Policy

Research

AHA: Don't be fooled, smokeless tobacco isn't exactly safe
The American Heart Association has released a policy statement indicating that smokeless tobacco use is not a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. The policy statement comes as part of a study that summarizes available data on the health effects of smokeless tobacco, which found that in addition to increasing the risk of certain cancers, smokeless tobacco use was associated with a 30% increased risk of heart attack and 40% increased risk of stroke. In the statement, the American Heart Association also discourages the use of smokeless tobacco as a smoking cessation aid for several reasons: it is not safe from a cardiovascular standpoint, addictiveness is a concern, its effectiveness has not been proven, and safe nicotine replacement therapy options exist. Click here to read more about the statement, view the press release from the American Heart Association, or read the full policy statement, found in the journal Circulation.

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State

Cigarette sales ban expansion moves one step closer to approval (CA)
The Land Use and Economic Development Committee of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors has decided to advance an ordinance that would expand the city’s law prohibiting the sale of tobacco in pharmacies. The original law prohibited tobacco sales at drugstores that sell healthcare products, under the rationale that the sale of tobacco products contradicts a pharmacy’s goal of promoting health. The 2008 ordinance did not apply to grocery or warehouse stores that have pharmacies, prompting Walgreen Co. to file suit against the city, arguing that the law is unconstitutional and anticompetitive. The ordinance under consideration would remedy this perceived inconsistency in the law by expanding the ban on tobacco sales to include all grocery stores and “big box” stores with pharmacies. The passage of the ordinance is subject to a vote by the full board. Click here to read more. Update: San Francisco supes OK expanded tobacco sales ban The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has granted preliminary approval to extend the city’s ban on the sale of tobacco in pharmacies. The ordinance passed 7-3, but still requires final approval from the board before heading to the mayor. Mayor Gavin Newsom has indicated that he will sign the bill. Read more here.

NYC to try banning smoking in parks and at beaches (NY)
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that his administration will pursue an effort to prohibit smoking in parks, public beaches, boardwalks, marinas, and pedestrian plazas. The proposed law, which would extend the reach of the city’s 2003 indoor smokefree policy, is based on findings from studies that indicate brief exposure to secondhand smoke, even when outdoors, can pose health risks. The law would give the parks department the power to enforce the law with tickets called quality-of-life summonses, which are typically given for minor offenses like panhandling; smoking in regulated outdoor areas would likely incur a fine of around $50. The proposed law must go through a series of committee hearings before the 51-member City Council can vote on it. Read more about the proposed law here. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has issued a press release in support of the proposal.

Smoking ban campaign begins in Rapid City (SD)
The South Dakota Tobacco Free Kids network and the South Dakota Medical Association have begun a campaign to encourage the passage of a statewide smokefree law in a referendum on November 2. After the state legislature passed a comprehensive smokefree law in 2009, opponents of the law took legal action to delay implementation, and gathered signatures to send the issue to referendum before the law was enacted. If the referendum passes, the law will prohibit smoking in all workplaces, including bars, restaurants, casinos, and video lottery establishments as a way of protecting workers and patrons from secondhand smoke. Opponents claim that the law will restrict personal freedoms and harm businesses. Supporters say that South Dakotans should have the right to breathe smokefree air, and that numerous studies have shown smokefree laws do not have negative effects on bar or restaurant sales. Click here for more information, or click here to visit the Smoke-Free South Dakota website.

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National

Air Force bans electronic cigarettes from the workplace
The use of electronic cigarettes has been banned in Air Force facilities, partially over concerns about the limited information available regarding their health impact. In a memo to all personnel, Air Force Surgeon General Dr. Lt. Gen. Charles B. Green stated that e-cigarettes are not approved by the FDA as a drug delivery device and no studies have been done to prove their safety or effectiveness as smoking cessation products. The Air Force has therefore categorized e-cigarettes as “tobacco products,” prohibiting them from being used wherever smoking is not allowed in Air Force facilities, pending further research. E-cigarettes were also recently banned from facilities on the Quantico Marine Corps Base. Click here or here to read more.

FDA sends warning letters to e-cigarette companies
On September 10, the FDA issued warning letters to five electronic cigarette companies, citing violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) such as unsubstantiated marketing claims and poor manufacturing practices. The FDA has determined that e-cigarettes qualify as drugs, and are therefore subject to FDA regulation. The FDA requires companies to prove that a drug is safe and effective before claiming a product can treat a disease. Each of the companies that received warning letters has made claims that its products are useful for smoking cessation without providing adequate evidence. The companies were given fifteen days to respond to the FDA with their plans to correct the violations. A separate letter was sent to the Electronic Cigarette Association, encouraging the industry to work with the FDA to demonstrate that the devices are safe and effective in helping people quit smoking cigarettes. Click here to read more, or click here to read an FDA news release about the regulatory action. Click here to read a press release in which Legacy calls upon FDA to protect consumers by regulating e-cigarettes.

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International

Ban on smoking in indoor public places from Sept. 1 (Greece)
On September 1, a new smokefree law that prohibits smoking in all indoor public areas was implemented in Greece, a country where 42% of adults are smokers. The law applies to all indoor spaces, including workplaces and recreational venues. Casinos and large recreational venues with live music will be allowed to have designated smoking areas until June 1, 2011, at which time these venues will become fully smokefree. Those caught violating the new law face large fines, with smokers being fined €50-500 ($65-650) and businesses fined €500-10,000 ($650-12,750). Businesses also face temporary closure and revocation of their license for repeat offenses. The strict measures come after eight years of attempts at partial smoking bans that were for the most part ignored. Read more about the new law here and here.

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