Policy

Research

Effects of venue-specific state clean indoor air laws on smoking-related outcomes
A new study used data from the 1992-2007 Tobacco Use Supplements to the Current Population Survey to determine the direct effect of state clean indoor air laws (SCIALs) on smoke exposure among workers in schools, government, restaurants, bars, and the private sector. The researchers found that SCIALs did not increase workplace smoking restrictions in workplaces other than bars. The findings imply that the decrease in smoking related to SCIALs is unlikely to be directly caused by workplace smoking restrictions on workers. Click here to read the abstract of the study, which was published in Health Economics.

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State

Smokers in twelve states to puff fire-safe cigarettes
As of January 1, twelve more states have implemented laws requiring only fire-safe cigarettes to be sold. After Mississippi, Ohio and South Dakota join the ranks in January 2011, Wyoming will be the only state without such a law. The fire-safe cigarettes contain thin bands of paper that slow the burn rate of a lit cigarette and must burn out on their own 75% of the time when not actively smoked. The laws are designed to prevent fires started by cigarettes, which cause up to 900 fire deaths and 3,000 injuries each year in the United States. Click here to read more.

ADMH plans healthy New Year’s Resolution: A tobacco-free initiative (AL)
Smoking and tobacco products are banned from Alabama state mental health facilities as of January 4. Patients, staff, and visitors to the facilities will not be allowed to have any tobacco products in their possession. The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) enacted the ban in order to reduce the proportion of patients that smoke because studies show that people with mental illness are two to three times more likely to smoke than members of the general population, and are disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses associated with cigarette smoking. Patients will be provided with cessation services such as group support, counseling, and medication while under the care of the ADMH. Read the ADMH press release regarding the ban, or click here to read an article about the ban.

D.C. moves to curb sidewalk smoking, youths' access to tobacco (DC)
The District of Columbia Counsel has voted unanimously to enact a bill containing several measures designed to reduce smoking in the city and prevent youth tobacco use. The proposal would allow business owners to post no-smoking signs outside their establishments in order to prevent smoking within 25 feet of the door or sidewalk. The bill would also prohibit cigarettes from being intermingled with other products in bars and restaurants, bar cigarette sales from mobile food stands, and ban the sale of cigar wrappers. Store owners would be required to ask for identification from anyone appearing to be 27 or younger who tries to purchase tobacco, and it would be illegal for minors to purchase or possess tobacco products. Click here to read more.

Senate bill would snuff out Indiana's smoking-cessation agency (IN)
Legislation has been introduced that would eliminate the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency and transfer its duties to the state health department. The bill’s author says the change would save the state $1.1 million per year. Anti-tobacco advocates believe the transition would harm state tobacco control efforts, causing a gap in services as responsibilities are transferred. Although the intent of the bill is not to dilute existing programs, advocates worry that tobacco control could become a secondary duty for the existing health department staff. Click here to read more.

Kansas Gov boosts smoking ban but hurdles remain (KS)
Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson mentioned in his annual State of the State address that he would like to pass a strong statewide smokefree law this year. Smokefree legislation has been introduced several times in recent years, and the Senate passed two proposals last year that are now awaiting action in the House. The governor has made it clear that he wants to protect the public’s health by passing a law with few loopholes, but both smokefree laws before the Legislature contain exemptions for tobacco shops. Local smokefree ordinances protect about 55% of the state’s population. Click here for more details.

NC smoking ban at restaurants, bars (NC)
North Carolina’s statewide smokefree law went into effect on January 2, making it the first southeastern state to completely prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants. Exceptions are made for outdoor patios, nonprofit private clubs, cigar and hookah bars that do not serve food or alcoholic beverages, and some hotel rooms. View statements about the ban by the CDC and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, or visit the SmokeFree NC website. Update: N.C. smoking ban upheld by complaint system During the first three weeks after the smokefree policy went into effect, most business owners were compliant with the new rules. Local health departments are responsible for investigating reports of noncompliance. Click here to read more.

Blowing smoke at a ban (NY)
New York City club goers are reporting that nightclubs are becoming more laissez-faire about allowing smoking indoors. In response, the health department has increased its late-night patrols in the meatpacking district, the Lower East Side and Astoria, Queens, areas known to have clubs that do not enforce the bans. Citations from the New York City Health Department for smoking in bars and restaurants went up 35% over the past summer, to 306 citations compared with 227 for the summer of 2008. Click here to read more.

Oklahoma anti-smoking proposal expected next session (OK)
Lawmakers in Oklahoma will again attempt to enact a smoking ban, after similar bills failed last year with opposition from the Oklahoma Restaurant Association. Supporters of the ban are expecting better results this time around, as the state legislature has ordered a health improvement plan that recommends eliminating smoking from indoor public places and workplaces. The Oklahoma Restaurant Association has yet to take a position on the new bill. Read more here.

Officials reject proposal to lobby for state ban on flavored products (WI)
A proposal by Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services to use $3 million in stimulus funding to lobby for a statewide ban on all flavored tobacco products was unanimously rejected by the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee. The Department of Health Services sought to use the proposal to reduce tobacco use among children, as smokeless tobacco and cigars are not covered under the ban on flavored cigarettes in the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Panel members believed that the proposal would not stimulate the economy and that it was unclear whether states or municipalities have the authority to regulate tobacco products. Click here to read more.

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National

Tobacco prevention opportunities in final health reform bill
According to a press release from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the final health reform bill could provide opportunities for tobacco prevention programs if certain measures are included. The bill, currently being negotiated, contains a requirement that Medicaid cover preventive services that have been proven effective. Lawmakers have yet to decide whether Medicaid will cover comprehensive smoking cessation treatment. The House and Senate bills both contain funding for community-based prevention programs, such as those targeting tobacco use and obesity. Click here to read the press release from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

What's in a cigarette? FDA to study ingredients
As part of the new law giving the FDA jurisdiction over tobacco products, tobacco companies must provide the agency with their products’ formulas, as well as any studies they have conducted about the effects of the ingredients by June 2010. The new information will allow the FDA to determine if any of the ingredients make tobacco more harmful or addictive, and develop standards for tobacco products or ban some ingredients or combinations. The FDA must keep much of the data confidential due to trade-secret laws, but it will publish a list of harmful and potentially harmful ingredients by June 2011. Click here to read more.

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International

Victoria gets tough on tobacco with new smoking ban in cars (Australia)
Smoking in motor vehicles while a child is inside is now illegal in Victoria, Australia. The ban applies to all passengers in the vehicle, regardless of whether the car is moving, has the windows open, or the top down. In previous research, 20% of secondary school students reported that smoking was permitted in the family car when children were present, exposing them to second-hand smoke. This law was passed in order to decrease second-hand smoke exposure in children, to stop parents from smoking around their children, and to encourage parents to quit. Read more here.

Olympics no longer 'smoke-free': Authorities 'relax' smoking restrictions to accommodate officials (Canada)
The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) has announced that there will be at least 25 outdoor smoking areas at the venues of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, despite prior claims that the Games would be completely smoke-free. The smoking areas would be away from pedestrian traffic and entrances to the venues, with separate private areas at the back of the venues for officials. Click here to read more about the policy change.

Chinese cities set to order ban on smoking (China)
A project led by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (UNION) will support the implementation of a public and workplace smoking ban in seven Chinese cities. The project would create stricter smokefree laws for public venues and workplaces, and encourage better enforcement of the laws. The pilot cities involved are Tianjin, Chongqing, Shenyang, Harbin, Nanchang, Lanzhou and Shenzhen. Eventually, the project is to be scaled up to include the whole country. Read more here.

Finland aims to stub out smoking habit (Finland)
Finland’s government is expected to pass legislation prohibiting tobacco products from being visible in shops and banning smoking in cars carrying minors, part of a larger effort to rid the country of smoking entirely. The Health Ministry lists the cost of healthcare, socioeconomic disparities, and youth prevention as main reasons for the upcoming laws. Philip Morris International has lodged an official complaint against the Finnish government regarding their plans. The government is expected to respond this month. Click here to read more.

Smoking ban? The French light up again in public (France)
The Non-Smokers’ Rights (NSR) association has collected data indicating that violations of workplace smoking bans has increased since they went into effect in 2007. Complaints of exposure to second-hand smoke at work, which dropped from nearly 43% in 2006 to just 9% in 2007, have now gone back up to 21%. Reports of smoking in cafes, trains, and other public places are also on the rise. NSR attributes the increase to low levels of government enforcement, which have made employers and workers less concerned about being fined. Read more here.

Tobacco no longer on display (Norway)
Tobacco products such as cigarettes and snuff must now be hidden under the checkout counters of all Norwegian stores. The ban, which started on January 1, 2010, prohibits displaying tobacco products at checkout points in Norwegian stores. The new law affects duty-free shops in Norwegian airports and any ship or ferry registered in Norway, and also applies to products that resemble tobacco goods, such as candy cigarettes. Click here to read more.

Spanish government eyes ban on smoking in bars, restaurants (Spain)
The government of Spain is expected to move forward on the Anti-Tobacco Law reform, making it illegal to smoke in bars, cafes, restaurants, and other indoor areas. The existing Anti-Tobacco Law prohibits smoking in workplaces, but does not cover leisure establishments like restaurants and bars. Approximately 70% of the Spanish population supports this bill, including half of the 31.5% who identify as smokers. Click here to read more.

UAE law strikes at tobacco (United Arab Emirates)
The UAE president has signed a federal law with several restrictions on the marketing, sale, and use of tobacco products and tough penalties for violators. The law, which was originally drafted in 2006, includes a ban on importing tobacco products not meeting UAE specifications and candies or toys resembling tobacco products, and all forms of advertising and sponsorship are forbidden. Among other measures, the law bans the sale of tobacco products to minors, prohibits smoking on public transportation and in private cars containing children under 12 years old, and restricts where tobacco products can be sold. Penalties for violating the rules may include fines of up to Dh 1 million ($272,300), over 2 years in jail, and closure of offending businesses. Click here to read more about the law.

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