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| Issue 148 | 7 July 2010 |
Having trouble viewing this newsletter? Try the online version. From the Director
Click here for a story and video of Philip Morris executives being questioned by the Māori Affairs Select Committee. Shane Bradbrook will continue to lead the advocacy work on the Māori Affairs Select Committee inquiry, as it now enters a new phase where, no doubt, it must shift gears. But sadly, this hearing was Shane's last presentation as Director of Te Reo Marama, so it was fitting he had the final presentation of the day. The Smokefree Coalition had the chance, along with Ministry of Health and the Health Sponsorship Council, to meet Youth Parliament's Health Select Committee holding its inquiry into how to produce a generation of smokefree Kiwis by 2020. It was a golden opportunity to share our Vision for 2020 with New Zealand's future leaders. There was a fantastic turnout this year for the Health Promotion Forum's Annual Symposium. We all had the opportunity to hear Whānau Ora Minister Tariana Turia speak on the theme of Tamariki Ora. There were many other fantastic presenters as well. Copies of the 2010/2011 Smokefree Directory were sent out last week to all the regional offices of Smokefree Coalition members, PHOs and DHBs nationwide, Smokefree Coordinators, and relevant government ministries. To conserve paper, a limited run is published for this mail out while an online version is available to download from the Smokefree Coalition website. The online edition is updated monthly. Take care, Prudence Stone, Director, IN THIS ISSUE:
Lung cancer causes most cancer deaths
Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "In 2007, the year for which figures are available, more than 1500 people died of lung cancer, over 80 percent as a result of smoking. "And we know the death toll from smoking is much higher than just lung cancer as smoking also causes death from heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and other cancers. There are also a number of deaths each year from second-hand smoking." There are approximately 650,000 adults who still smoke in New Zealand – though many do so because they are addicted and unable to give up. We know that around two in every three smokers would not smoke if they had their life again and most want to give up. The government's announcement in April of a significant increase in the price of tobacco is estimated to prevent 300 deaths per year from smoking in 2021 and prevent an estimated 500 deaths per year by 2031. There is good support available for people wanting to quit smoking through Quitline (0800 778 778) which provides advice, counselling and access to nicotine replacement therapy. Breast cancer and bowel cancer are the next most common causes of cancer death in New Zealand. New Zealand has a well established breast cancer screening programme and the Government announced in May a four year pilot bowel cancer screening programme which is expected to begin next year. Background
New Zealand Government media release 1 July 2010 NZMA supports smokefree prisons
"This will have a positive effect on the health of prison staff and prisoners. We commend the government for this positive initiative," says NZMA Acting Chair Dr Paul Ockelford. The Smokefree Coalition, of which the NZMA is a member, supports the vision of a smokefree New Zealand by 2020. "Extending smokefree environments, such as in prisons, is an important aspect of achieving this vision. "New Zealand has long been at the forefront of smokefree legislation and we encourage the Government to continue implementing smokefree policies that will reduce smoking related illnesses, whether from smoking or being exposed to second-hand smoke," says Dr Ockelford. A comprehensive smoking cessation programme to assist those in prison to quit smoking, including the provision of nicotine replacement therapy, will be essential. New Zealand Medical Association media release, 28 June 2010 High and increased support by smokers for point-of-sale tobacco displays ban
Considerations around advancing tobacco control are particularly relevant to New Zealand at present, given the current inquiry by the Māori Affairs Select Committee into the tobacco industry and the consequences of tobacco use for Māori. While there are good arguments for a rapid endgame solution to the tobacco epidemic (involving a phase out of tobacco sales over 10 years) other supplementary measures should also be considered to help lower demand for tobacco – regardless of the adoption of endgame policies. There is international evidence, and evidence from New Zealand, that point-of-sale tobacco displays encourage tobacco uptake among children and undermine cessation among smokers wishing to quit and who have recently quit. Other New Zealand research has identified that the arguments for tobacco displays are contradictory and flawed and that there is poor compliance with the current (albeit relatively weak) law on tobacco displays. New Zealand data indicate majority public support for additional marketing restrictions on tobacco. Around half (53.4 percent) of respondents to a national survey agreed that "tobacco companies should not be allowed to promote cigarettes by having different brand names and packaging" (22.6 percent disagreed), and 65.6 percent wanted fewer tobacco retailers. We have previously reported that a majority (62.5 percent) of Māori smokers support a ban on point-of-sale tobacco displays. Here we draw on additional survey data to examine this issue further. Read the full New Zealand Medical Journal article. Young Māori smokers paying price for tobacco industry greed
Addressing the Māori Affairs Select Committee inquiry into the tobacco industry, NZAAHD pushed for tighter restrictions on tobacco retailers and continued price hikes to put cigarettes out of the reach of young people. Maddy Drew of NZAAHD says Māori smokers often become addicted at a young age. "The tobacco industry argues that smoking is an adult choice − but this is false. By the time young Māori reach adulthood, they are often already addicted and continue to smoke throughout their lifetime. Collectively, they pay millions of dollars to the tobacco industry, while their health suffers significantly." Recent surveys have shown that almost a quarter of 14 to 15 year old Māori girls smoke, compared to 8 percent of all female smokers of the same age. For boys, 13 percent aged 14 to 15 years smoke, compared to 6 percent of all boys. Smoking is also a particular problem for Māori girls aged 15 to 19. Thirty-nine percent of Māori girls are smokers, compared with 18 percent of non-Māori girls. Maddy Drew says young Māori are particularly vulnerable to the influences that lead to smoking. "The median age for starting smoking is 14 years, but for Māori this drops significantly to 11.6 years. As young smokers find it harder to quit as adults, and maintain higher levels of tobacco intake, this is a huge threat to the survival of Māori culture." The influence of family members who smoke has been shown to have an impact on the uptake of smoking amongst young people. Ninety-three percent of Māori smokers aged 15 to 19 years have reported that at least one of their family members smoke, compared to 75 percent of non-Māori smokers of the same age. She says the impact of smoking on Māori communities cannot be underestimated. "Around 22 percent of Māori deaths are attributable to smoking. The loss of leadership and knowledge of older generations will have enormous effect on rangatahi Māori and their connection to tikanga and understanding of their kaupapa. "We need to act now to protect our current and future generations from the tobacco industry's greed. The industry has no incentive to support smoking reduction efforts among Māori − it needs to retain existing Māori smokers, and is likely to be targeting young Māori to recruit new smokers in the future." NZAAHD also called for revenue from tax increases to be used for Māori cessation services and promotion of an Auahi Kore tobacco-free lifestyle. New Zealand Aotearoa Adolescent Health and Development media release, 30 June 2010 Nurses keen to help smokers quit
The proposal was put to the Māori Affairs Select Committee by Smokefree Nurses Aotearoa/New Zealand (SNANZ). The Committee is inquiring into the tobacco industry and consequences of tobacco use for Māori. SNANZ Director Grace Wong told the Select Committee it would make sound economic sense for New Zealand's over 40,000-strong nursing workforce to be used to help people give up smoking. "We believe the strength of the nursing workforce lies in our almost untapped potential to support cessation for the 600,000 New Zealanders who smoke." She says nurses are best placed to do this because they are already working in many environments where they meet people who smoke. "The nursing workforce is the largest health workforce in New Zealand. There is approximately one actively working nurse for every 14 smokers; nurses work with sick and healthy people; nurses work in homes, schools, prisons, workplaces, marae, community clinics, GP surgeries and hospitals and are trusted by the public." In an initiative believed to be a world-first, New Zealand already offers nurses training through the Ministry of Health to enable them to deliver brief smoking cessation treatment and help any patients access a free course of nicotine replacement therapy. Wong says they want to extend this so all nursing schools include the Ministry of Health's ABC smoking cessation programme in their training and nurses get more support and resources to become effective frontline catalysts for change. "We know nurses are very keen to do this work but they lack the time and support in the workplace. We're also keen to up-skill them, not only to deliver 30-second cessation advice, but to support smokers on their quitting journey and re-motivate smokers who relapse." SNANZ believes Māori nurses are particularly well placed to be smokefree role models and leaders within their own communities, where smoking is a particular problem, but Wong says many of them smoke themselves. There are around 3000 Māori nurses and it is estimated that 31 percent smoke. "This not only impacts on the lives and aspirations of individuals, it's a major barrier to enlisting the largest Māori health workforce to capitalise on their many opportunities to help patients and whanau to stop smoking. Unsurprisingly those who smoke find it hard to advise patients who smoke to quit." As a priority SNANZ told the Select Committee it wants targeted national programmes to help health professionals who smoke, to quit. It also wants nurses to be given more time and workplace support to deliver smoking cessation programmes. "We believe the flow on effect of fully involving nurses in cessation on the number of people who smoke will be significant." Smokefree Nurses Aotearoa/New Zealand media release, 23 June 2010 Smokefree Nurses Aotearoa – website launchSmokefree Nurses Aotearoa/New Zealand invites everyone to enjoy its new website. As well as information and anecdotes from nurses it contains an annotated bibliography of tobacco control and smoking cessation research, albeit somewhat nursing focused! Contributions relevant to nurses and comments about the website are welcome. Please share the link with others, especially any nurses you know: www.smokefreenurses.org.nz. Grace Wong Illicit Tobacco Trade: Monitoring and Mitigating Risk in New Zealand
Illicit trade of tobacco includes both tobacco smuggling (products illegally traded across borders) and illicit tobacco manufacturing (illegally manufactured products). Tobacco use is the single biggest cause of preventable death in New Zealand. This report by ASH and others explores the level of illicit trade in New Zealand, and options to control its growth alongside strong, effective regulation of smoked tobacco in New Zealand. It is based on information provided in reports, journals, interviews and personal communication with New Zealand Customs staff and health advocates and researchers with experience in illicit trade. ASH says support for prisoners to quit smoking needed
ASH is urging support for prisoners to quit smoking, including them having access to a full range of smoking cessation nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) so smokers do not have to quit cold turkey. At the moment prisoners are offered the standard eight-week course of NRT patches. ASH director Ben Youdan would like to see levels of support "beefed up" given that the prison population smoking rate is estimated at over 65 percent compared to the general population's smoking rate of around 21 percent. "Second-hand smoke is a danger for both the workplace and in home-like environments. The Department of Corrections has 12 months to plan on how to offer smoking cessation support. "This move is consistent with what is happening in other countries, including Australia and the UK. It is also consistent with all other workplaces that are required to be smokefree and also with other state run institutions, including mental health facilities. "It is important for prisoners to have access to trained smoking cessation providers and NRT including patches and lozenges to help manage withdrawal symptoms," said Mr Youdan. ASH media release, 28 June 2010 Tobacco-free Aotearoa Conference in November
If you are working in cessation, research, health promotion, policy or other areas of tobacco control – this is the place to be! An inspiring series of keynote sessions, workshops and presentations will offer delegates the chance improve their knowledge, skills and networks. The call for abstracts is now open, and abstracts should be submitted for consideration no later than 20 August. Early-bird registration closes 30 September. For more details see: www.smokefree.org.nz/conference2010. Smokefree Pasifika Action Network – network meetingKia ora, Talofa lava, Kia orana, Taloha ni, Malo e lelei, Fakalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka and Pacific greetings to you all. The Smokefree Pasifika Action Network (SPAN) would like to invite you to our SPAN networking meeting. 13 July, 10am-12pm A light lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by 7 July (for catering purposes) to Chrissie at ASH on 09 520 4866 or curlich@ash.org.nz; or to Josephine on 027 695 1668 or smokefree.pasifika@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there! Pacific Heartbeat smoking cessation training
Cessation training for health workers – one day theory plus one day follow up support. The training is based on the Revised New Zealand Smoking Cessation Guidelines 2007. Training focus:
Training and follow up support can also be tailored and conducted on site for groups of 4-24 participants, at a time and date to suit the organisation. Contact one of our northern trainers to discuss options: Heber Fruean Kelly Ronayne Auckland training dates 9 July, 30 July, 24 August, 17 September, 30 September. Certificate of Achievement in Introducing Health Promotion
If you say yes to any one of the above then this learning opportunity is for YOU. The Certificate of Achievement in Introducing Health Promotion (The Short Course) Part-time study, two blocks of four days each. Purpose: Students will be introduced to the principles, concepts and practice of health promotion. Tobacco Control: principles and practice
This course will introduce students to theory and research developed within public health and epidemiological contexts that are related to reducing the harm from tobacco smoking. Students will review major theoretical issues and will consider current trends and future challenges to tobacco control. Topics covered will relate to four main themes:
Overall aims
Taught over four block days: Thursday 12th August 9am-5pm The 15-point course can be taken for a Certificate of Proficiency or as part of a qualification (e.g. Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health). You must enrol by 6 July 2010. Guest lecturers include:
For more information: Course Coordinator Dr Marewa Glover: m.glover@auckland.ac.nz. Enrolment Queries: Kashmira Irani, 09 923 6549 k.irani@auckland.ac.nz. PHA Conference Early-bird registrations extended During 22-24 September 2010, the Public Health Association is holding its annual conference at historic Turangawaewae Marae, a rare privilege. The theme of the conference is 'Tomorrow for tomorrow's people' – a celebration of what is happening in public health today – research, advocacy and community projects – that will enhance the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders into the future. There is a broad mix of sessions, many celebrating flaxroots projects such as internet smoking cessation in the Bay of Plenty, a decade of walking school buses in Auckland and the story of Marfell in New Plymouth leading its own urban renewal. See the full programme at Our keynote speakers hail from as far away as Atlanta, Georgia to as near as Turangawaewae Marae! Together they represent the depth and breadth of what public health is about in the 21st century. See them at: http://nzphaconference.info/assets/2pdfsamPHA-Registration-Brochure.pdf. Visit http://nzphaconference.info/registration. If you are not a member of the PHA, you can save even more by joining up! Go to www.pha.org.nz/membership.html. Recent researchClick the links below each piece for more information. Smoking cessation education increases interventions in a New Zealand hospital: World No Tobacco Day revisitedStephen Vega, Iwona Stolarek Aim: To review the impact of educational and other measures on smoking cessation interventions delivered in a New Zealand hospital setting. Methods: The usage of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for inpatients was assessed by data gathered from the hospital pharmacy for a period before and after these educational measures. Results: Quarterly teaching sessions for house surgeons, monthly Effective Brief Intervention sessions for clinical staff and quarterly respiratory nurse training were delivered based on The New Zealand Guidelines for Smoking Cessation. In addition the Hutt Valley District Health Board (HVDHB) Smokefree Policy was revised from a business model to a treatment model. Over the 18 months after the educational initiatives were commenced the numbers of NRT units used in Hutt Hospital rose from a baseline of 768 to 3712 – a fourfold increase. Conclusion: The increase in NRT usage could be attributed to educative measures put in place. There is an opportunity for similar smoking cessation interventions to exist New Zealand wide; this could have a significant impact on reducing chronic disease. http://www.sfc.org.nz/documents/100709NZMJOriginalArticle.pdf Smoking motives in movies important for understanding adolescent smokingThis laboratory study examined whether exposure to movie smoking that is portrayed as having a clear motive is associated with the desire to smoke differently than smoking that is portrayed as having no clear motive. http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/ntq099 Tobacco harm to the developing childOne out of two smokers will die from a tobacco-related illnesses and children are their "replacement smokers". Tobacco companies rely on children taking up smoking to stay in business. www.metapress.com/content/43657v73n0j04ux5/fulltext.html Family structure, family processes, and adolescent smoking and drinkingThis study examined whether family structure was associated with adolescent risk behaviours, including smoking and drinking. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123314984/abstract The relationship between workplace, job stress and nurses' tobacco useThe aim of this study was to provide a summary of the existing published knowledge on the possible relationship between the workplace as a stressor factor and nurses' tobacco use. www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/7/5/2362/ School-level substance use: effects on early adolescents' alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana useThis study examined school-wide levels of alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use in relation to early adolescents' substance use and the role of peer deviance and parenting practices as modifiers of school-level effects. Efficacy of virtual reality in triggering the craving to smokeThe main objective of this study was to assess the capacity of eight environments to produce the craving to smoke and determine the relation of craving to nicotine dependence and level of presence. http://booksonline.iospress.nl/Content/View.aspx?piid=16751 SMOKEFREE SHORTS
New ZealandPrisons to become smokefree from next year
Corrections Minister Judith Collins has announced that a 12-month preparation plan will be rolled out that should see all prisons go smokefree by July next year. Department of Corrections bosses found taxpayers could be liable for lawsuits from prison guards exposed to inmates' second-hand smoke. New Zealand Herald, 27 June 2010 Big bill to help inmates kick smoking A Quitline service to help an estimated 5800 prisoners stop smoking is expected to cost the taxpayer at least $13 million. But supporters of the scheme say it will save the country $116 million in health costs. Dominion Post, 30 June 2010 'Bash' threats over prison smoking ban Prison guards have been threatened with "the bash" when the ban on inmates smoking takes effect in a year, says the guards' union. President Beven Hanlon says the ban will put guards and staff, such as tutors who remain smokers, in danger from prisoners. New Zealand Herald, 29 June 2010 Ban would improve prison safety – guard
The government announced this week that cigarettes would be banned from prisons in 12 months, sparking warnings that guards could face violence from angry inmates. But one prison guard, who called into nzherald.co.nz on condition of anonymity, said "the bash" was just a routine threat used by inmates to get what they wanted. New Zealand Herald, 2 July 2010 Extend smoking ban to prison staff – Māori Party Corrections Department Chief Executive Barry Matthews says while prison staff will be encouraged to give up smoking as well, they will be able to smoke in designated areas away from prisoners. But Māori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says if the reason for the ban is the health and wellbeing of everyone in prisons, then it should apply to to everybody on prison grounds – prison staff as well as inmates. Radio New Zealand, 29 June 2010 Plain packs for cigarettes turn off teens Wiping virtually all branding off cigarette and tobacco packets could prove crucial in turning teenagers off smoking, a New Zealand study indicates. New Zealand Herald, 24 June 2010 What have they been smoking?
Speaking in New Zealand Dr Wigand discussed nicotine manipulation and the little-known discovery that cigarette companies add an ingredient common in floor and toilet bowl cleaners, ammonia, to cigarettes to get more nicotine to the smoker's brain faster after lighting up. Center for Media and Democracy, 22 June 2010 Smokers keen to quit after price increase Higher costs have given southerners one less reason to smoke with waiting lists now being reported at quit centres. Smoking cessation counsellors in the region say the increased excise tax on tobacco, announced by the government in April, has resulted in more people wanting to quit smoking. An extra dollar was added to the price of cigarettes immediately. Southland Times, 30 June 2010 InternationalCigarette tax increased to keep state running
The new law, part of an emergency budget measure to keep the government running, adds another $1.60 in state taxes to every cigarette pack sold starting on 1 July, pushing the average price of a pack to about $9.20. The average price in New York City, which imposes its own cigarette taxes, will be even higher, nearly $11 a pack. New York Times, 21 June 2010 Test all pregnant women for smoking, says NICE All pregnant women should be breath tested to determine if they smoke, or if they are exposed to second-hand smoke, so the NHS can intervene and help them quit, the [UK] government's public health watchdog has said. The Telegraph, 24 June 2010 Filipino muslims forbidden to smoke, trade cigarettes A religious ruling or fatwa has been issued by the Supreme Council of Darul Ifta of the Philippines stating that smoking cigarettes is "haram" or forbidden. Muslims are thus not allowed to manufacture, buy, sell, trade or promote tobacco since doing so is "aiding someone in committing a sin." ABS CBN News, 24 June 2010 Mum of toddler smoker in Indonesia seeks help
"He's crying because he wants a cigarette," said Diana, his mother, who like many Indonesians goes by only one name. We caught up with Aldi, who is nearly twice the weight of other babies his age (20 kilograms or 44 pounds), and his mother at Jakarta's airport. Video of him plopped on a brightly-coloured toy truck inhaling deeply and happily blowing smoke rings had circulated on the Internet last week, turning him into a local celebrity. Story includes video. CNN, 31 May 2010 Smoking rate declines in Beijing's urban population The smoking rate of Beijing urban residents has decreased slightly according to a survey of carried out in 2009 and presented at the World Congress of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in Beijing, China. Medical News Today, 23 June 2010 Smokefree tobacco products still risky The Springfield (Massachusetts) Tobacco-free Community Partnership says teen smoking is down, but kids are finding new ways to get nicotine. Programme Director Sara Moriarty also that because of the higher nicotine content in these products, it is easier for children to use too much, and get nicotine poisoning. Story includes video. 22 News, 20 June 2010 Tough anti-smoking legislation gets unanimous support in Spanish parliament
The Partido Popular, however, criticised the proposals for lacking ambition in the protection of health. The current draft of the legislation would clear smoke out of all bars, restaurants and leisure facilities, but would allow smoking in stadiums, bullrings and on terraces. Typically Spanish, 23 June 2010 Imperial Tobacco in legal action to stop Scots banning shop cigarette displays Imperial Tobacco is taking legal action to overturn plans to stop the open display of cigarettes and cigars in shops and to ban cigarette vending machines in Scotland. The company claims that the Scottish parliament, which approved the measures earlier this year, does not have the legislative competence to prohibit tobacco displays and cigarette vending machines. The Guardian, 24 June 2010 'No plans' for smoking ban review The English government has dropped a planned smoking ban review. The previous Labour administration had promised it would be looked at again in autumn 2010, but the Coalition government says it has "no plans" to do so. BBC News, 1 July 2010 Japan's first smokefree beach
The prefectural ordinance bans smoking on beaches except for special smoking areas but carries no penalty. The roughly 600-meter-long sand beach has five roofed smoking areas and operators of seasonal seaside houses will patrol voluntarily to ask smokers to use them, one of them said. A similar ordinance is in place in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, but Kanagawa was the first prefecture to enact such a rule in May. Japan Times, 26 June 2010 Most taxis in Osaka Prefecture to ban smoking Smoking will not be permitted in more than 90 percent of taxis in Osaka Prefecture starting 1 July, Japan's Transport Ministry's Kinki Transport Bureau and Osaka Taxi Association have announced. Taxis belonging to the Association, as well as individually owned taxis, together amounting to more than 20,000, will participate in the ban. Japan Times, 1 July 2010 Egypt fights smoking with new tobacco tax Egyptian smokers have seen prices surge by as much as 100 percent as the government slapped new taxes on tobacco products in a bid to curb smoking and raise money for public health programmes in the Arab world's most populous nation. Associated Press, 2 July 2010 QUOTABLE QUOTES"Obviously any loss, any illness is upsetting, and I, like most people, well I lost two grandparents to smoking related illness." Martin Inkster, General Manager of Philip Morris International responsible for New Zealand, responds to a question from the Māori Affairs Select Committee's Hone Harawira on whether he accepts responsibility for tobacco deaths. He went on to say he didn't smoke "because it's harmful and I don't like it." New Zealand Herald, 30 June 2010
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Last week the Māori
Affairs Select Committee completed the hearings phase of its
inquiry into tobacco industry marketing and promotion and the consequences of tobacco use for Māori. Hone Harawira invited two youth from NZAAHD's hearing to sit beside him at the Select Committee table for the rest of the hearings. Ending the session was Te Reo Marama, with Shane Bradbrook challenging the
Select Committee on its commitment to bring about change for future generations of New Zealand.
Lung cancer accounts for the most deaths from cancer according to figures released by the Ministry of Health.
The
government's announcement to make all New Zealand prisons smokefree by July next year is strongly supported by the New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA).
New Zealand Aotearoa Adolescent Health and Development (NZAAHD) is calling for stiffer measures to be placed on the tobacco industry, to help reduce the high number of young Māori smokers.
Just as New Zealand was among world leaders with its smokefree legislation, it's now being encouraged to be the first country with an entire nursing workforce dedicated to stubbing out cigarettes.
Implementing measures to reduce tobacco
use have raised some queries about illicit trade. Indeed the tobacco industry plays on fears about illicit trade in an effort to stall the introduction of effective tobacco control measures.
The
Tobacco-free Aotearoa Conference 2010 website is now up and running. The theme
of the two-day conference is 'Achieving the Vision Together', focusing on the concept of Kotahitanga (oneness or unity). The conference will be held in Auckland
on 4 and 5 November.
There are still places available for the Whanganui short course!
There's still time to make use of early-bird registration rates for 2010's premier public health event! The deadline has been extended until Friday 16 July. Imagine what you could do with the $70 you'll save!
Where
possible, links to full articles are provided below each story.
Smoking will be banned in all prisons from next year, the Herald on Sunday has learned.
The safety benefits from banning lighters in prisons would far outweigh "empty" threats of violence from inmates angry at the government's planned smoking ban, a prison guard says.
Jeffrey Wigand became one of the most famous whistleblowers of all time after he revealed the tobacco industry's darkest secrets starting in 1994. He is the former Brown & Williamson Vice President and scientist portrayed by Russell Crowe in the 1999 movie The Insider.
New Yorkers who like to smoke will have to dig a little deeper to light up next month, after the Legislature passed a bill that will give the state the highest cigarette taxes in the
US. 
Two-year-old Aldi yanked on his mother's hair and squirmed in her arms. Tears formed a small pool in the folds of his double chin.
The
new legislation to ban smoking in all closed public spaces in Spain has taken its first step in parliament where there was unanimity in support for the proposal.
The beach at Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, opened its bathing season recently with a basic smoking ban in place.