Pub to move smoking area after complaint

A LANDLORD has been ordered to move a smoking area following complaints from a neighbour.

Karl Chapman, of Navigation Yard, Chelmsford, brought a licence review of the Two Brewers, in Springfield Road, to Chelmsford Council’s licensing and regulatory committee.

The commercial pilot for an international airline, who has lived in his flat for three-and-a-half years, said loud music comes from parties in the pub’s function room, noise from customers using the smoking area under his bedroom window prevents him from sleeping before midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings and loud and foul language from people using the outside area can be heard throughout his flat.

A condition of the existing licence states the playing of amplified sound in the function room and pub is only allowed if the sound is not clearly audible at the boundary of any residential premises, so as to be a nuisance.

Although Mr Chapman made calls to the out-of-hours environmental health officer on several occasions, he only received one visit, on August 13.

The officer agreed the noise would make it difficult to sleep, but no evidence of noise levels were presented.

Michael Collins has been landlord for two years. He said Mr Chapman never approached him about the problems.

Mr Collins said: “If that neighbour had come in to see me we could have talked about it. We’ve had no other complaints.”

“I’m a very reasonable person. I don’t like noise myself and I certainly wouldn’t allow that language.”

Mr Collins offered to move the smoking area if it would help, saying it was “not desirable, but possible”.

Mike Harris, chairman of the committee, said “conflicting evidence” on both sides made the committee’s task difficult, but he ruled the smoking area should be moved by November 30.

He also said ground surrounding the existing smoking area must only be used as a car park and customers should be discouraged from using it as a drinking area.

After the hearing Mr Collins said he was considering his options, including an appeal against the decision.

VCig Support The Rise Of The Electronic Cigarette

Thinking about investing in an electronic cigarette? Plenty of people are in the same position but unsure of where to turn. Those who are intrigued by the latest smoking revolution but in need of an extra helping hand can now head over to VCig’s online shop and take a look at their diverse range of smokeless cigarette products and electric cigarette accessories. Launched on 29th September, this brand new site caters for all smokers looking to make that all-important lifestyle change, even those with a heavy habit.

Much has to be said about the benefits of from switching to smoke-free cigarettes. Vapers (a common name for electric cigarette users) have reported that they feel fitter within just a few days, lose that unpleasant smoky smell from their clothes and their home straightaway, and save a hefty sum of money every year just by opting for e-cigs instead of tobacco products. The main advantage behind the e-cig is the fact that it doesn’t contain any tar, ash or carcinogenic chemicals, allowing users to enjoy the physical act of smoking without the guilt that can accompany the habit. And, if the aim is to quit smoking completely, customers can gradually lower the level of nicotine within the specially-designed cartomizers and let their body adjust to inhaling less of the drug.

But the question on everyone’s lips is this: what makes VCig different to the hundreds of electronic cigarette retailers advertising their services on the web? Well, the team behind the organisation believe that they’re the freshest, friendliest e-cigarette company in the UK, and are dedicated to bringing curious consumers the best electronic cigarettes at truly exceptional prices. Ben Austin, Managing Director, is passionate about bringing smokers a great alternative to traditional cigarettes:

“I set up VCig because, being an ex-smoker myself, I wanted to offer smokers in the UK a quality electronic cigarette that can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime. I know first-hand how difficult it can be to quit. After trying everything on the market I finally bought myself an e-cig and haven’t turned to real cigarettes since. No other product gives you such an authentic smoking experience”.

After testing out the brand new website, customers have reported that it’s incredibly easy to browse the extensive catalogue, which offers e-cigarette starter kits, refill packs and even disposables. At first glance, the site looks fantastic, but once customers delve a little deeper into its functionality it’s clear that it’s been built with inexperienced vapers in mind, guiding first-time customers through the process and providing them with all the information they need to make the right decision.

VCig retails e-cigarette kits that offer varying vapour flavours and even offer disposable electronic cigarettes for lighter smokers (or individuals looking to give the product a try but restrained by a tight budget!) And, to encourage new vapers to give the electronic cigarette a go, VCig are currently offering fantastic online discounts. Customers can simply make their selection, head to the checkout page and enter ‘PRESS09’ into the promotions box to receive an impressive 10% off their entire order. VCig are also able to pack and post products for free if an individual order comes to more than £50.

Alongside the website, the company also runs a Twitter account (vciguk), which announces all of the latest news about the company and the electronic cigarette industry as a whole. You can also head on over to Facebook and ‘Like’ the fan page for exclusive discounts and competitions. VCig is committed to providing a community where vapers can share their feedback and e-cig success stories, too – great for first-time buyers who need a little bit of inspiration and motivation.

Cancerous radioactive particles in cigarette tobacco

Tobacco has been in use since ancient times in different forms. Smoking of tobacco has and is always a topic of debate owing to ills effects and systemic problems. It is known that even second hand smoke is not good for your health and can even lead to genetic abnormalities. It was compelling to read reports about tobacco leaves that can contain radioactive material. This radioactive material can lead to increase in cancer among people consuming this tobacco.
What do reports reveal about radioactive material in tobacco leaves?
The tobacco leaves used in making cigarettes contain radioactive material, particularly lead-210 and polonium-210. The radionuclide content of tobacco leaves depends heavily on soil conditions and fertilizer use. Soils that contain elevated radium, lead to high radon gas emanations, affecting the surrounding tobacco crop. Radon rapidly decays into a series of solid, highly radioactive metals (radon decay products). These metals cling to dust particles, which in turn are collected by the sticky tobacco leaves. The sticky compound that seeps from the trichomes is not water soluble, so the particles do not wash off in the rain.
The major source of the polonium is phosphate fertilizer,which is used in tobacco crop. The trichomes of the leaves concentrate the polonium when tobacco is dried and processed.

Illegal Cigarette Trafficking Ring Busted in Georgia

But he says the case culminating with raids Wednesday and fifty arrest warrants was not about the stupid or unlucky. But the greed and the green, and not paying cigarette taxes.
"Some of these people that were suspicious of us, greed always won out in the end. The people that kept coming back, greed is the reason why they did so," said Brewer.

Cigarettes and cigars in a warehouse were props for undercover deals. Near the end of roughly four years he spent undercover in an underground economy.

Playing a criminal making cigarettes and cigars with fake tax stamps or none at all available to wholesalers and retailers across Metro Atlanta and beyond.

Brewer says Wednesday an undercover partner counted more than a million dollars from six undercover deals in the warehouse.

Defense lawyer Manny Arora says he represents four arrested retailers and Howard Manchel represents one; they say their clients are not guilty.

"If you can tell a fake tax stamp from a real tax stamp you're quite an expert," said Arona. "They're convenience store operators and they're out there and they re doing their best to supply what their customers need," added Manchel.

A state department of revenue official says counterfeit Newport cigarettes suspected of coming from China.

Brewer says many of the black market cigarettes in Metro Atlanta these days are illegal Chinese counterfeits; which may carry health risks beyond even the known deadly dangers of smoking.


Visit also other tobacco blogs:
http://allcigarettes.vacau.com
http://www.onotole.byethost11.com/
http://www.onotole.0fees.net/

Price of cigarettes to go up by nearly 8 per cent

If there are any people left out there who still smoke, life hereabouts will be becoming a shade more expensive.
The Finnish government is proposing to Parliament a ten per cent increase to the tax on all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, small cigars, and pipe and cigarette tobacco.
The tax on the finely-cut tobacco that is used to roll cigarettes would go up by no less than 25 per cent. Previously a 15-per-cent tax increase was planned for the roll-your-own-cigarette tobacco.

On average, the price of cigarettes is expected to rise by 7.8 per cent and price of roll-up tobacco by 18.7 per cent. The aim of the tax increase is to put an additional EUR 53 million into the government’s purse.
The government has also approved a bill, according to which all supplies displaying tobacco brand labels are to be kept out of sight in shops and kiosks.
The display ban aims to prevent the tobacco industry from dodging the law by capitalising on its trademarks for example in the sales of rolling paper or cigarette boxes.

Lawmakers Propose Bill to Stop Smuggled Tobacco Trade

Three Democrat lawmakers are banding together to bring an end to smuggled tobacco. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) introduced the Smuggled Tobacco Prevention (STOP) Act.

The legislation would collect hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, decrease the consumption of tobacco, and combat criminals and terrorists who profit from the illegal trade of tobacco.

Under the STOP Act, packages of tobacco products would be required to be uniquely marked to help law enforcement efforts to track and trace tax payments on tobacco products. It would also ban the sale, lease and importation of tobacco product manufacturing equipment to unlicensed people.

Furthermore, the bill would prevent the illegal re-entry of tobacco products intended for export by requiring export warehouse proprietors to file reports with the Treasury Department. It also would increase penalties for violating the law and establish new offenses, according to a release posted on Lautenberg's website.

"Black market cigarettes are robbing our coffers of a critical revenue source that we need to pay for vital domestic programs like health insurance for children," Lautenberg said. "By stopping the sale of illegal cigarettes at below-market prices, we can reduce smoking and fight tobacco-related diseases."

Read about Japan Tobacco, news and articles.

Added Durbin, "This bill will help us crack down on tobacco smuggling and keep black market cigarettes out of the hands of kids. At the same time, we'll help the federal government and states collect the taxes they're owed on these products, so they have the resources necessary to continue much needed tobacco prevention and other health programs. I hope we're able to quickly move this bill to the floor."

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that tobacco smuggling in the country costs federal and state governments at least $5 billion in lost revenue annually. "Tobacco products are the single largest, illegally trafficked, legal product on the planet. But current federal laws to stop smugglers are outdated and fail to give law enforcement officials the tools they need to enforce the law," Doggett said. "Snuffing out smuggled tobacco, whether sold here or shipped across our borders, can cut crime, raise revenue and boost health."

The unique, high-tech identification mark that the proposed legislation would require is similar to one California is already using, according to the lawmakers. In California -- the first state to implement such a system -- cigarette tax revenues have increased by an estimated $152 million per year. This requirement, along with increased permit and record-keeping requirements throughout the supply chain, will enable enforcement officials to distinguish real tax markings from counterfeits; identify who applied the marking and initially sold and purchased the product; and obtain other information useful for tracking, tracing and enforcement purposes.

United States Attempting To Ban The E Cigarette

The E cigarette offers an alternative that claims to be safe and comes with none of the same health risks to the smoker or those around them.

But the United States government feels that such claims cannot be substantiated and as a result they feel action needs to be taken to ban it from the country.

The F.D.A and what they can and cannot do

The F.D.A has the power to approve of any food substance or drug for the safety of the public. Products such as Nicorette gum are marketed as a healthy ways to help kick the smoking habit while still getting a nicotine fix. Such products are known as cessation products.

The F.D.A can regulate Nicorette gun, but because the E cigarette only offers an alternative for adult enjoyment and makes no claims to help smokers actually give up the habit, the F.D.A has little power in this case.

Matt Salmon spokesman for the Electronic Cigarette Association Speaks

Advocates of the E cigarette such as spokesman of the Electronic Cigarette Association, Matt Salmon, says that the E cigarette delivers nothing more than a mixture of nicotine and water vapor and emits no carcinogens. These are what make regular cigarettes bad, primarily because of the second hand smoke.

Are threats to ban the E cigarette impacting use?

The Electronic Cigarette Association would not give exact sales figures, but says that hundreds of thousands of people use the product and will continue to use it. The average age of a user is forty plus.

Life sentence for man who had 583 marijuana cigarettes

A 37-year-old trader who admitted trying to smuggle 583 marijuana cigarettes but said they were for his personal use was sentenced to life in prison by a Dubai court this morning.

PR, from Uganda, told the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance in May he did not intend to sell the drug. There was a total of 427 grams of marijuana, records said.

PR was also convicted of consuming a banned substance.

According to his testimony, PR said he had smoked 60 of the cigarettes on top of his building in Al Hamriyah area.

The drug was found when police searched a vehicle left at a petrol station for more than an hour.

What would happen if Americans stopped smoking?

The number of New Yorkers who smoke dropped to an all-time low of 14 percent this year, Mayor Mike Bloomberg announced late last week. That’s down from 22 percent in 2002 and translates into 450,000 fewer adult New Yorkers who smoke than did a decade ago.
The New York drop mirrors a nationwide decline, where smoking rates have fallen by over half since the 1950s. But that still leaves 46 million American smokers — what if they all kicked the habit, too? That’s the world “After Tobacco,” a new book from economic researchers Peter Bearman, Kathryn Neckerman and Leslie Wright, tries to imagine.

The authors estimate that if all smoking ceased in 2006, 2.8 million premature deaths would be avoided between then and 2025. Health spending would decrease by $211 billion, or 1.52 percent, in that same time period.

The economic effect on public programs, however, would be more of a mixed bag. States’ Medicaid costs would noticeably decrease: lower-income populations have higher rates of smoking and the negative health outcomes that follow. But states would also lose revenue from cigarette excise taxes, which amounted to $13.75 billion in 2006. If Americans stopped smoking altogether, states could see a 1.4 percent decrease in revenue, according to a chapter from Hunter College’s Howard Chernick.

A similar, spilt-effect would be true for Social Security. With Americans living longer, Social Security would bear the increased cost of supporting people for a longer time. But those costs are slightly offset from an increase in healthy workers, who “tend to earn more and retire later,” leading to higher contributions. On balance, “After Tobacco” estimates the end of smoking means a slight, 1.58 percent increase in Social Security outlays.

The end of smoking would even ripple as far as corporate philanthropy. Between 1997 and 2005, the tobacco industry made over $143 million in charitable donations, 42 percent of which went to public health and community development programs. Much, if not all, of that giving would presumably dry up with tobacco manufacturers making smaller profits. Nationally, the impact wouldn’t be giant, with tobacco only currently making up about 3 percent of corporate giving. But the authors speculate that in cities where tobacco giants are headquartered, like Winston-Salem or Richmond, nonprofits would notice the decline.

This is by no means to say that lost tax revenue or higher Social Security outlays is a reason to rethink anti-smoking campaigns; the end of tobacco use would be a huge public health victory, one that stands to prevent millions of premature deaths. Rather “After Tobacco” illustrates how entrenched tobacco has become, and remains, in the American economy. Despite huge reductions in smoking over the past 50 years or so, a complete halt to tobacco use would touch just about every public program and private sector in many, varied ways.

Passive Smoking and Hearing Loss: Are Links Building Between the Two?

We all know the extreme health risks associated with smoking but what about the general negative impact on health. Leading hearing aid specialists Amplifon look at the growing research regarding a link between smoking and hearing problems.

Passive smoking has proved itself to be a major negative health issue that affects millions of people worldwide, as well as plenty of individuals in the UK. It has been linked to a higher risk of cancer, stronger correlation with heart disease, as well as a range of lung-related illnesses. The biggest risk group is understood to be children under the age of 18, who are at risk of the above as well as other conditions, from asthma to sudden infant death syndrome.

However, research is increasingly linking secondary smoking with hearing problems, in turn forcing individuals to seek professional help or technological devices to provide them with the clarity of hearing they deserve. In its capacity as the world's leading dedicated hearing aid specialist, Amplifon wants to highlight this issue to people around the world and lessen the chances of aural problems developing unnecessarily.

Following a detailed analysis of statistics, specialist journal Tobacco Control revealed in November 2010 that there was a strong pattern emerging between smoking and poor hearing. Former smokers were significantly more likely to have hearing impairments and, while the risk was not as strong among those who had never smoked, nearly one in ten had low-to-mid frequency hearing loss while over one in four had high frequency hearing loss.

There were also stronger findings among former smokers that underlined how passive smoking, even at low levels, would push the progression of high frequency hearing loss that started when they were active smokers. Further research to investigate the link was demanded by authors, though they would not have to wait long.

In July 2011, the links were found to be stronger than ever. NYU School of Medicine researchers revealed in that month's issue of Archives of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery that exposure to tobacco smoke nearly doubles the risk of hearing loss among adolescents. Perhaps the most worrying issue regarding this hearing loss was that over 80 per cent of affected teenagers in the study were not aware of any hearing problems. Dr Anil Lalwani of NYU explained: "Milder hearing loss is not necessarily noticeable. Thus, simply asking someone whether they think they have hearing loss is insufficient."

Amplifon is keeping track of research linking secondary smoking to hearing problems and is asking people to be responsible for their health as much as possible. Barry Downes, Head of Audiology at Amplifon, said: "While we all know the dangers of smoking, many people simply may not know just how far the activity goes in terms of affecting overall health."

"We are actively developing technology to support people affected by poor hearing, though the cure has never been a match for prevention. Hearing problems will continue to affect people around the world and we're dedicated to helping them, but we also want to highlight that many hearing issues are avoidable, such as hearing loss due to continuous exposure to loud noises such as machinery or music and a proactive approach will provide comfort for years to come."

Cigarette vending machines banned in England

Cigarette vending machines were banned in England on Saturday, a move the government hopes will cut the numbers of children smoking.
Anyone caught selling cigarettes from the machines, usually found in pubs and clubs, could face a fine of £2,500 ($3,900, 2,900 euros). Pubs will still be able to sell cigarretes from behind the bar.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Smoking is one of the biggest and most stubborn challenges in public health. Over eight million people (around 15 percent) in England still smoke and it causes more than 80,000 deaths each year.
"Cigarette vending machines are often unsupervised, making it easy for children to purchase cigarettes from them.
"The ban on cigarette sales from vending machines will protect children by making cigarettes less accessible to them -- we want to do everything we can to encourage young people not to start smoking in the first place."
The British Heart Foundation charity said that around 200,000 youngsters start smoking regularly in England each year, with around 11 percent of regular smokers aged 11 to 15 getting their cigarettes from vending machines.
It is illegal to sell tobacco in Britain to anyone under the age of 18.
Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, cigarrete vending machines are to be banned in Northern Ireland in February, while Scotland and Wales are committed to introducing a ban.
Meanwhile, in April 2012, all large retailers in England and Scotland will have to take all tobacco off display, with small shops having until April 2015 to comply.
The government is due to launch a public consultation on whether cigarettes should be sold in plain packaging with no logos or branding.
Smoking in enclosed public places was banned in England in July 2007.

Smoke-free law a success in Calhoun

Results of a statewide-survey conducted indicated a very high rate of compliance with the Dr. Ron Davis Smokefree Air Law one year after it was implemented. The survey conducted in over 1,000 restaurants and bars statewide, including 12 restaurants and six bars in Calhoun County, indicated a 96 percent compliance rate with the law.

On behalf of the Calhoun County Public Health Department, I extend my thanks to Calhoun County bar and restaurant owners and managers for the great job they have done in complying with the new law.

In June 2011, staff members of the Calhoun County Public Health Department and the Calhoun County Substance Abuse Council conducted a lunch-time survey in downtown Battle Creek asking people how they felt about the smoke-free law one year after its implementation. Out of 100 people surveyed, 94 said they liked the law and enjoyed breathing smokefree air when patronizing our restaurants and bars.

The smoke-free air law has been successful in reducing Calhoun County residents' exposure to secondhand smoke. In addition, the Michigan Department of Treasury's report, "The Early Impact of Michigan's Smoking Ban," showed that Michigan's smoke-free air law has had little to no impact on the state's food and beverage industry.

Since its implementation in May of 2010 among taverns with beer/wine only, night clubs, family restaurants and fast-food facilities, total sales tax collections have increased from 2.73 to 2.84 percent. The results are based on a year-over-year statistical comparison of statewide sales tax collections from this industry.

However, Calhoun County still has a long way to go to reduce smoking rates and tobacco-related illnesses in our county. According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Survey conducted in 2009, 25.8 percent of Calhoun County adults smoke compared with 19.8 percent for Michigan. Additionally, in 2009, 190 adult deaths were linked directly with tobacco use. Smoking is also an issue for pregnant women, with 24.9 percent of Calhoun County women smoking while pregnant (Michigan Vital Statistics), and teens, with 18.8 percent of high schoolers reporting that they had smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days (2009-10 MiPHY data). Tobacco also takes its toll on the economics of the county. In 2009, $50.9 million were spent on smoking-related direct health care costs. Approximately 32 percent of these costs ($16.5 million) were paid by Medicaid.

Vending machine cigarette sales banned

The sale of tobacco from vending machines has been banned across England, in a bid to curb children’s ready access to cigarettes and to help adults who are trying to quit.

It is estimated that 35 million cigarettes are sold illegally through vending machines to children every year.

The evidence shows that most adult smokers started smoking before they turned 18, with more than 300,000 under-16s trying smoking for the first time each year. Of the 11 to 15 year olds who smoke regularly, 11% say they buy their cigarettes from vending machines, says the Department of Health.

Now, anyone selling cigarettes from a vending machine could be fined up to £2500. Any person found guilty of displaying cigarette adverts on a vending machine could face imprisonment for up to six months, or a fine of £5000, or both.

The ban, which came into force on Friday, is part of the government’s tobacco control strategy, which it published in March.

This pledged to cut smoking rates by the end of 2015 from 21% to 18.5% or less among adults and from 15% to 12% or less among 15 year olds.

Announcing the ban, which took effect on Friday, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said that smoking remained “one of the biggest and most stubborn challenges in public health.”

“Cigarette vending machines are often unsupervised, making it easy for children to purchase cigarettes from them,” he said. “The ban on cigarette sales from vending machines will protect children by making cigarettes less accessible to them – we want to do everything we can to encourage young people not to start smoking in the first place.”

Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies added: “We believe this will reduce the numbers of new smokers and support people who are trying to quit.”

Adult smoking rates have fallen from over 45% in the early 1970s to 21% in 2008, but treating smoking related diseases is estimated to cost the NHS around £2.7bn per year and the wider costs to society of smoking are estimated at almost £14bn per year.