Tobacco News

Council members wrestled Monday with the language they want to use to restrict smoking in the town.

The ordinance that is finally passed should forbid smoking in public buildings, town council members agreed.

But the four council members and Mayor Randy Hayes dug deep into the wording of a proposed ordinance and found several concerns with the language, which is based on a similar law in Clemson and draft legislation by Smoke Free S.C. Ream more »

In a surprise turnabout, San Marcos city councilmembers voted 4-3 against asking November general election voters whether the city should ban smoking in restaurants, bars and other public places.

On July 5, five out of seven councilmembers expressed support for — or did not speak out against — a non-binding ballot proposition on public smoking and authorized city staff to hold public meetings and develop ballot language for the proposition. Ream more »

Two smokers have taken the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to court after they were fined for smoking in public.
In their petition, security guards Antony Clemente and Vrianne Lamsen asked the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court to stop the MMDA from implementing a ban on smoking in public places in Metro Manila.
The two were apprehended by an MMDA enforcer after they were caught smoking on the sidewalk on Edsa, near Farmers Market in Cubao, Quezon City, on July 6. Ream more »

It was one step forward, two steps back Tuesday in the quest for a tougher smoking ordinance in Augusta, but health advocates vowed to push on.
East Central Health District Director Ketty Gonzalez made a five-minute presentation to the Augusta Commission on the dangers of secondhand smoke in requesting a total ban on smoking in public places, only to be told afterward that the matter needs to go through the commission’s committee system. Ream more »

Paramus is once again at the forefront of tobacco control, as the Board of Health unanimously adopted an ordinance that prohibits smoking in borough parks, playgrounds, public swimming facilities and recreational areas.

The ordinance, approved last month, covers lighted cigarettes, cigars, pipes and electronic cigarettes within the boundaries of “smoke-free zones,” borough public areas that include the Municipal Pool, the Band Shell and the Paramus Golf Club Mini Golf Course, according to Health Officer John Hopper. Ream more »

The Long Branch Council has adopted an ordinance that will eliminate smoking from all areas of the city’s beaches.

The ordinance, which was unanimously adopted during Tuesday night’s meeting, will not allow smoking on any part of the city’s beaches.

Smoking had only been allowed in “designated smoking areas,” according to City Business Administrator Howard Woolley. Ream more »

Please don’t smoke in the park.
That’s a message that City Council members hope to get out this summer. The group talked about the problems of smoking and consuming alcohol in city parks during its conference session Monday at City Hall.
“It’s a healthy living initiative,” City Manager Jason Molino said.
Right now, alcohol is not allowed on public lands, which by definition excludes picnic areas within parks. Ream more »

A proposed statewide ban on smoking in bars and restaurants that died during the regular legislative session appears to be getting a second chance in the special session.
Senate Bill 28 was approved 5-4 by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Monday. A companion bill is pending in the House.
Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, the committee chairwoman who has supported the measure, joined four Democrats in voting for the bill. The four other Republicans opposed it. Ream more »

Supporters and opponents of a stricter smoking ban rallied at the legislature in Taipei yesterday as Department of Health officials briefed lawmakers about proposed amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act.
“Taiwan is a democracy and the rights [of everyone] should be protected,” Tobacco Human Rights Association of Taiwan -secretary-general Chen Shao-ting said at a demonstration. “We try to copy other countries that have strict smoking bans, but somehow we are not creating smoking areas for smokers like many countries that ban smoking in public places do.” Ream more »

We’re halfway there, say those who advocate state bans on smoking in public spaces.

According to a report out this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 states have passed laws banning smoking in workplaces, restaurants and bars during the past 10 years. If the trend continues, the entire nation could have similar bans by 2020, the report stated.
Ream more »