ASH Daily News for 11 August 2008

Smoking ban in British waters

Ships travelling in British waters face a complete smoking ban next year. The Department for Transport is considering banning smoking inside vessels within 12 miles (19km) of the British coast. The move would mean that smokers could light up for only 17 of the 29 miles between Dover and Calais. 

William Gibbons, director of the Passenger Shipping Association, said that annoucements would be made to let passengers know when smoking was permitted. “The rules will apply to all ships, whatever the flag,” he said.

P&O Cruises is the latest cruise line to ban smoking inside three of its ships - the Oceana, Ventura and Artemis. Passengers will be allowed to light up only in designated outside areas or on private balconies. A spokesman said: “We do not believe we will lose passengers. We hope that becoming smoke free will [create] a more pleasant environment.”

A survey by Cruise.co.uk recently found that two thirds of respondents preferred a total ban on onboard smoking. 

Source: The Times, 09 August 2008  
Link: http://tinyurl.com/5oeram
 

Gene hooks smokers at first puff

Puffing on a first cigarette is a rite of passage for many teenagers, but whether it is enjoyable may be partly down to genetics, researchers suggest. 

University of Michigan scientists have identified a gene variant found more often in people who said their first cigarette produced a "buzz".

The journal Addiction reports that these people were much more likely to go on to become regular smokers.

The researchers say the finding may help development of anti-smoking drugs.

It appears that for people who have a certain genetic make-up, the initial physical reaction to smoking can play a significant role in determining what happens next

A person's decision to smoke for the first time, or carry on smoking, is not thought to be governed solely by his or her genes, but a mixture of genes, environmental factors and social pressures.

However, scientists are hoping that by cracking the genetic secrets of nicotine addiction, they could make it easier for people to wean themselves off cigarettes, or even stop them taking up the habit in the first place.

The gene in question, CHRNA5, has already been highlighted by other studies into nicotine addiction, and it has been suggested that it could increase a smoker's chance of developing lung cancer.

The Michigan research, however, suggests that it could be at work from the very first instance of exposure to nicotine.

Genetic data was obtained from 435 volunteers, some of whom were regular smokers, and some who had tried cigarettes but were not currently smokers.

Regular smokers were far more likely to have the variant version of the gene and more likely to report that their first smoking experience was pleasurable.

Professor Ovide Pomerleau, who led the research, said: "It appears that for people who have a certain genetic make-up, the initial physical reaction to smoking can play a significant role in determining what happens next.

"If cigarette smoking is sustained, nicotine addiction can occur in a few days to a few months - the finding of a genetic association with pleasurable early smoking experiences may help explain how people get addicted."

Dr Marcus Munafo, from Bristol University, said that while the study was interesting, any treatments or tests based on the gene variant would be some way off.

He said: "It's interesting to see research which helps us join the dots on the whole mechanism of nicotine addiction, but in practical terms, we have, for now, to carry on doing what we are currently doing to help smokers."

Source: BBC News, 08 August 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/6bov7n

Scotland: Calls for action to stub out smoking among poor

Anti-smoking campaigners have called for more to be done to reduce the number of people who smoke in deprived areas.

ASH Scotland was reacting to the 2007 Scottish Household Survey, which highlighted the greater percentage of people who smoke in poorer parts of the country.

Chief executive Sheila Duffy said, "The publication of the 2007 Scottish Household Survey shows a slight decline in the number of people smoking in Scotland down from 25 per cent in 2006 to 24.7 per cent last year."

"However, the relationship between smoking and deprivation is again highlighted, with 43 per cent of people in the most deprived areas lighting up, compared to just 12 per cent in the more affluent.

"The figures clearly demonstrate smoking prevalence declines as deprivation reduces. Although it is good news smoking rates are continuing to fall overall across Scotland, more needs to be done to narrow the gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots' in our society."

Smoking remains the biggest preventable killer in Scotland. Only 46 per cent of smokers say they enjoy good health, compared to 57 per cent of non-smokers

Source: Type the source here
Link: http://tinyurl.com/5o5wu6

USA: Reductions in smoking show promise for reducing home fire death

According to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study published in the journal Injury Prevention, home fire deaths are higher in states that have a greater percentage of smokers. If smoking at home is reduced or stopped, fewer residential fire deaths may result.

Smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths and accounts for approximately one quarter of the 3,000 home fire deaths in the United States each year. Quitting smoking, as well as following fire safety recommendations related to smoking, can help reduce the risk of cigarette-related home fire deaths.

This study is the first to use national data to look at the percentage of current smokers and home fire deaths in the District of Columbia and all U.S. states except Hawaii. Nationally, an estimated 21 percent of adults smoked in 2004. In that year, an estimated 2,804 individuals died in home fires, or nearly one death per 100,000 people in the United States.

“Our study suggests that even modest reductions in overall smoking rates may save lives. In fact, quitting smoking is the most important step smokers can take to improve their overall health and that of their loved ones. People who do smoke should smoke outside the house to help protect themselves and their families from home fires and exposure to secondhand smoke, a known human carcinogen,” said Shane Diekman, Ph.D., M.P.H., a behavioural scientist at CDC′s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

Ileana Arias, Ph.D., director of CDC′s Injury Center said, "Home fire deaths have declined during the past several decades, and this decline has paralleled reductions in smoking. We work hard to keep our homes safe, and it just makes good sense to help people understand that if they can change their smoking habits, we may continue to reduce these tragedies.”

Source: CDC, 08 August 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/6q9jxa

South Africa: BAT to aid Richemont and Remgro in restructure

British American Tobacco is seeking approval from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange to obtain a secondary listing to help Richemont and Remgro restructure their stakes in the company. 

Swiss luxury goods maker Richemont has a 19.4% interest in BAT, while South African investment holding group Remgro, which wants to separate its tobacco interests from other operations, owns a 10.7% stake.

The pair plan to distribute 90% of their combined holdings, or 27% of BAT, to their shareholders, while the other 10%, or 3% of BAT, will be kept by a soon to be listed Luxembourg investment company called Reinet Investments.

All this is expected to happen in early November, while a rights issue by Reinet should complete by mid-December, after which it will likely own less than 10% of BAT.

BAT expects the listing to take place at the end of October, subject to Richemont and Remgro receiving the necessary approvals for their proposed restructurings.

Source: Yahoo Finance, 08 August 2008
Link: http://tinyurl.com/5e4357