Post offices,branches of J-K bank declared smoking free in J-K

Srinagar, May 7 (PTI) Post offices, all the branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank and the campus of Kashmir University have been declared as "smoking free" areas in the state. Chief Post Master General J K John Samuel has declared all the post offices and administrative offices in Jammu and Kashmir Postal Circle as "tobacco-free" today.

Samuel also said that "no-smoking" signages would be displayed at all the post offices, said Aamir Ali, an officer in Divisional Commissioner's officer here today. Ali said chairman Jammu and Kashmir Bank had also issued instructions for prohibiting smoking in all the bank branches as well as at ATM counters. University of Kashmir's Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmad has also declared the university campus a "smoke free" zone, Ali said. Authorities have launched a widespread campaign against smoking at public places and many people have been fined for violating the ban.

St. Lawrence County may start no-smoking policy

The St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators is expected to vote Monday on whether to proceed with a smoking prohibition on its property. "I think we ought to have a policy on no smoking," said Legislator Scott M. Sutherland, R-Pierrepont. "Many see it as a test for personal rights, but it's a huge health concern for our residents. We're not looking for new things to regulate, but smoking is bad for people." The county ranks 58 out of 62 in state health rankings.

It has a tobacco-use rate of 27 percent, compared with the state rate of 19 percent, said Benjamin R. Todd, county tobacco program coordinator. The issue is the county's business because smoking, secondhand smoke and smokeless tobacco, and the diseases associated with them, are a strain on health care and the amount of money the county spends on Medicaid, Mr. Sutherland said. If legislators approve, the county Board of Health would write a law that would prohibit tobacco use on all real property owned or leased by the county. The law then would come back to the Legislature for approval.

 Legislative Chairwoman Sallie A. Brothers, D-Norfolk, said she is not among those supporting the law. "I really have a problem when they say someone can't smoke in their own car. It has to do with my belief in individual rights," she said. "The plan is going to come back to the board. Maybe it'll go through. Maybe it won't." Only five other counties in the state have adopted laws prohibiting smoking on their property, Mrs. Brothers said. Legislator Alex A. MacKinnon, R-Fowler, said he became convinced of the rightness of the prohibition during the debate at a recent committee meeting. "A lot of other places don't allow it on the property," he said.

"Smoking is about the worst thing you can do to yourself. It's something to try to provide discouragement." Inmates at the county jail have not been allowed to smoke since 2001, although the staff has been able to smoke outside on the grounds. How the new policy would be enforced and whether there would be penalties have not been worked out yet. Mrs. Brothers said she did not like the idea of anyone being turned in if they were seen smoking. Mr. MacKinnon said that he did not think enforcement would be a big factor but that a prohibition instead would act more as a way to change attitudes.

End of the road for Camel Marlboro, Benson & Hedges?

The government is mulling curbs on import of cigarettes and a complete ban on foreign participation in wholesale trading in tobacco and cigarettes. The move comes two years after India disallowed foreign direct investment in cigarette manufacturing. The finance ministry has written to the commerce ministry to consider imposing restrictions on cigarette imports in the upcoming foreign trade policy.

 "There is a thinking that FDI should be discontinued in wholesale cash and carry also, and that the government should impose restrictions on imports of cigarettes," a government official privy to the development said. FDI in cigarette manufacturing was banned in 2010, but wholesale cash and carry operations were left open for the investment route. Following the ban, some tobacco companies with FDI set up wholesale cash and carry operations to cater to domestic demand. The proposal to curb imports will benefit domestic cigarette manufacturer ITC, which has a stranglehold on the country's cigarette market. On the other hand, companies that rely on imports for wholesale cash and carry operations, such as Godfrey Phillips, may need to restructure their businesses.

 "The government is introducing a series of policies that are not investor friendly. This is one of them," said KK Modi, chairman of Godfrey Phillips India, which has a joint venture with US tobacco company Philip Morris for wholesale trading of cigarettes including Marlboro. Experts say a complete ban may not be in the offing owing to India's commitments under World Trade Organisation rules. Cigarettes can be imported under the open general licence (OGL) route, the most liberalised form of import licence that does not place any export obligation on the importer. Other forms of licences place restrictions in terms of quantity or exports.

 Ministries including the health, finance and commerce and industry are involved in consultations on the issue in the backdrop of the new foreign trade policy. The Director-General of Foreign Trade had initiated discussions on removing cigarettes from under OGL after the Consortium of Indian farmers Associations demanded a ban on cigarette imports. "Smokers, and those wanting to start smoking, will continue to access cigarettes from different sources," Modi added. The move to ban fresh foreign investment in cigarette manufacturing had come up soon after Japan Tobacco announced its intention to raise stake its Indian arm to 74% from 50%. In the past, British American Tobacco has attempted to raise stake in ITC but failed. BAT is the single-largest shareholder in ITC with about 32% stake.

Cigarette prices to rise again

The price of cigarettes will rise significantly in this month's budget. A series of steep tax excise hikes have been so successful over the past two years in persuading people to give up smoking that the Maori Party is understood to have successfully lobbied the Government for such hikes to continue. Sue Lindsay is one of those enjoying having more dollars in her pocket since she quit smoking. She says she gave up because of the cost and nothing else. “I gave up wholly based on price - the health issue never came into it for me, just the cost increase did it,” says Ms Lindsay.

When the Government slapped a 10 percent excise tax increase on in 2010 - she gave up. “The price of a pack of smokes went up $1.50 and that was it for me,” she says. 3 News can now confirm the Government will bring in new excise tax hikes in the May 24 budget, further pushing up the price of cigarettes. Prime Minister John Key won’t say so publicly yet because it's a budget secret, but isn’t ruling it out. “The Maori Party has lobbied us hard to make further changes and I am not ruling it out,” he says. However 3 News can confirm it's going ahead. Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says they will stop at nothing to eliminate smoking.

“We will do whatever it takes to get a smoke-free Aotearoa,” says Ms Turia. 5.000 people a year die due to smoking related illnesses. The increase in excise tax has seen an increase in the number of people quitting. Over the last two years there have been three 10 percent increases to the price of cigarettes - a pack of 20 now costs more than $14. It's raised almost $200 million for the Government, which now collects more than $1 billion a year in excise tax. Ms Turia says that ultimately she would like to see cigarettes banned altogether.

“I cannot believe we continue to allow a product that kills to be sold here,” she says. So Bill English will hike the cost of a price of cigarettes again on May 24 - and if you're looking for a guide over how much - look at what's already happened. They've risen about $1.50 a year for the past three years, and it's likely the government will follow a similar path this time round.

Middleboro considers tobacco sales ban for pharmacies

Selectmen on Monday reviewed proposed changes in the town’s tobacco regulations that would ban the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and increase fines for tobacco violations. The pharmacies affected would be Rite Aid, CVS and Hannaford’s supermarket, which has a pharmacy. Selectmen voted unanimously to take it under advisement and discuss the changes on May 21 after they contact the three establishments for their input on the proposed ban. The Middleboro Youth Advocates updated the regulations along with Health Officer Jeanne Spalding.

The regulations were last updated in April 2000. Middleboro Youth Advocates representatives Elizabethe Bell and Casey Schnetzer, both Middleboro High School students, made a presentation and argued that the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies should be banned because they are viewed as a health care institution. Judy Coykendall, program manager for the Tobacco-Free Community Partnership out of New Bedford, said 28 communities have voted to ban the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies. Coykendall said retailers have not objected to the ban and, on average, tobacco sales represent one percent of their sales.

The number of adult smokers in Middleboro is 18.6 percent, which is higher than the state average of 14.1 percent. Though cigarette sales are declining, the sale of cigars has increased, according to Coykendall, who was particularly concerned with the sale of flavored cigars geared to youth. Selectman Stephen J. McKinnon said he was concerned the regulation would restrict what vendors can sell in their stores. “It borderlines on constitutional issues,” said McKinnon who preferred to see an increase in sting operations to catch violators who sell cigarettes to minors. “I’m all for it,” said selectmen Vice Chairman Allin Frawley of the change in regulation.

“You buy guns, you go to a gun store,” he said noting tobacco products should not be sold in a health store. Schnetzer said her objective is to keep tobacco products away from youth as statistics show 90 percent of smokers start before the age of 18. The regulations would also ban “roll-your-own” machines that enable someone to roll their own cigarettes, which reduces the cost of a cigarette to 20 cents. Stores that violate tobacco regulations could face the following fines: first offense, $100 fine and seven-day suspension; second offense, $200 fine and up to 15-day suspension; third offense, $300 fine and 30-day suspension.

In other action, selectmen: Voted unanimously to deny an application to Barbara and Ralph Holton owners of the Tispaquin Family Campground, 68 Purchase St., for a family type campground permit.

V2 Cigs Releases Pink Electronic Cigarette Kit for Moms

V2 Cigs has gone pink! The team at V2 Cigs is proud to announce the arrival of their new, limited-edition Starter Kit; designed especially for Mom! The introduction of this Starter Kit is the latest launch in a series of products introduced to the V2 vaping community only a few short weeks ago. Intent on providing the most intuitive, customized experience in the electronic cigarette industry, the V2 Mother's Day Starter Kit is personalized just for Mom and comes in beautiful, limited-edition pink at a low $69.95.

 The most difficult task faced by the team at V2 was deciding which tantalizing flavor to include in these special kits. After months of testing and a few good-spirited debates, the entire staff voted and a unanimous decision was reached. V2 is proud to announce the introduction of a brand new limited edition e-cig flavor: Passion Fruit! This delightful flavor is sure to be Mom's favorite and perfectly complements her pretty, new starter kit, available a la carte until supplies run out.

 The V2 Cigs Mother's Day Starter Kit comes with two V2 Automatic Batteries in Special Edition Pink. These chic, stylish batteries are accompanied by 10 V2 Passion Fruit Flavor Cartridges (strength 0.6% nicotine) and a matching lanyard; all pretty in pink! The kit is also comprised of one wall-adapter and a New V2 Smart Charger; everything Mom needs to start vaping in style! These adorable Mother's Day kits are only up for grabs until supplies run out; so place your order before it's too late!

Eye expert leads calls for blindness warnings on cigarettes

Andrew Lotery, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southampton and consultant ophthalmologist at Southampton General Hospital, also said genetic testing for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – the leading cause of blindness in the western world – could help cut the number of smokers. He spoke out after new research, published in journal Eye, which found less than half of patients in Southampton (47%) were aware of the link between smoking and eye disease, but more than two-thirds (67%) would be likely to or would definitely quit smoking if told they had a high genetic risk of developing AMD.

 Smokers, in addition to being four times more likely to develop the condition compared to past or non-smokers, are further exposed if they have a high genetic risk factor and it is estimated smoking contributes to around 20% of blindness in people over 50. “While people are well aware smoking is a leading cause of cancer, respiratory problems and heart disease, there is little knowledge of its association with AMD and blindness,” says Prof Lotery. “Eye health has long been the victim of apathy within health services across the world and, in turn, this has led to the growth of a culture of neglect among individuals unaware of the consequences of their actions.”

 AMD, which can be either ‘wet’ or ‘dry’, occurs when the cells of the macula become damaged and stop working. Although wet macular degeneration can be stabilised using a new class of drugs called anti-VEGF agents, there is no cure or treatment for dry AMD, the most common form. More than three-quarters (75.5%) of participants said they would consider taking a genetic test for AMD, which affects one in three elderly people by the age of 75, but Prof Lotery said the need for more general guidance is the immediate priority among ophthalmologists.

 “Although our primary aim was to discover whether or not knowledge of genetic risk for AMD could influence the motivation to quit smoking and to begin to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of routine genetic testing, it is clear there is a wider need to alert people of the link between smoking and blindness,” he said. “The immediate priority is to ensure all smokers, regardless of genetic factors, are aware of the dangers and I am calling for serious consideration of warnings on cigarette packets akin to those introduced in Australia in 2006 which led to a doubling of the number of requests to the country’s quitters service within a year.”