Policy

Reports

Should public housing projects go smoke-free?
A recent article published in the New England Journal of Medicine reviews existing laws concerning smokefree regulations in residential housing. While federal law does not require public housing units to be smoke-free, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) encourages housing authorities to implement smokefree policies. The paper outlines the health effects of smoking, current initiatives to ban smoking in multi-unit housing, and the challenges of implementing smoke-free public housing. The authors also describe the benefits and weaknesses of several policy options that HUD can use to regulate smoking in multi-unit housing. Click here to read more, or click here to download a PDF of the NEJM article.

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State

Starbucks snuffing out smoking outdoors (CA)
Starbucks has announced that smoking will no longer be permitted on outdoor patios and dining areas in its California stores. The new policy is the company’s response to the fact that a growing number of communities in the state now prohibit smoking in outdoor dining areas. Local smokers have expressed disappointment over the new rule, but say they have come to expect restrictions on smoking in the state. Click here to read more.

Committee rejects smoking ban bill (LA)
The Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee voted 8-4 to defer a bill that would make bars and casinos smoke-free. The current Smoke Free Air Act prohibits smoking in public buildings, schools, restaurants, public places, and enclosed places of employment, but does not apply to bars and casinos. Supporters of the bill say that bar and casino employees should have their health protected just as employees of other establishments do. Opponents of the bill contend that the more comprehensive policy would lead to a loss in revenue and therefore a loss in jobs at affected establishments. The committee has a history of voting against expansions to the statewide Smoke Free Air Act, and this vote makes it unlikely that the measure will be discussed again in the 2010 legislative session. Read more here. Update: The legislative session closed on June 21 with no action on this bill.

Everett board bans sale of tobacco in drugstores (MA)
Smokers in Everett, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, will have a harder time finding cigarettes this summer. The city’s board of health voted unanimously in May to ban the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and drugstores. The policy, which went into effect on June 15, was passed with the rationale that the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and other healthcare institutions sends a mixed message to consumers. The ordinance also includes a ban on tobacco vending machines, except in private clubs.  In December 2008, Boston became the second city in the U.S. to adopt a ban on the sale of tobacco in pharmacies, and now several other cities in Massachusetts are following suit with similar bans. Read more here.

Mass. Senate casino bill would allow smoking (MA)
Senators in Massachusetts have begun debating a bill that would permit smoking in new casinos.  If passed, the bill would allow the state to license three casinos, each of which could allow smoking in up to 25% of their gaming areas. Smoking areas would be required to have ventilation systems to minimize the smoke entering non-smoking areas, and would need to be appropriately labeled with signs.  Antismoking advocates criticize the proposal for not completely protecting patrons and workers from secondhand smoke exposure and for violating the statewide smokefree law, which applies to workplaces, bars, and restaurants.  Proponents of the bill say that if smoking were banned from the new casinos, revenue would be lost to other states where smoking is permitted in casinos. Click here to read more.

Survey: More than 75 percent favor Mich. smoking ban (MI)
A recent survey done by the Michigan Department of Community Health shows that about 75% of those surveyed favor the state’s smokefree law, which went into effect on May 1. A total of 10,030 people in 80 counties were surveyed before the law went into effect. Of those participating, 88% believed that secondhand smoke was a health threat to nonsmokers, and 87% were aware of the reach of the new law and when it was to go into effect. The law was more popular among nonsmokers, but 89.5% of all people surveyed said that they would continue going out to eat the same amount or more often if smoking were prohibited in restaurants and bars. This finding runs contrary to arguments by bar and restaurant owners who claim the ban has hurt business. Read more here.

Proposal would allow food service in restaurant bars that allow smoking (NV)
Health officials in Nevada are considering a bill that would allow bar-restaurants to serve food in separately ventilated areas where smoking is permitted. The existing state law allows businesses to open separately-ventilated bars and restaurants under one roof, as long as no food is served in smoking areas. The act also allows customers to bring their own food into the smoking areas or have food delivered to the bar’s entrance. The proposed regulation would allow employees to deliver food directly into the bar. Health advocates say that this proposal would go against the spirit of the law, which was passed by voters wishing to eat in a smoke-free environment. Click here to read more about the bill and other proposals related to the Clean Indoor Air Act. Update: Nevada smoking measure prompts opposition Health board members have delayed action on the proposed regulations. The panel heard from both sides and determined that additional public discussions should be held before determining a course of action. Read more here.

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National

FDA marks first anniversary of Tobacco Control Act
On June 22, 2010, many public health groups commemorated the first anniversary of the signing of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. With the passing of that date, stricter restrictions on tobacco marketing, advertising, and sales took effect. For example, tobacco companies will no longer be able to describe their products as “light,” “low,” or “mild,” a practice known to be misleading. Because tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., these new laws have been instituted to encourage smokers to quit, and to prevent youth from starting to smoke. Since the passage of The Tobacco Act, the tobacco industry has tried to block several major provisions of the law, and health advocates expect the industry to continue to undermine the spirit of the law. Click here to read more from the FDA, or click here to read a statement by CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden. Click here to view a fact sheet from the Center for Tobacco Policy and Organizing which outlines the provisions going into effect this month. The National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) issued a press release encouraging Boards of Health to enforce the new regulations.

Tobacco era in NASCAR ends as new FDA rules take effect
New rules from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will prohibit all tobacco sponsorship in sporting events starting June 22. The change will affect NASCAR specifically, where two teams are sponsored by smokeless tobacco brands, Longhorn and Red Man. While one of these teams has found a replacement sponsor, the other is struggling to do so, saying that the economic climate is particularly difficult at this time. Tobacco companies have historically been major NASCAR sponsors; R.J. Reynolds spent millions as the 31-year sponsor of the Winston series before the sponsorship ended in 2003. Click here to read more.

Postal Service set to enforce tobacco ban
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will begin enforcing a ban on the mailing of tobacco products starting June 29, with violators subject to criminal fines, imprisonment, and civil penalties. The ban falls under the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act, which leaves only a few exceptions, such as shipping between tobacco companies or to state or federal agencies for business and regulatory reasons. The law also requires online retailers to pay all state and local taxes, put tax stamps on tobacco products, register with the state in which they are based and report to tax collectors, and verify the age and identification of customers when they purchase and receive tobacco. Those opposed to the law say that it will cause large losses in jobs and revenue, while supporters note that the law will close tax loopholes and prevent sales to minors. Read an article about the PACT Act, or click here to download a fact sheet on the benefits of the PACT Act for state, local, and tribal governments. The USPS has developed a Field Information Kit to educate employees and others about the law.

FDA demands Philip Morris marketing documents
By the end of June, cigarette manufacturers will no longer be allowed to use names like “light,” “mild,” “medium,” or “low,” terms that can lead smokers to believe that the products are less harmful than other cigarettes. Instead, tobacco companies are replacing these words with colors so that smokers can distinguish between the types of cigarettes and get more information about their taste, feel, and blend. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked Philip Morris to supply all of the company’s market research findings on Marlboro Lights in response to new onsert advertisements attached to the cigarettes. The onserts explain that the cigarette packages will be changing, but the cigarettes will remain the same. The FDA is concerned that the intent behind this onsert is to continue to market the product as less harmful than other tobacco products, and that the company is not doing enough to correct smokers’ misperceptions. Click here to read more, or click here to read the FDA’s letter to Philip Morris. Click here for more information about tobacco companies’ use of colors to replace "Light" cigarette descriptors.

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International

WHO seeks clampdown on tobacco ads targeting women
The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for more action to be taken to prevent tobacco advertising that targets women and girls, particularly in developing countries. Men account for 80% of the world’s smokers, making females the largest potential growth market for the tobacco industry. The industry has responded by creating aggressive marketing campaigns designed to attract women through links to fashion, sports, and entertainment, and associating smoking with beauty and liberation. The WHO says these strategies are working, and that more women and girls are starting to smoke, with levels of teen smoking equalizing between genders in many countries. To combat this, the WHO recommends a complete advertising ban on tobacco. Tobacco company Philip Morris International supports restricting advertising and even banning certain types of advertising, but the company has opposed a full advertising ban. Read more here.

Egypt cracks down on smoking in Alexandria (Egypt)
Egyptian authorities have announced plans to begin enforcing a smokefree law in government buildings, hospitals, and schools in the city of Alexandria. The city was selected as the first area for enforcement because polls indicate that residents would be open to the idea of having a smoke-free city. People caught violating the law will be fined up to $9, and noncompliant organizations or companies will be fined up to $3,640. A hotline has been established for citizens to register complaints of noncompliance. If the pilot program is successful, officials expect the law to be enforced throughout the country within five years. Nationwide enforcement of the smokefree law is anticipated to be a considerable challenge, as about 40% of men over age 15 smoke, and the original 2007 law was largely ignored. Read more here.

Greece to ban smoking Sept 1 in indoor public places (Greece)
Following the failure of a partial smokefree law enacted last year, Greece will be banning tobacco use in all indoor public places. The previous law had several exemptions, complicated rules, and was not usually enforced, resulting in many smokers and business owners ignoring the law. Greece has the highest smoking rate in Europe, with over 40% of the country’s citizens being smokers, and nearly half of workers being exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace. The new law goes into effect on September 1, 2010, and is designed to reduce secondhand smoke exposure by eliminating the confusion and exemptions associated with the existing law. Read more here.

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