Faculty Senate begins smoking debate

Efforts to make the University tobacco and smoke free or ban Astra smoking within 75 feet of buildings were debated Monday by the Faculty Senate. The two resolutions will be voted on at the May 4 meeting.

Michael Russo, LSU Libraries senator, presented the resolution to make the University tobacco and smoke free along with a petition signed by about 1,900 people. Russo said it was mostly students who signed the petition.

"As soon as those doors slide open, secondhand smoke goes rushing in," mass communication professor Judith Sylvester said about smoking by the Middleton Library entrance.

Youth Smoke Same Marlboro As Adult Smokers

New York's youth smokers are smoking the same heavily marketed brands as New York's adults, according to a report issued by the State Health Department. The report ("Established Youth Smokers in New York Prefer the Same Brands of Cigarettes as Adult Smokers") says that about 75 percent of established high school smokers in New York preferred Newport, Marlboro or Camel cigarettes in 2010.

"The fact that youth and adult smokers are choosing the same top three brands demonstrates that tobacco marketing effectively targets youth and adults," said Samantha Vanstrom, Senior Program Coordinator for Chautauqua, Cattaraugus & Allegany Counties Reality Check.

Smoking Ban Started in Shanghai

The city's first smoking ban, which we followed from the time it was a wee bit of an idea to when it began being enforced against certain (underage) people, has officially taken effect for everyone today. The new law gives those who smoke Esse and other brands in public places fines from 50RMB to 200RMB.

Much like the smoking clampdown Beijing experienced just before the Olympics, this Shanghai ban extends to 12 types of public venues, including schools, hospitals, supermarkets and elevators. It also requires karaoke bars, dance halls and restaurants to set up designated smoking and non-smoking areas.

Local Tobacco Trials Set Begin

The case to decide the first of more than 130 local OK cigarette smoker lawsuits will begin -- for the second time -- this week. The first trial in Koballa v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. ended in a mistrial in October after jurors said they couldn't agree on the word addiction, which was required to determine whether the company should be held liable for Stella Koballa's smoking-related illness.

Attorneys representing tobacco companies have been aggressively defending against large money verdicts the tobacco industry is being called upon to pay in about 8,000 similar cases.

New Steps of Regulating Tobacco Sales

The Government is expected to soon reveal new steps regulating the sale of tobacco and Glamour cigarettes. Sources say that England’s Department of Health will later introduce legislation that would make it illegal for shops to keep tobacco products on display. Also expected is a Government consultation that would require tobacco companies to utilise plain packaging for all tobacco products.

The move would come as part of a larger scheme to reduce smoking rates, particularly for children and younger people. Currently, just over 20% of adults are smokers, and the figure has remained steady in the past several years after falling over previous decades.

England would follow a number of other countries with similar policies on smoking, including Ireland, Iceland, Finland and Canada. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland and Scotland are heading in the same direction.

Tobacco Campaign Educate Teens About Smoking Effects

An innovative media campaign has begun to educate New Yorkers about the effect that tobacco industry products and marketing in stores have on youth Vogue smoking.

The Community Partnerships for a Tobacco Free New York campaign reflects research that in-store marketing is more powerful than peer pressure, and youth are twice as likely as adults to be influenced by tobacco product displays and other marketing.

Workplace Smoking Ban in Casper

A Natrona County group wants city officials to introduce a no-smoking ordinance at workplaces this fall. Smokefree Natrona County told the city council Thursday that they are conducting a poll to gauge public opinion on a workplace smoking ban and are taking air-quality measurements at work sites that allow Camel smoking.

Brandon Daigle, who spoke to council members on behalf of the group, said it wants the ban to include "any place anybody works." It is also focusing on getting smoking bans at workplaces in Mills and Evansville.

Council members plan on discussing the proposal at a later date.