National

Bars, restaurants begin new smoke-free era
Maryland’s Clean Indoor Air Act went into effect on February 1, 2008, clearing the air in the state’s bars and restaurants.  The new law, combined with an increase in the state cigarette tax to $2 a pack, has spurred doubled enrollment in the state’s smoking cessation classes compared to one year ago.  Two Maryland legislators also recently pledged to increase state funding of tobacco control by increasing the state’s tax on tobacco products other than cigarettes.  Find out more about Maryland’s new tobacco policies here.

Big Tobacco targets smoking ban, tax
During the four weeks prior to the primary elections on February 5, tobacco companies contributed a total of $83,000 to thirty Illinois legislators.  Upcoming legislation could grant an exemption to the state’s new public smoking ban for bars, riverboat casinos, strip clubs and American Legion halls.  The exemption will most likely not be passed so soon after the introduction smoking ban, which had strong bipartisan support.  However, there is more at stake in Illinois; a proposed 90-cent tobacco tax that was passed last August in the state Senate will be up for debate in the House.  Read more here.

Bills to ban public smoking defeated
After receiving Senate approval, Virginia’s public smoking ban proposals were defeated in a House subcommittee.  One subcommittee member explained his votes against the bills by stating that restaurants should have the authority to tailor smoking rules to their establishment, but an informal survey of restaurant owners in Newport News, VA showed restaurateurs’ hesitance to take a strong stance on the issue.  According to Governor Timothy Kaine, there is little chance that another smoking bill will be revived this year.  A recent survey showed that 75% of Virginians support an indoor smoking ban.  Click here to read more about this setback for a smoke-free Virginia.

Smoking ban seen as likely to pass
Iowa Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal predicts with 100% confidence that his state will pass a public smoking ban in 2008.  While most lawmakers agree that secondhand smoke is a serious concern, there are disagreements about the specifics of the statewide ban recently passed in the House.  Proponents of the ban state that the legislation is similar to other states’ public smoking laws, and is likely to rely on citizens’ complaints and warnings rather than active enforcement.  Click here for more details on Iowa’s latest smoke-free news.

State lawmaker questions tobacco promotion effort
An Oklahoman lawmaker has sponsored legislation to reduce the amount of information tobacco companies may obtain from youth for marketing purposes.  A common practice for tobacco marketers handing out cigarettes and other promotions is to scan young people’s identification cards to verify that they are of legal age to smoke.  Information from the ID cards is often stored in the scanner, and may be used later to mail promotional materials to interest youths in tobacco products.  The new law would allow ID scanners to obtain only the age from the license, rather than addresses and other private information.  Find out more here.

Heineman signs smoking ban
A statewide smoking ban passed by the Nebraska legislature was signed in approval by Governor Dave Heineman.  The law has traveled a long road of revisions and debates about the balance between the state’s business interests, personal freedom, and public health.  The governor cited public health concerns as his main reason for signing the bill. The final version of the bill is similar to smoking bans already in effect in Nebraska’s capitol city of Lincoln and twenty one other states.  The state’s businesses will become smoke-free on June 1, 2009. Click here to find out more about Nebraska’s smoke-free future.  Click here for a statement from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids commending the efforts of those who have been involved in promoting the smoking ban.

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International

China aims for national chain of anti-smoking clinics
With the “smoke-free Beijing Olympics” on the horizon, the Chinese government is in the information-gathering phase of creating a national network of smoking cessation clinics.  The new clinics will boost the capacity of the few existing outpatient smoking cessation clinics, and will provide medical and psychological services to China’s 350 million smokers.  While 22 tobacco cessation clinics were in operation in Beijing in 1996, only three still exist.  Read more about China’s efforts here.

EU to spend some tobacco aid on health campaigns
The European Union (EU) is phasing out subsidies for its tobacco farmers by 2010, and will instead be spending some of the funds on tobacco prevention programs.  Although the EU has decreased tobacco subsidies by two thirds since 2004, 321 million euros a year are still spent to subsidize tobacco farming.  If the proposed plan is passed, 16 million euros of the subsidies will be diverted to anti-tobacco efforts. Click here to read more.

Smoke alarm from Afghanistan to Morocco
As tobacco companies are being driven out of the United States and other countries that have enacted strict smoking laws, marketing efforts are turning to places where smoking prevalence remains high.  The World Health Organization (WHO) is attempting to quell the damages in countries from North Africa though the Middle East and South Asia.  However, varied levels of success have been attained because of internal struggles such as war and a tight budget.  To read more in the Bulletin of the WHO, click here.

EU panel says oral tobacco is addictive, hazardous
The Swedish form of chewing tobacco, snus, has recently been touted as a harm-reducing tobacco product, but a European Union panel has delivered a statement to the contrary.  The EU committee’s report states that because of the product’s carcinogens and associated health hazards, its harm reduction potential does not justify lifting the ban.  The EU banned snus prior to Sweden’s membership in the Union due to health concerns, and Sweden currently has an exception allowing legal sales of snus within its borders.  Click here for more information about EU regulation of snus.

Milder 'warning' pics on cigarette packs?
India’s new mandate for graphic pictorial warnings on the packaging of tobacco products may be losing steam.  The pictures originally discussed by the Health Ministry were gory depictions designed to startle illiterate smokers into awareness about the health hazards of smoking.  However, the pictures being sent for final approval on February 26 are much milder images. Critics fear these images will be ineffective because they lack the attention-grabbing shock value that was originally intended for the warnings.  Click here to read more about India’s pictorial warnings.

Mexico to ban smoking in eateries, public spaces
Mexican legislators have voted in favor of extending the country’s partial smoking ban.  Once President Jose Calderon signs the bill, smoking will be prohibited in workplaces and enclosed public areas.  Smoking in bars and restaurants will be permitted only in designated rooms or outdoor spaces.  The new law also will bring about more prominent health warnings on cigarette packaging and more stringent regulations regarding tobacco sales to children.  The sale of individual cigarettes, a practice common among street vendors, will also be banned.  Click here to find out more.

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