme. The bulk of the crop was bought for more than US$ 4per kg, a price that many farmers feel was fair while the industry expressed satisfaction with the quality of the leaf. Most farmers at all the four auction floors expressed satisfaction at the state of the infrastructure and the service they were getting. Boka Tobacco Auction Floors, Millennium Tobacco Floors, Tobacco Sales Floor and Premier Tobacco Floor are the licensed floors. Farmers said they were happy with the ablution, water and health facilities. Marondera farmer Mrs Faith Chibare said farmers were now being treated in a decent way.

Altria Group Launches Tobacco Rights Site

Altria Group Inc.'s tobacco operating companies launched a "Citizens for Tobacco Rights" Web site last week. The new site is geared toward "adult tobacco consumers who are interested in information and advocacy on tobacco-related public policy issues," according to a company statement. "Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company and John Middleton believe that it is important for adult tobacco consumers to make their voices heard on issues that affect them." According to the company, the new site, Citizens for Tobacco Rights, offers adult consumers information, tools and resources to help them "get informed, involved and active on tobacco issues."

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.