HEADLINES

• Australia: Opposition told to kick tobacco donation habit
• Ireland: Smoking ban reduces emergency room admissions
• USA: Multi-state accord to reduce tobacco sales to minors
• USA: Florida: School board moves towards tobacco free recruitment policy
• USA: New York City luxury condo bans smoking

• Australia: Opposition told to kick tobacco donation habit

  As the World watches Australia's tobacco fight,  the Government has urged the opposition to stop accepting donations from tobacco companies and get behind its push for plain packaging of tobacco.

  But opposition leader Tony Abbott says the plain packaging idea is "flawed" and could be counterproductive.

   

  Health Minister  Nicola Roxon says Labor stopped taking donations from tobacco companies in 2004 - since when the Opposition has accepted $1.7 million.

   

  "Mr Abbott needs to kick his habit," Ms Roxon said in a statement. "Accepting donations from big tobacco is just not acceptable, given we know how dangerous these products are and to what low levels these companies will stoop to keep killing Australians."

   

  Public consultation for the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 concludes on June 6. The Government is aiming to have the Bill introduced during the winter sitting.
   
  Source: ABC News, 17 May 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/lErxuj

• Ireland: Smoking ban reduces emergency room admissions

  A new study, conducted by researchers in Dublin, found that emergency room admissions due to respiratory illness dropped significantly in Ireland after the implementation of a workplace smoking ban.

  The researchers found a significant reduction in emergency hospital admissions due to cardio-pulmonary disease in the two years following the smoking ban, and a trend towards reduced pulmonary admissions.  A significant decrease also was seen in emergency asthma admissions, and there was a trend towards fewer admissions with acute coronary syndrome.

   

  Dr Imran Sulaiman,pulmonology resident at Galway University Hospitals,  who led the study, said. "This study further proves that the implementation of a workplace smoking ban improves general health and also reduces hospital burden by respiratory illness, one of the most common illnesses to present to the emergency services."

   

  Further research should be done to confirm this study's findings, and to compile data from other countries that have implemented workplace smoking bans, he said.
   
  Source: Science Daily, 17 May 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/ls4DXu

• USA: Multi-state accord to reduce tobacco sales to minors

  The companies that own major retailers Circle K, Dairymart and On The Run stores reached an agreement on Tuesday with 39 state attorneys general to curb tobacco sales to minors.

  The multi-state agreement will result in comprehensive training for store employees and independent compliance checks as 250 stores.

   

  "By preventing teens' access to cigarettes, we're working to deter them from picking up this deadly habit,"Illinois said Attorney General Lisa Madigan in a statement announcing the deal.
  .
  Source: Reuters, 17 May 2011
  Link: http://reut.rs/iXG9lq

• USA: Florida: School board moves towards tobacco free recruitment policy

   Escambia County School Board moved closer Tuesday night to implementing a tobacco-free hiring policy, voting unanimously to advertise intent to adopt the policy which would not allow anyone to be hired that had used tobacco products within the last six months.

  Along with the standard drug test currently administered, new employees would also be tested for tobacco use. The newly hired employees would be required to remain tobacco free as a condition of employment.

   

  The school board believes the new policy would not only mean healthier employees, but also lower costs associated with health insurance costs and lost days at work.

   

  The board will vote on the adoption of the tobacco-free hiring policy at their regular June meeting.
  Source: NorthEscambia.com, 18 May 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/j1HXHY

• USA: New York City luxury condo bans smoking

  Condominium owners in Ariel West, a 32-story glass tower, voted 47 to 3 to approve a smoking ban late last month, according to a New York Times report.

  All tenants must uphold the ban  even if they moved in prior to the ban, which will be enforced by neighbour complaints. The first offence will draw a $150 fine and will graduate by $150 with each succeeding complaint.

   

  "The idea is obviously a controversial one," tenant Bruce Littlefield, who voted for the ban, told the Times, "because people's domain is their home, and they certainly should be able to enjoy what they do within the walls of their home. But sometimes what people do seeps outside their walls and into other people's environment, and it becomes a quality-of-life issue."
   
  Source: International Business Times, 17 May 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/iK6LV4