Smoking: Orlando urges people not to smoke in public parks.

Smoking: Orlando urges people not to smoke in public parks. - OrlandoSentinel.com:

The measure stops short of banning outdoor smoking because that's something the city doesn't have the authority to do. But it does ask the Florida Legislature to grant cities that power so Orlando officials can pursue an outright ban in the future.

"We want the public to realize our children need healthy areas to play in, and we can help with that," said Commissioner Sam Ings, who introduced the resolution.

FFS
Is there any place left besides home a smoker can smoke?
Oh wait sometimes you can't do that in your home either.
It's a depressing state of affairs when the city is begging the state legislature to give them the power to ban smoking in parks.
This is just getting sickening.
History tells us this stops,because it becomes an issue no one can afford to persue not because people suddenly change their minds.
I guess we aren't at that point yet.

Smoking in Russia: will old habits die hard?

Smoking in Russia: will old habits die hard? : The Lancet:

Persuading Russian society of the need for what many will label draconian anti-smoking legislation will be absolutely crucial if new legislation is to stand any chance of being enforced. Currently, only flights are smoke free, and according to Toropova this is explained “only by such will of the airlines”—it is not a legal obligation. There is nowhere else that is 100% smoke free, including hospitals. “The only penalty existing today for smoking in the forbidden places is RUB100 (about US$3)”, says Toropova—“that is for smoking on a train, in a non-smoking compartment”

Persuade?
Hell they will just do what they want I imagine.
I do think this will wind up being a Greece type of situation or at least I hope it will be.

Smoking Shelters Get Council Approval - Creve Coeur, MO Patch

Smoking Shelters Get Council Approval - Creve Coeur, MO Patch:

Almost nine months after the city of Creve Coeur's new smoking ordinance went into effect, City Council members passed an amendment to the law Monday which allows employers to build smoking shelters.

The debate has been ongoing for much of the summer, with arguments ranging from whether the idea of allowing the shelters inherently weakened the original ordinance, or if the city was infringing on individual freedoms if the shelters were not allowed.

Nice,I like seeing smokers given reasonable accommodation.
BTW that bill passed the city council vote 7-1.

New Data Suggests Cigarette Taxes a Risky Revenue Source

» New Data Suggests Cigarette Taxes a Risky Revenue Source - Big Government:

Back in 2009, the Reason Foundation identified that since 2003, cigarette taxes had been increased 57 times around the U.S., but that 68 percent of those hikes failed to result in projected revenue increases.

With more people giving up, however, experts say enhancing revenues via raising cigarette taxes could get tougher.

In addition, states that do hike taxes could see an increase in cigarette smuggling, which deprives the state in question of revenue it had anticipated.  This is a problem experienced by New Jersey, which a 2009 report obtained this week by Newark’s Star-Ledger shows is experiencing significant challenges in collecting in the revenue it needs to bank in order to get the full benefit of its $2.70 per pack cigarette tax.

But the health fascists must be jumping for joy,after all this is sort of what they were hoping would happen.
Of course the increase in smuggling is an unintended consequence but the government often acts without thinking about what it will do to them,which is no real surprise.

Queensland universities look to ban smoking amid complaints of secondhand smoke

Queensland universities look to ban smoking amid complaints of secondhand smoke | Courier Mail:

"We've been contacted by a couple of universities across Queensland - certainly they're looking at how they can protect their students, staff and visitors," Ms Hull said

"We've just had some feedback from students - Griffith University being one of those with concerns about having to walk through groups of people smoking."

"They might consider phasing a complete ban over time so people can get the help they need to quit, most research shows smokers do want to quit but for many it's very tough to do so we want to encourage and support them."

Right.
The comments are the best part of this article so far.

Closing time for Perth’s pub culture?

Closing time for Perth’s pub culture? - Perthshire Advertiser:

Closure of the 1807 established Scone Arms is the latest Fair City casualty succumbing to tougher trading conditions created by the credit crunch, higher taxes, smoking ban and discounted off-trade alcohol sales.

They can point to anything they'd like but I am pretty sure the smoking ban is what started the massive decline.
I can even see this where I live,the only people who went out for an evening of fun were the smokers and now that those days are over, restaurants and bars are folding all over the place.
Some might say it's the recession and it might be that too,but banning smoking and smokers from going out and being accepted hasn't lead to too many good things for the hospitality industry.

Smoking segregation?: Yerevan enforces tobacco control norms at public catering facilities

Smoking segregation?: Yerevan enforces tobacco control norms at public catering facilities - Health | ArmeniaNow.com:

(As in the case with other legal provisions, smoking-related norms have been only laxly enforced or not enforced at all in Armenia. The latest rigor reflects the attitude of Yerevan’s new administration formed after Karen Karapetyan was elected mayor last December).

The 2004 legislation on the sale, consumption and use of tobacco suggests that facilities like restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, and others designate some of their premises for smoking customers, while the rest should remain smoke-free. 

Wow,just wow.
I can honestly say I have never read an article quite like this before.
I do think this is pretty much all many smokers in The U.K.,USA and many other countries are asking for.Not to be thrown out entirely into the cold.
(Yes I know the news isn't entirely good because once you give them an inch they take a mile,but this wasn't the worst anti-smoking piece I have ever read.)