The University of Texas at Arlington is going cold turkey.Starting Monday, the campus will become completely tobacco-free. Faculty, students, staff and visitors will not be allowed to use any tobacco products on university property. Officials say violators could be subject to disciplinary action.The policy also prohibits advertising, sale or free sampling of tobacco products. It replaces another policy established in 1991 that banned tobacco use inside buildings, prohibited its use outside within 50 feet of any building and set up outdoor smoking areas. The American Lung Association’s Web site says more than 200 college campuses nationwide have banned tobacco. Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls went tobacco-free in January 2010. In Central Texas, Alamo Colleges have been tobacco-free since Sept. 1, 2007. … Read entire article »

Recipients of cash assistance from the state are banned from using those funds to purchase alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets or tobacco products under a law signed by Gov. Deval Patrick on Thursday. The law states that violators must reimburse the state and instructs store owners and workers not to accept direct cash assistance funds held on electronic benefit transfer cards for the purchase of alcohol, tobacco or Lottery tickets. Store owners found to have knowingly violated the law face a fine of up to $500 for the first offense, between $500 and $1,000 for the second offense and not less than $1,000 for the third offense. Patrick this week also signed bills establishing a commission to study police pay benefits under the Quinn bill (H 3578), establishing terms for … Read entire article »

The good news: The number of American teens who smoke is decreasing. The bad news: One in seven teen boys uses some form of spit or smokeless tobacco and girls are not far behind.Smokeless tobacco products are an unsafe, extremely addictive product, just ask anyone who has used them! Unfortunately, the new smoking bans in effect have an unintended effect on the use of smokeless tobacco. In light of these bans, tobacco companies are strongly marketing their smokeless tobacco products. Many of these products are being advertised as more discrete alternatives to cigarettes in places where smoking is not allowed. Some companies promote these smokeless products as a way to help quit smoking. However, these products contain more nicotine than cigarettes and therefore create an addiction quickly. Keep kids from starting: Parents can … Read entire article »

The Journal is right, but for the wrong reasons. The federal government may not be “heroic” in its battles with the tobacco industry, but not because it allows the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Smokers are addicted to tobacco and there’s no sense in a total sales prohibition. Given that reality, taxes are a perfectly good and useful thing, as higher prices are a proven method of discouraging consumption. The government must act more forcefully, however, with vigorous media campaigns to keep reminding the public that tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in this country. Some 37,000 Canadians die unnecessarily each year, with many more left sick or in mourning. There’s nothing feckless, however, about collecting taxes on products that are, regrettably, still legal. The Supreme Court ruled … Read entire article »

Tobacco companies have ramped up advertising and promotions for smokeless products while spending fewer dollars on traditional cigarette advertising and promotions, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).According to FTC data reported by Forbes, U.S. tobacco companies spent $547.9 million in 2008 — the latest year data was available — on smokeless advertising and marketing, more than double what was spent in 2003. During that time, sales of smokeless tobacco products increased by 11 percent. By contrast, marketing and advertising spending on traditional cigarette products declined 34 percent compared to 2003, to $9.94 billion. During that time, industrywide sales decreased 11 percent to 320 billion cigarettes. Of the money spent on traditional products, $7.2 billion was spent on price discount promotions to retailers and wholesalers, so they could reduce the average … Read entire article »

A new policy concerning tobacco use on PCC campuses went into effect Monday. Use of all tobacco products is now restricted to specified outdoor locations. The college has placed gazebos with receptacles in strategic locations around both campuses to accommodate tobacco users. College students, faculty, staff and visitors will all be subject to this policy, which was approved by the PCC Board of Trustees last April. The policy (Policy 2.29 Tobacco Use), reads: “Piedmont Community College prohibits the use of tobacco products in any college building, facility or vehicle. Tobacco use is allowed in designated campus locations (gazebos) with receptacles. Students and employees are required to place tobacco materials in receptacles located within the designated areas.” Dr. Walter Bartlett, PCC president, said the change came as a response to PCC employees who expressed concern … Read entire article »

Smokers in Minnesota start paying another penny a pack for cigarettes starting Monday, as an annual adjustment in the state’s cigarette tax takes effect.State law requires the cigarette sales tax to be adjusted each year to reflect inflation and current retail prices. That means the sales tax will go up from 35 cents to 36 cents. The Department of Revenue announced the change earlier this year. But that’s not the only tax the state levies on cigarettes. There’s also a 48-cent excise tax and a 75-cent health impact fee. Together, that puts the tax at $1.58 a pack. Make that $1.59 starting Monday. … Read entire article »

A plan endorsed today by the Public Health Committee up at the State House would prohibit pharmacies, large and small, from selling cigarettes and other tobacco products. If it were to become law, the bill (S 1094), would have a major impact on certain retailers — and potentially costing some employees their jobs — but without producing any appreciable effect on the prevalence of tobacco use. All those diehard smokers who might be willing to “walk a mile for a Camel” would actually only need to walk a few feet to find another supplier to satisfy their cravings and sustain their habit. The impact of the proposed law is well-known, as several cities and towns in Massachusetts, including Boston, already have similar bans in place. Given the countless number of convenience … Read entire article »