Russian MPs to debate harshest-ever anti-smoking bill

http://www.rt.com/news/prime-time/smoking-bill-russia-mps-814/

The bill stipulates a dramatic price rise on cigarettes, up to the European level – at least 1.28 euro per pack. It also bans cigarette sales at public catering venues, street stands and stalls. Cigarettes will be sold only at shops of at least 50 square meters in area. 

In other measures, it will be prohibited to display cigarette packs at showcases – potential buyers will have to make their choice from a price list only. The aim is to prevent the uptake of smoking among young people under 18.

Cigarettes and smoking in children's movies will be subject to censorship. Tobacco companies will not be able sponsor educational and sports organizations, healthcare and cultural institutions. 

Because doing things like this always works so well.

These governments can't wait to try and one up each other,each trying to be harsher than the last.

Fortunately no one has tried to imitate Bhutan yet.

It has always bugged me that some members of society picked smokers to be their scapegoats .

And now we're on track to see soda go the way of cigarettes .

Someday I hope I wake up to find this has been nothing but a bad dream...................

Hard to argue in favor of smoking in clubs

http://community.adn.com/node/161117

It's not easy for a politician to defend smoking but Eagle River Assemblyman Bill Starr will be doing just that next week.

Starr has proposed a repeal of the smoking ban for private clubs. The Assembly will take comment Tuesday night. The change would affect 20 or so clubs -- mostly veterans and fraternal organizations -- but it is really aimed at just one: the Eagles Aerie 4174 in Peters Creek.

Not much I can say,but any politician who does this is OK in my book.

Wish they'd wise up and repeal all the bans on bars,clubs and pubs everywhere.

Sad no one sees the disparities in tax revenue and job rates and losses as being connected.

Leave a few spots where smokers can puff away

http://www.canada.com/Leave+spots+where+smokers+puff+away/6649170/story.html

Our media outlets, including this paper, should also do a little research before airing or printing the opinions of the zealots. The media has a duty to present a balanced view of the facts, not just opinions.

In a well informed, civil society, people tolerate diverse race, religion, sexual orientation, political belief and various life styles.

When the majority takes away a freedom enjoyed by a minority - not for any valid reason, but just because they can - we are on the slippery slope.

Not much I can say about that.

It's sad but most of the decent stuff I read is just from letters to the editor or comments.

A timely wake-up call (Bhutan)

http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=31089

The much more relaxed 2012 amended version of the law is still also aimed at busting bootleggers, but it is clear that this is not necessarily working, primarily because tobacco users don’t want to go through the hassle of being at the border town to pay the 100 percent duty.  It can be inferred that similar problems must be occurring with regards to a host of items that are imported on a regular basis, and on which no bans exist.

But it is obvious that decision makers would rather forego the taxes that the government can collect, than allow legal sale within the country, and tarnish its image as a Buddhist country.

I'm glad the new bill is somewhat more relaxed but 100 percent duty on tobacco is insane.

Almost no one is going to pay that.

A bad law is still a bad law even if no one goes to jail for breaking it.

Top Addictions Doctor: Don't Treat Smokers Like Animals

Top Addictions Doctor: Don't Treat Smokers Like Animals

Yevgeny Bryun, the chief narcologist at the Heath and Social Development Ministry, told reporters that smokers "pay for their sin" through tobacco taxes, so the government has an obligation to provide "civilized, humane conditions" where smokers can "fulfill their painful needs."

Designated smoking areas should be reasonably comfortable with good ventilation, but many do not meet this standard, he said.

"Airports are now setting aside places to smoke, [but] these places are impossible to enter," he said, Interfax reported. "This is an outrage. This is treating man like an animal, because he has paid for his sin."

Bryun urged the state to show compassion toward smokers.

"You cannot change the habit of a person who has smoked from childhood," he said. "He will never give up tobacco. But he is a living, breathing human being, and he needs to be provided with a place where he can smoke freely."

I love reading about real doctors who still treat people with compassion.
It's such a rarity I just had to put it up here...

SMOKING: Ban could start firestorm

SMOKING: Ban could start firestorm

What a fantastic idea to ban smoking on the beaches. This great thought is simply incomplete as written. Yes, banning is the answer; it will interface with many other great plans.

Also needed is banning noise, screaming and crying kids and adults, rock concerts, loud stereos in the automobiles going to or coming from the beaches, loud tail pipes, throwing Frisbees, balls, or anything else that could injure a bystander or any noisemaking device which this ban would include musical instruments, nonmusical instruments used to make a noise, even the mouth as it is the worst of offenders at making noise.

The sweet written words of someone using common sense.

How I've missed them.

TCDD

Is it the Nicotine? Hsu Researching Bone Healing in Smokers

Although TCDD is present in small amounts in the environment, it exists at high levels in cigarette smoke. Elevated TCDD levels in the body have never been linked to anything other than cigarette smoke and the military compound Agent Orange. Hsu remains encouraged by his research, with some in vitro studies suggesting that the toxin down-regulates certain genes that are important for osteogenesis, or bone healing. 

As long as the predominant theory is that nicotine is the main cause in the disruption of bone healing, many surgeons will continue to advise that even supplements like a nicotine patch can’t be used after surgery. Without such aids, no-smoking compliance rates decrease as smokers are forced to give up the habit cold-turkey. Hsu believes that if his research establishes TCDD as the root cause, nicotine supplements would be OK for patients to use, likely increasing no-smoking compliance rates and outcomes in the process.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037842741200063X


Hmm

I'm reserving judgement,but..........

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs225/en/