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| Issue 95 | 23 July 2008 |
Having trouble viewing this newsletter? Try the online version. FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK
In time this database will become the authoritative directory of our tobacco control community. Eventually it will replace the Tobaccofree/Tupeka Kore Directory (formerly the Auahi Kore/Smokefree Directory) which is jointly published by the Smokefree Coalition and Te Reo Marama. At the time of writing the Smokefree Contacts Map database has only 124 subscribers. The Tobacco Control Update subscription list has more than 730 subscribers, so there are plenty of people who should be listing themselves but have not yet done so. The beauty of this list is that it separates services into logical categories and distinguishes between local and nationwide services. In other words anyone wanting to access cessation services in Northland will be able to select from a range of providers close to them. Those who are signed up automatically get sent an email three times a year prompting them to check and update their details. This helps make sure the information in the database stays current. The sign up form is not difficult to complete. The only caution I would make is to be sure you correctly describe the vicinity in which you provide your service. Please only claim to provide a nationwide service if this is what you actually do. So come on and sign up today! You will receive an email in the very near future encouraging you to sign up. If you have already done so, then you don't need to do it again. This year's Tobaccofree/Tupeka Kore Directory has been produced and distributed, though I have been notified of some directories not being received. If you should have received a directory and it has not arrived, please let me know. You will recognise it as being in a distinctive lime green cover. Have a good fortnight. Mark Peck Director IN THIS ISSUE:
SMOKES BANNED: SHOP OWNER REFUSES TO SELL CIGARETTESBy Gwyneth Hyndman
Two months later the last pack is off the shelves and Mrs Clarke says the response in the Waihola community (40 kilometres south of Dunedin) had been '99 percent' positive so far. "I've had the odd person come in and say that we are losing our biggest draw card – but I can pick up that one percent somewhere else." The former Southland school teacher said she had been feeling guilty for selling cigarettes in her shop, which she and her family took over four years ago. The graphic pictures of the physical effects of long-term tobacco smoking on cigarette packets had really got to her. "It worked for me," she said. "These pictures were an eye-opener – and I don't want to be a part of it." The final clincher was a letter from the British American Tobacco Association informing her of yet another penalty charge, Mrs Clarke said. It was the last straw in an onslaught of price increases and penalties the tobacco company had slapped on the shop recently. "I've never felt comfortable with it anyway. But I'm also not prepared to comply with the rules that cafeterias, restaurants and dairies have to comply with. There are penalties if you don't buy enough and penalties if you make a mistake in ordering. Then you figure in charges for cash handling and rural delivery. You lose all the profits (from cigarettes) in the hidden costs. In the third week of May I told the staff that that was it." Public Health South health promotion adviser, Morehu Solomon said the Black Swan Tearooms was the second shop in Otago and Southland to go smokefree in the past eight months, largely because of the 'bullying tactics' imposed by tobacco companies. "It's quite a courageous statement." Mr Solomon said he believed that more small businesses were going to follow their example as profit-draining costs continued to be dished out. "As we head into a mild recession, more people are going to be looking at how they can budget within their income anyway. I think a lot of small businesses will start to say they've had enough." Taieri Herald, 8 July 2008 SMOKING STATUS DEFINITIONS AND INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONSNew Zealand's smoking rates are often compared with those of other places – in particular Australia, the USA, Canada and the UK – usually to 'show' how badly New Zealand is doing. Often these comparisons suffer from the 'apples vs pears' problem. Sharon Ponniah (previously at Public Health Intelligence, now at PHARMAC) has written a very useful technical report on smoking status definitions used in various New Zealand surveys and how they compare with those used in other countries, in order to:
The report is on the Ministry of Health website here. Interestingly, when you compare 'apples with apples' NZ is doing better compared to other countries than some commentators suggest. LITERATURE REVIEW: PERCEPTIONS OF NRT SAFETY AND EFFICACYThe Quit Group recently completed a literature review on the safety and efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to look at any issues hindering its uptake and use. It was primarily conducted with Quitline callers in mind but it was thought the review would be useful for anyone working to help people quit smoking. In the tobacco control community we know NRT is a proven, efficacious and safe aid for smoking cessation, but the public perception is quite different. Poor utilisation rates may result from commonly held misperceptions about the safety and efficacy of nicotine and NRT. We found twenty key themes affecting the public's perception of NRT, with the most common themes being:
It was concluded that the use – or not – of NRT appears to be sourced by negative expectations and safety concerns, which in turn result from knowledge deficits regarding nicotine and NRT products. The review highlights the importance of facilitating correct use of NRT and sharing accurate information. Others in the tobacco control community may find the recommendations useful in their work. The review is available online here (PDF 332Kb). MENTAL HEALTH AND SMOKING CESSATION TRAINING
1-3 September, Cost: $1,650/person
This three-day specialists course will be directed towards smoking cessation in the face of the new changes in mental health regulations. The course will include the basis of smoking, cessation and mental health related issues, but is open to health workers with a clinical practice interest in smoking cessation, nicotine addiction and appropriate evidence based smoking cessation techniques, and specifically:
The course will be led by clinical and research specialists in smoking cessation and mental health, and a University of Sydney certificate is awarded at the end of the course. For further information and enrolments please contact: Smoking Cessation Unit HEALTH PROMOTION FORUM SYMPOSIUM 2008Registrations are now open. Venue: The Rotorua Convention Centre Includes: powhiri followed by complimentary pre-symposium dinner, Sunday, 31 August with Pio Terei as after dinner guest speaker – Ohinemutu, Rotorua This year's symposium will focus on leadership and workforce development in health promotion. The main issues covered on the day are:
Keynote speakers include:
You can find out more about this symposium and register for the workshop at www.hauora.co.nz. Click on the Symposium 2008 page. The page will be updated regularly. Total Cost: $180.00 (includes GST). THROUGH THE SMOKEThe rise and fall of youth cigarette brands
Hypothesis: Cigarette companies do not market or develop brands to initiate youth. Background: Tobacco companies say they don't market cigarettes to induce young people to start smoking. Public health advocates and researchers say they do. Methods: Review industry statements, market research, tracking surveys, as well as examples of cigarette advertising and promotions. Conclusion: Big tobacco lied. The industry's own internal documents reveal undeniable evidence showing a long-term interest in converting young non-smokers into smokers.
Result: A great big, colourful PDF juxtaposing tobacco industry
statements with actual ads and snippets of research, courtesy of Roswell Park
Cancer Institute. SMOKEFREE SHORTS
New ZealandNot the flavour of the month
This is indefensibly targeting kids, and at a time when so much state-funded effort is going into warning them off tobacco. Recent research shows the under-25s have the biggest decrease in smoking from 2002 to 2006. It is estimated that 10,000 dairies, supermarkets and petrol stations sell tobacco products. They are at present allowed to display 100 cigarette packets per cash register and must have a "Smoking kills" sign nearby. The Southland Times, 10 July 2008 Tobacco Control Groups continue to mislead public The NZ Association of Convenience Stores continues to be alarmed by the vitriol of public health and anti smoking lobbyists in their efforts to have tobacco displays banned, extending their efforts to now attacking retailers trying to defend their businesses. "We have seen press releases by the Cancer Society taking comments made by the Association at a presentation before the Health Select Committee completely out of context," said NZACS Chairman Bryce Taylor. NZ Association of Convenience Stores media release, 3 July 2008 Beach pain in the butt Smoking sunbathers left their mark on the Waikato region's beaches with cigarette butts, all 2,414 of them, the most common item of litter in the 500kg of rubbish picked up during a clean-up this year. Waikato Times, 17 July 2008 Samoa plans smoking restrictions Samoa's parliament has considered in detail a new tobacco control law which calls for restrictions on the sale and use of tobacco in public areas. The plan is to restrict smoking in working places, public transport, restaurants, bars and night clubs. Separate outside areas for smokers will be allowed for bars, restaurants, and night clubs. The proposed legislation will impose a ban on the sale of tobacco to people under 21 years of age and prohibit the sale of single cigarette sticks instead of a whole packet. Radio New Zealand International, 16 July 2008 InternationalIran condemns McCain for cigarette joke
McCain, who once sang in jest about bombing Iran, reacted to a report of rising US cigarette exports to the Islamic Republic by saying it may be "a way of killing 'em." Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said, "McCain's crude remark on the indiscriminate killing of the Iranian nation not only testifies to his disturbed state of mind, but also to his warmongering approach to foreign policy." Yahoo News!, 15 July 2008 Second-hand smoke detected in almost half of US non-smokers Signs of second-hand smoke were detected in almost half of non-smoking Americans, highlighting the need to reduce exposure, especially for children, US health officials said. Exposure fell 70 percent from the late 1980s through 2002 as smoking was banned in some public places and indoor work spaces, according to a study released by the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. That wasn't enough to eliminate traces of cotinine, a by-product of nicotine, from the blood of non-smokers, particularly children ages 4 to 11. Bloomberg.com, 10 July 2008 Smoked out: big tobacco's deals in clubland Tobacco companies are pouring millions of dollars into Melbourne's bars and clubs in return for exclusive agreements to stock and promote their cigarettes. Hundreds of licensed venues have been receiving secret commissions of $1 to $3 for each packet of cigarettes sold through vending machines, or up-front payments of up to $100,000 for long-term contracts, a tobacco industry insider has told The Age. The Age, 11 July 2008 Genetic variations put youth at higher risk for lifetime of tobacco addiction Common genetic variations affecting nicotine receptors in the nervous system can significantly increase the chance that European Americans who begin smoking by age 17 will struggle with lifelong nicotine addiction, according to researchers at the University of Utah and their colleagues at University of Wisconsin-Madison. The study, published in the 11 July 2008 issue of PLoS Genetics, highlights the importance of public health efforts to reduce the number of youth who begin smoking. University of Utah media release, 10 July 2008 Smoking is 'good for your memory and concentration'
Experts are developing drugs that copy the active ingredients in tobacco that stimulate the brain without causing heart disease, cancer, stroke or addiction. The move follows the discovery that nicotine can boost the intelligence and recall ability of animals in laboratory experiments. The researchers hope that the new drugs, which will be available in five years, could have fewer side effects than existing medicines for dementia. Mail Online (UK), 14 July 2008 Scientific evidence shows second-hand smoke is no danger Exposure to second-hand smoke is an unpleasant experience for many non-smokers, and for decades was considered a nuisance. But the idea that it might actually cause disease in non-smokers has been around only since the 1970s. Recent surveys show more than 80 percent of Americans now believe second-hand smoke is harmful to non-smokers. Right Side News, 8 July 2008 Dutch cafes use fake cigarette smells to create atmosphere after smoking ban Nasty smells left by sweaty summer beer drinkers have left some Dutch bar owners pining for the aroma of cigarette and cigar smoke two weeks after a smoking ban came into force. Rain Showtechniek, a Dutch company that specialises in lighting, special stage effects and sound systems, has developed a machine that reproduces the traditional smell of bars and cafes. The Telegraph (UK),14 July 2008 Smoking cessation therapies more effective than placebos Six treatments for smoking cessation perform better than placebos, says a team of researchers from McGill University and the University of Montreal. Placebo-controlled randomised controlled trials with 32,000 participants found that branded treatments, nicotine nasal spray, nicotine patches, tablets and gum helped people quit smoking. Science Daily, 16 July 2008 Schwarzenegger: Warn kids about dangers but Hollywood shouldn't snuff out smoking in films
Despite research that shows big-screen scenes of tobacco use can tempt kids to light up, the Republican governor – himself a former movie star – said filmmakers need artistic freedom, particularly in historical settings. He scoffed at the notion that someone would play Winston Churchill, the British wartime leader, without his trademark stogie in hand. International Herald Tribune, 12 July 2008 Smoking ban leads to new religion Cafe owners in the Netherlands are joining religious movement known as the One and Universal Smokers Church of God. "We stand firmly behind the church's teachings and that is smoking," Cor Busch, owner of the former Lindeboom cafe in Alkmaar told the paper. "Smokers are being discriminated against... but a beer and a cigarette belong together." Smoking has been banned in Dutch bars since 1 July 2008. DutchNews.nl, 16 July 2008 Debunking the stop-smoking myths Since 1964, 29 Surgeon Generals have issued reports on the dangers of tobacco use, calling it the single most avoidable cause of disease, disability and death in the United States. Despite these efforts to educate the public, the 2007 Smoker Misperceptions survey reveals there are significant differences between what smokers believe are the risks associated with smoking and the realities of tobacco-related disease and death. Fox News, 16 July 2008 Smoking a tough addiction, teens discover Within months of their first puff, most teen smokers struggle to stop smoking but can't . A University of Montreal study mapping the stepping stones to tobacco addiction shows the process has definite stages and starts even earlier than believed. The Gazette (Canada), 17 July 2008 Niger threatens illegal smokers with jail Smokers in the desert state of Niger who break newly enforced anti-smoking laws by lighting up in public or at work face punishments of up to three months in prison, the Government has said. Reuters, 18 July 2008 Qantas dubbed 'Cancer Kangaroo' Anti-smoking lobby groups have attacked a move by Qantas to resume in-flight cigarette sales as a "greedy cash grab" at the expense of good health. The national airline has reintroduced tobacco sales on board this month, almost 10 years after they were stopped. Otago Daily Times, 16 July 2008 Smoking ban announced for Northern Territory bars
The ban will not include outdoor areas where food and drink is not directly served. The Northern Territory is the last place in Australia to ban smoking in bars. ABC News, 18 July 2008 MILESTONESLook who has had a birthday recently... George Thomson, Yvonne Stirling-Mohi, Mark Peck. And look whose birthday it is today – Penelope Salmond! This is the first time someone has actually had a birthday on date of publication. QUOTABLE QUOTES"Here is another example of a smoking ban: Anti-tobacco activists succeeded in banning smoking from government offices, civic transport, university campuses, rest homes, post offices, many restaurants and bars, hospital grounds and workplaces. Tobacco taxes were raised, unsupervised cigarette vending machines were banned and there were calls for a ban on smoking while driving. It happened in Nazi Germany." Duane Klipping, "Smoking ban is a throwback to Nazis" "There is now a social agenda to choke back, as much as possible, the sale of tobacco. There's an age restriction. Packets have repellent shots of smoking-related disease. Youth-culture figures hammer the desperate unfashionability of smoking in the Not Our Future campaign. It's all warranted, and the progress being made needs to be protected." Editorial, "Not the flavour of the month" |
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Black Swan Tearooms owner Myra Clarke announced to her staff in May that their cigarette-selling days were coming to a close.
Where
possible, links are provided below the stories. Please click these to read the
story in full.
The emergence of tobacco flavouring through liquid drops, cigarette papers and even tobacco in fruity or sweet flavours – products with names like
Tasty Puffs and Joosy Froot – represents a nasty trend that needs to be knocked on the head.
Iran has condemned US Republican presidential candidate John McCain for joking about killing Iranians with cigarettes and said it showed his "warmongering" foreign policy attitude, Iranian media said.
Smoking can help boost memory and concentration, say scientists. The discovery offers hope of a nicotine pill that mimics these effects to treat Alzheimer's disease.
Cigar-loving California
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says children need to be warned often about the health dangers of smoking, but Hollywood shouldn't feel pressured to cleanse cigarettes and cigars from films aimed at youngsters.
The
Northern Territory government has announced its long awaited timeframe for banning smoking inside clubs and pubs, saying new restrictions will come into place from the start of 2010.