Fewer Americans see smoking tobacco as bad for your health

The number of Americans who view smoking cigarettes as being bad for your health has gone down, according to a new report.
The perception by teenagers and young adults that heavy cigarette smoking is a high-risk activity has declined in many states, the study on substance abuse and mental health released today found.
The perceived risks of smoking one or more packs of cigarettes a day dropped between 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 in 14 states among youths aged 12 to 17, and in 31 states among those aged 18 to 25.
Perceived smoking risks also dropped in nine states among those 26 and older, said the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
According to the survey, 28 per cent of Americans questioned had used tobacco in the last month.
The state with the highest prevalence rate for tobacco use among persons aged 12 or over was West Virginia (38.4 per cent), while Utah had the lowest rate (18.4 per cent).
'No state is free from the unique impact of mental and substance use disorders,' SAMHSA administrator Pamela Hyde said.
'Data like these give states the information they can use to target their prevention and treatment activities for the greatest benefit to their residents,' she said.

Tobacco Control Bill Finally In Parliament

After about seven years of intense lobbying and agitation for tobacco control legislation for Ghana, minister for Health, Joseph Yeileh Chireh, has finally presented the draft legislation on the Tobacco Control Bill for the consideration of Parliament.
The Bill which forms part of the enlarged Public Health Bill (PHB) went through first reading on the floor of Parliament last Friday, July 22, 2011 with the Speaker of the House, Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo referring it to the select committee on Health for consideration recommendation.
Parliament adjourned last Friday and is expected to reconvene in late October 2011. Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed, told journalists in Parliament last week the presentation of the bill was long expected and that now that it has come they will treat it with the urgency it deserves.
Following this revelation it is expected that the Public Health Bill will go through the necessary stages and passed in the next meeting beginning in October.
Meanwhile, Civil Society has hailed the news of the presentation of the bill to parliament. They claim the centre of their campaign now will be towards Parliament, specifically with the Health Committee and the entire Members.
Chairman of the African Tobacco Control Alliance, Issah Ali, who is also the executive director of Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) who was present in parliament to witness the presentation of the bill said “We strongly support the vision of the Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak to prioritize the Committee’s consideration of the Bill. This shows that the committee and to some large extent Parliament has the interest of Ghanaians at heart when it comes to ensuring the protection of their health. I will like to urge him to go all out to ensure the passage of the bill into law soon”
He appealed to stakeholders to engage with Members of Parliament regularly to know the status of the bill so as to ensure speedy passage of bill into law.
When finally passed the law will among others ban Smoking in public places, ban tobacco advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship, Prohibit young people under the age of 21 from buying and selling tobacco products and mandate the printing of Pictorial Health Warnings on tobacco packs to cover over 70% of the principal display areas.
To effectively implement the tobacco control Act, the Coalition on Tobacco Control (CTC) including VALD, Media Alliance in Tobacco Control (MATCO), Community Health Support Team, and other allies are calling on government to increase taxes on tobacco products to finance the implementation of the tobacco legislations and its action plans.

CT scans could help lower smoking-related deaths

CT scans of the lungs could help lower the risk of death among smokers.

Research from the National Lung Cancer Trial estimates the reduction could be as high as 20 percent.

Yes, a 20 percent death reduction if CT screenings are performed on all current and former heavy smokers over the age of 55.

"It's the first time anything's been done to show we can reduce the death rate from lung cancer," said Dr. John Hamm of the Norton Cancer Institute.

The death rate statistics of lung cancer are grim. Dr. John Hamm says no matter the stage of the cancer, using traditional x-ray screenings, 90 percent of patients die.

It's the most deadly cancer in the country, and Kentucky ranks number one for residents who have it.

This study is the first real hope to reduce these numbers and save lives..

"Every year, approximately 3,400 people die in the state of Kentucky from lung cancer," says Dr. Hamm. "The study showed a 20 percent reduction in death rate if we applied that across Kentucky. That would be approximately 700 lives saved every year."

Norton Cancer Institute, which opens in August, is teaming with the UK Markey Cancer Center to be the first organized screening program in the state.

The two centers will work together to provide follow-up on testing, which is crucial to rule out any false positives common with CT scans.

Move to stub out smoking at the Hamilton bus terminal

Smoking is set to be banned at Hamilton bus terminal and stiffer fines introduced for people who misbehave at the terminal and on the buses.

People caught smoking will be fined $300, as will those who do not pay the correct fare, alter the date on their bus pass or fail to hand in lost property that they find.

The same fine covers those who get on a bus so drunk or scantily-clad that they are in “an unfit or improper condition to travel”.

Those who avoid paying their fare at all, behave offensively or damage a bus will have to pay out $500. Meanwhile being caught with an offensive weapon or dangerous article such as an explosive carries a $1,000 penalty.

Attempting to steal a bus carries a $2,000 penalty, while those who refuse to give up a seat reserved for a disabled or “special person” will have to pay $150.

The new rules will come in if the Senate gives the green light to an amendment bill approved by the House of Assembly on Friday. In the case of several offences, even stiffer fines can be meted out to repeat offenders.

Introducing the amendments to the Public Transportation Act, which dates back to 1951, Transport Minister Terry Lister said they will come into force along with new regulations to be published in the Official Gazette.

At present, the maximum penalty for misbehaving on the buses “is a mere $252,” according to the Minister.

“Bus operators have had to face hazardous conditions while in control of a vehicle that can have as many as 50 passengers. Verbal and physical attacks have become more frequent,” he said.

He believes increasing the fines for such behaviour will signal to wrongdoers “that their actions will not be tolerated”.

He said there have been complaints about behaviour at Hamilton bus terminal, and fines will be meted out under the new rules for being drunk, profane or obscene, being disorderly or drawing graffiti.

On the topic of smoking, Mr Lister said: “We will be putting up signs that it’s illegal to smoke at the bus depot in Hamilton.” He said the Corporation of Hamilton has been asked to put up cigarette posts so people can stub them out before entering the depot.

He suggested the new rules, which apply to smoking “in an omnibus or at a department facility,” even extend to those who light up while waiting at bus stop poles around the Island, since this can be unpleasant for bystanders.

However, John Barritt of the One Bermuda Alliance, which supports the bill overall, said: “Good luck with stopping people smoking near the bus poles. The regulation speaks about a ‘departmental facility’. I’m not sure a pole counts as a departmental facility, but good luck with that.”

Meanwhile, the Minister had stern words for those who breach the new rules on “improper dress.” The rules cover those “whose dress or person is in a condition that is likely to soil any seat or furnishings in an omnibus or who is in an unfit or improper condition to travel in an omnibus”. They carry a fine of $300.

Mr Lister said: “I have ridden the bus at night and sometimes some of the gentlemen who get on the bus have been in an inebriated state. They may well have been able to get up those two steps looking pretty good, but as their condition deteriorates they can be troublesome, noisy or just plain have an accident.”

He also bemoaned the fact that “back in the day,” children used to give up their seats for the elderly or disabled, but now it has become necessary to enforce the rules via fines.

The new legislation was backed by the One Bermuda Alliance. Shawn Crockwell from the party said: “We support this wholeheartedly and compliment the Minister for bring it forward.”

He also commented: “I hope the enforcement of the regulations will be firm.”

However, his party colleague Mark Pettingill sounded a note of concern that some of the rules will need subjective interpretation by the bus operator, such as whether someone using a cell phone is breaking the rules on using an “obstructive article.” An obstructive article is defined as something “likely to cause annoyance to other persons in an omnibus”.

Mr Pettingill said cell phone use on the bus is “very annoying,” but a decision on whether it breaks the rules would be “purely subjective”.

He also cited concern that bus operators who try to eject troublemakers from the bus could get assaulted, or even be accused of assault themselves.

Anti-smoking campaign requires political will

“The political will of a chief executive is the key to a successful implementation of the government’s anti-smoking campaign,” said Amlan Municipal Mayor Bentham dela Cruz.
Speaking in a media workshop on tobacco control advocacy, Mayor dela Cruz stressed that local leaders should take the lead in the drive against smoking from drafting the ordinance until the implementation of the law.
Massive information anti-smoking drive should be done at the barangay level as more and more young people are getting into the bad habit, he said.
Lung cancer, which is linked to smoking, ranks among the top ten causes of deaths among Filipino males, stressed Amlan Mayor.
Amlan received the Red Orchid Awards of the Department of Health (DOH) and World Health Organization (WHO), a citation given to local government units (LGUs) for initiating an aggressive anti-smoking campaign.
While the Department of Health (DOH) Region 7 cited Negros Oriental has the most positive response towards the Anti-Smoking Program among the four provinces in Central Visayas.
Aside from Amlan, the towns of Zamboanguita, Ayungon and Mabinay have also enforcing a smoking ban base on its local ordinances.
Under R.A 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, smoking tobacco is prohibited in public places such as: centers of children and youth activity such as schools, playgrounds, recreational facilities and youth hostels; elevators and stairwells; locations with fire hazards such as gas stations; hospitals and health centers, medical and dental facilities; public conveyances and public facilities such as airports, trains and bus stations except those with separate smoking areas; and, food and beverages preparation areas.
“Public conveyances” are defined as modes of transport servicing the general population such as, but not limited to, “elevators, airplanes, buses, taxicabs, ships, jeepneys, light rail transits, tricycles, and similar vehicles.”
The DOH campaign is not against smokers but that the need to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke is a right and that there should be a proper place for smokers that will not put at risk public health, dela Cruz said.

Chavan to make all MLAs sit for No-Tobacco class

In a role reversal of sorts, politicians who make a career out of lecturing the electorate, will now have to listen to experts telling them what they must do - stay away from tobacco. Having signed a pledge to fight tobacco consumption along with Tata Memorial Hospital, the Chief Minister is now targeting smokers and gutkha users in the state Assembly first.

And the tobacco cleanup drive will kick off during the upcoming monsoon session of the state legislature that begins on July 14, where doctors will rub shoulders with legislators to give them a lesson or two on the hazards of consuming tobacco.

"The CM believes that all MLAs and MLCs, who are largely into smoking or chewing tobacco, should be the first ones to learn of the hazards," said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, associate professor, Head and Neck Department at Tata Hospital. "That's why he's asked us to hold lectures during the monsoon session."
Complimenting the initiative, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told Mumbai Mirror late on Sunday evening, "Yes, I have requested the doctors to hold awareness sessions for political leaders during the monsoon session.

If the leaders are aware, they can relay the information to the common man. The West has succeeded in curbing even passive smoking, and it's time we took this seriously."

The lecture will centre on the hazards of smoking cigarettes and beedis or chewing gutkha and khaini (a form of gutkha). Besides a common talk to be held on one day for all legislators, individual counselling specific to tobacco users over a couple of days is also on the cards. Besides PowerPoint slides, the education material will comprise posters depicting gory pictures of those who've suffered ill-effects of tobacco consumption and other nitty-gritty of illnesses triggered.

Imperial Tobacco, British Land rise in London

After a flat start, the FTSE 100 index UK:UKX +0.37% rose 0.3% to push past the key 6,000 mark at 6,007.80 in late morning trading. The index gained 0.7% on Friday, its sixth positive session, and longest winning streak since the six days ended March 30.

Action for London was muted because of the July 4 Independence Day holiday in the U.S., with Wall Street closed on Monday.
Banks came under pressure across Europe after S&P said two options proposed by the Federation Bancaire Francaise (FBF) to ease repayment terms on Greek debt could constitute a default for the country.

Some U.K. banks are exposed to Greek debt, though French and German exposure is said to be larger.

The news comes after euro-zone finance ministers approved over the weekend the disbursement of the next tranche of aid for Greece, with the IMF expected to approve its part of the loan in coming days. The Greek government secured parliamentary approval for additional austerity measures last week, paving the way for the disbursement of more aid.

Banking shares pared earlier losses, but Barclays PLC BCS +4.02% UK:BARC -1.42% , Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC RBS +3.29% UK:RBS -1.08% and Lloyds Banking Group PLC UK:LLOY -1.59% still remained some 1% lower, while Standard Chartered PLC UK:STAN -0.66% HK:2888 +3.19% lost 0.8%.

Oilfield-services provider John Wood Group PLC UK:WG 0.00% rose 1.2%, continuing to rise after Goldman Sachs upgraded the shares to buy from neutral on Friday. Among other energy-related stocks, shares of Essar Energy PLC UK:ESSR +1.15% gained 1.2%.

British Land UK:BLND +2.60% rose 1.9% to 627 pence after Deutsche Bank reduced its target price from 840 pence to 820 pence, but said it expects prices to “appreciate considerably” over the next 12 months on expectations for strong growth in net asset value and expected upward re-rating in share valuations. It rates British Land a buy.

Land Securities Group PLC UK:LAND +1.50% rose 1.4%. Deutsche Bank said British Land has better portfolio exposure than Land Securities, but also rates the latter at buy.

Shares of Imperial Tobacco UK:IMT +1.04% rose 1.3% after Morgan Stanley said the tobacco group, which it rates overweight, could lead the industry out of the price war in Spain. It said Imperial Tobacco stands to benefit the most, given its exposure to Spain, if the rest of the industry follows its lead and lifts prices there.

Tobacco giants can't sue the Government

Big tobacco companies won't be able to sue the Government over anti-smoking laws, Prime Minister John Key says.

Philip Morris Asia, based in Hong Kong, is threatening to sue the Australian government because it intends forcing tobacco companies to sell cigarettes in plain packets.

The action is being taken under a trade agreement between Australia and Hong Kong, and New Zealand has a similar arrangement.

The Green Party says Philip Morris could use the same tactic against New Zealand if Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia gets her way and follows Australia.

But Mr Key said today New Zealand's free trade agreements excluded that risk.

"The best advice I've had is that we wouldn't be able to be sued because we would be protected, in the public interest, in terms of health," he said at his post-cabinet press conference.

"Someone can always take an action against the Government, but whether they would be successful is a very different issue."

If the tobacco giant won a case against the Australian government it could claim billions of dollars in damages because its trademark had been compromised.

Mrs Turia said last month she wasn't going to be deterred by the company's threats.

However, she could not confirm the Government would go ahead with the policy.

"It's something that needs to be looked into really carefully -- we don't want to get ourselves into a situation where we're wasting taxpayer money fighting these tobacco companies because they're incredibly wealthy," she said.

Australia's plain packet law comes into effect in a year.

Imperial Tobacco moves higher after hiking Spanish cigarette prices

Imperial Tobacco shares were hit last month as it laid out the full cost of a cigarette price war in Spain.

The company revealed a £110m hit to profits as it followed rival Philip Morris, and cut prices after a ban on smoking in public places. But today its shares have risen 26p to £21.43 after it lifted Spanish prices again across the board to pre-price war levels, the first company to do so. Across its key brands, Imperial has increased prices of Fortuna and Nobel to €3.80 from €3.50 and Ducados, West and JPS to €3.50 from €3.30 (€0.10 less on soft packs across all brands).