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Jun 17
realworldcultureshock: So I noticed in the grocery store the other day that cigarette packages are now displaying graphic images of smoking-related health problems. Or rather, the guy standing in front of me in the checkout line noticed it and just about fell over himself from shock.  I think it’s an interesting development in Kazakhstan’s battle with smoking and tobacco use. WHO statistics from 2010 show that just about half of the male population in Kazakhstan uses any smoked tobacco, while for females this percentage is much smaller. Still, I wonder how effective these images will be in preventing smoking. One of my friends, a smoker herself, remarked on how easy it is to emotionally distance herself from these photos. She explained that since these photos seem to present the most extreme of cases, it’s easy for most smokers to convince themselves that these examples do not apply to them.

realworldcultureshock:

So I noticed in the grocery store the other day that cigarette packages are now displaying graphic images of smoking-related health problems. Or rather, the guy standing in front of me in the checkout line noticed it and just about fell over himself from shock. 

I think it’s an interesting development in Kazakhstan’s battle with smoking and tobacco use. WHO statistics from 2010 show that just about half of the male population in Kazakhstan uses any smoked tobacco, while for females this percentage is much smaller.

Still, I wonder how effective these images will be in preventing smoking. One of my friends, a smoker herself, remarked on how easy it is to emotionally distance herself from these photos. She explained that since these photos seem to present the most extreme of cases, it’s easy for most smokers to convince themselves that these examples do not apply to them.

Reblogged 1 day ago from realworldcultureshock

8 notes

public health, global health, tobacco, smoking, Kazakhstan,

This Is How Much It Costs When Your Employees Smoke Add up the cost of extra health care, smoke breaks, absenteeism, and lowered productivity, and smokers start to look like a pretty hefty business expense. More and more companies are discriminating against smokers, either by not hiring them at all (in states where that’s allowed) or making every effort to get them to stop. It’s not particularly nice. But financially, it makes sense. Smokers cost employers a lot of money—$5,816 a year compared to someone who has never smoked, to be exact. The number comes from new research that tallies the cost of smoke breaks (the biggest expense, at $3,077), additional health care ($2,056), absenteeism ($517), and lower productivity ($462). (From Fastcoexist.com)

This Is How Much It Costs When Your Employees Smoke

Add up the cost of extra health care, smoke breaks, absenteeism, and lowered productivity, and smokers start to look like a pretty hefty business expense.

More and more companies are discriminating against smokers, either by not hiring them at all (in states where that’s allowed) or making every effort to get them to stop. It’s not particularly nice. But financially, it makes sense.

Smokers cost employers a lot of money—$5,816 a year compared to someone who has never smoked, to be exact. The number comes from new research that tallies the cost of smoke breaks (the biggest expense, at $3,077), additional health care ($2,056), absenteeism ($517), and lower productivity ($462).

(From Fastcoexist.com)

Posted 1 day ago

11 notes

public health, tobacco, smoking, health care costs,

Jun 5
Tobacco industry’s bet on India & China may lead to surge in lifestyle diseases: Thomas Zeltner DOSSIERS APLENTY The tobacco industry perpetually probes the weaknesses of people involved in campaigns against it, says Zeltner, who is currently chairman of the Swiss Foundation Science et Cite and professor of public health at the University of Bern, Switzerland. “[They look at] what are the weaknesses of a person. If I am someone who visits prostitutes [which I do not] the tobacco industry destroys my reputation. First they blackmail you and then they destroy you,” he says bluntly. Which was why when Zeltner and others began work on the report ahead of the FCTC, the then WHO director-general, former prime minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland, wanted him to ensure that “there were no spies inhouse”. “That was one of the strategies. We knew that they [the tobacco industry] wanted to have their ally in committees…Before we started we had to be clear and we had to be safe,” says the anti-smoking campaigner. He sent out mails to name 5-8 representatives from developing countries, including from India, to join the expert panel. (From The Economic Times)

Tobacco industry’s bet on India & China may lead to surge in lifestyle diseases: Thomas Zeltner

DOSSIERS APLENTY

The tobacco industry perpetually probes the weaknesses of people involved in campaigns against it, says Zeltner, who is currently chairman of the Swiss Foundation Science et Cite and professor of public health at the University of Bern, Switzerland. “[They look at] what are the weaknesses of a person. If I am someone who visits prostitutes [which I do not] the tobacco industry destroys my reputation. First they blackmail you and then they destroy you,” he says bluntly.

Which was why when Zeltner and others began work on the report ahead of the FCTC, the then WHO director-general, former prime minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland, wanted him to ensure that “there were no spies inhouse”.

“That was one of the strategies. We knew that they [the tobacco industry] wanted to have their ally in committees…Before we started we had to be clear and we had to be safe,” says the anti-smoking campaigner. He sent out mails to name 5-8 representatives from developing countries, including from India, to join the expert panel.

(From The Economic Times)

Posted 1 week ago

5 notes

public health, global health, tobacco, India, China, smoking,

Jun 4
American Cancer Society pushes to restrict candy-flavored cigars in New York With fun flavors like chocolate, blueberry, gummy bear, wine and pink berry, and brightly colored, shiny packages, the American Cancer Society says the little cigars and packages of loose tobacco are aimed at kids and are just as deadly as cigarettes. These candies are cancerous. They come in brightly colored, shiny packages in fun flavors like chocolate, blueberry, gummy bear, wine and pink berry — but the American Cancer Society says the little cigars and packages of loose tobacco are aimed at kids and are just as deadly as cigarettes. The American Cancer Society is pushing to make New York the first state to enact a comprehensive restriction on the sale of candy- and fruit-flavored cigarillos, chewing tobacco and tobacco used in water pipes. Its proposal would restrict sale of the products to tobacco shops, banning them from convenience stories. “If New York acts, it would be the first state in the nation, and turbocharge efforts nationally,” said Blair Horner, vice president of advocacy at the American Cancer Society and Cancer Action Network of New York and New Jersey. The candies are sold individually for as little as 99 cents or in packs and avoid stiff cigarette taxes aimed at dissuading young people from smoking. (From The Daily News)Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/american-cancer-society-pushes-ny-ban-cigarillos-article-1.1360745#ixzz2V6bo4O1x

American Cancer Society pushes to restrict candy-flavored cigars in New York

With fun flavors like chocolate, blueberry, gummy bear, wine and pink berry, and brightly colored, shiny packages, the American Cancer Society says the little cigars and packages of loose tobacco are aimed at kids and are just as deadly as cigarettes.

These candies are cancerous.

They come in brightly colored, shiny packages in fun flavors like chocolate, blueberry, gummy bear, wine and pink berry — but the American Cancer Society says the little cigars and packages of loose tobacco are aimed at kids and are just as deadly as cigarettes.

The American Cancer Society is pushing to make New York the first state to enact a comprehensive restriction on the sale of candy- and fruit-flavored cigarillos, chewing tobacco and tobacco used in water pipes. Its proposal would restrict sale of the products to tobacco shops, banning them from convenience stories.

“If New York acts, it would be the first state in the nation, and turbocharge efforts nationally,” said Blair Horner, vice president of advocacy at the American Cancer Society and Cancer Action Network of New York and New Jersey.

The candies are sold individually for as little as 99 cents or in packs and avoid stiff cigarette taxes aimed at dissuading young people from smoking.

Posted 2 weeks ago

4 notes

public health, tobacco, smoking,

Jun 1
Ireland to become first EU country to ban cigarette branding Ireland is to become the first country in the European Union to ban branding on cigarette packages by using plain packaging and uniform labelling. All trademarks, logos, colours and graphics will be removed from tobacco products sold in Ireland under the new rules, the health ministry said, after the proposal secured backing from the government. Dr James Reilly, the country’s health minister, said while many arguments will be made against the move, he is confident the legislation will be justified and supported purely by the fact that it will save lives. “Smoking places an enormous burden of illness and mortality on our society, with over 5,200 people dying every year from tobacco-related diseases,” he said. “One in two of all smokers will die from their addiction. “To replace the smokers who quit, the tobacco industry needs to recruit 50 new smokers in Ireland every day just to maintain smoking rates at their current level.” (From The Telegraph - London)

Ireland to become first EU country to ban cigarette branding

Ireland is to become the first country in the European Union to ban branding on cigarette packages by using plain packaging and uniform labelling.

All trademarks, logos, colours and graphics will be removed from tobacco products sold in Ireland under the new rules, the health ministry said, after the proposal secured backing from the government.

Dr James Reilly, the country’s health minister, said while many arguments will be made against the move, he is confident the legislation will be justified and supported purely by the fact that it will save lives.

“Smoking places an enormous burden of illness and mortality on our society, with over 5,200 people dying every year from tobacco-related diseases,” he said.

“One in two of all smokers will die from their addiction.

“To replace the smokers who quit, the tobacco industry needs to recruit 50 new smokers in Ireland every day just to maintain smoking rates at their current level.”

(From The Telegraph - London)

Posted 2 weeks ago

15 notes

public health, tobacco, tobacco marketing, smoking, Ireland, plain packaging,

May 23

From women.smokefree.gov

Posted 3 weeks ago

6 notes

public health, tobacco, smoking, pregnancy, reproductive health,

May 15

Around two-thirds of adult men smoke in Indonesia, one of the world’s largest and least regulated tobacco markets. The government in Jakarta has tried to introduce legislation to restrict advertising but the proposals have been watered down after industry lobbying.

(From The Financial Times)

Posted 1 month ago

1 note

public health, global health, tobacco, smoking, Indonesia,

May 4
Tobacco’s Shifting Burden: From the Rich to the Poor  Doctors and researchers meeting in São Paulo, Brazil, last week issued a dire warning. Latin America, they said, is at risk of being overwhelmed by a burgeoning cancer epidemic. One cause of concern is the prevalence of smoking in the region. “Unless these high rates of smoking are curtailed, cancer mortality rates will continue to rise,” said Harvard Medical School Professor Paul Goss, lead author of a new Lancet Oncology study about cancer prevention in Latin America. His statements about Latin America hold true elsewhere. In our December 2012 series, “Cancer’s New Battleground – the Developing World,” we showed that cancer isn’t just a rich-world disease. It’s a disease that’s also taking a heavy toll in the poorest countries. In fact, some cancers – including cervical, stomach, and liver – hit developing populations especially hard, and one cancer is well on its way to becoming a leading cause of death in the developing world: lung cancer. (From PRI)

Tobacco’s Shifting Burden: From the Rich to the Poor

 Doctors and researchers meeting in São Paulo, Brazil, last week issued a dire warning. Latin America, they said, is at risk of being overwhelmed by a burgeoning cancer epidemic.

One cause of concern is the prevalence of smoking in the region. “Unless these high rates of smoking are curtailed, cancer mortality rates will continue to rise,” said Harvard Medical School Professor Paul Goss, lead author of a new Lancet Oncology study about cancer prevention in Latin America.

His statements about Latin America hold true elsewhere. In our December 2012 series, “Cancer’s New Battleground – the Developing World,” we showed that cancer isn’t just a rich-world disease. It’s a disease that’s also taking a heavy toll in the poorest countries. In fact, some cancers – including cervical, stomach, and liver – hit developing populations especially hard, and one cancer is well on its way to becoming a leading cause of death in the developing world: lung cancer.

(From PRI)

Posted 1 month ago

11 notes

public health, global health, tobacco, smoking,

May 3
Tobacco display ban in large shops comes into force Cigarettes can no longer be displayed in Scottish shops A ban on the display of cigarettes and other tobacco products in large shops in Scotland has come into force. Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said the move will help prevent young people from taking up smoking. Under the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010, the sale of cigarettes from vending machines is also banned. Stores that do not comply could be convicted of a criminal offence or receive a fixed penalty fine. England, Wales and Northern Ireland have already brought in similar bans to prevent large stores from displaying cigarettes and tobacco. The Scottish government’s Tobacco Control Strategy also supports the introduction of standardised packaging. (From BBC)

Tobacco display ban in large shops comes into force

Cigarettes can no longer be displayed in Scottish shops

A ban on the display of cigarettes and other tobacco products in large shops in Scotland has come into force.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said the move will help prevent young people from taking up smoking.

Under the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010, the sale of cigarettes from vending machines is also banned.

Stores that do not comply could be convicted of a criminal offence or receive a fixed penalty fine.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland have already brought in similar bans to prevent large stores from displaying cigarettes and tobacco.

The Scottish government’s Tobacco Control Strategy also supports the introduction of standardised packaging.

(From BBC)

Posted 1 month ago

15 notes

public health, tobacco, smoking, healthy policy, Scotland,

Apr 18
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Posted 2 months ago

7 notes

public health, tobacco, smoking, tobacco products, youth, kids,