HEADLINES

• A doctor responds to MP's arguments against smoking ban
• USA: Tobacco company launches mint-like orbs
• Norwegian cruiseline to ban smoking in rooms in all ships
• USA: Hypnotherapist helps baseball manager quit

• A doctor responds to MP's arguments against smoking ban

  Dr Bob Bury from Leeds responds to an article by Natasha Engel MP in Monday's Times, in which she said she regretted voting for the smoking ban because of a conversation with an elderly constituent.

  Dr Bury argues that important issues of public health policy shouldn't be based on a single piece of anecdotal evidence.

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  Source: The Times, 10 August 2011
  Link: http://thetim.es/pKvTlo

• USA: Tobacco company launches mint-like orbs

  Bite-size dissolvable "orbs" that look like mints and melt in your mouth are the tobacco industry's latest attempt to fight falling U.S. cigarette sales.

  Charlotte in North Carolina is one of two test markets for Reynolds American Inc.'s newest products: dissolvable, smokeless tobacco lozenges that come as orbs, sticks or strips. The products all contain less nicotine than cigarettes.

   

  However, health officials still worry about the risks of smokeless options. Smokeless tobacco users
  risk mouth cancer, gum disease and tooth loss. Prenatal dangers for pregnant women also still exist.

   

  "There are no safe tobacco products," said Matt Carpenter, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the Medical University of South Carolina who is researching the effect of smokeless products on smoking habits.
  Source: Indystar.com, 10 August 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/oFnt0X

• Norwegian cruiseline to ban smoking in rooms in all ships

   
  Norwegian Cruise Line is the latest cruise company to ban smoking in staterooms on all 11 ships in its fleet as of next year.

  Anne-Marie Mathews, vice president of public relations at the company, says that the company received complaints from passengers about smoky smells in staterooms.The cruise line had previously limited smoking to casinos and other designated areas of ships but banned it from bars, restaurants and restrooms as well as outdoor areas such as a children's pool.

   

  Princess Cruises also recently decided to ban smokers from cabins and balconies starting in January. Celebrity Cruises already prohibits smoking in staterooms and limits smokers to designated areas .
  Source: Los Angeles Times, 09 August 2011
  Link: http://lat.ms/oruwUS

• USA: Hypnotherapist helps baseball manager quit

  San Francisco Giants baseball team manager Bruce Bochy has quit tobacco with the help of hypnotherapist Dr. Aivera Paxson.  

  Bochy hasn't touched chewing tobacco since 14 April this year.  Giant's catcher Bill Hayes has also given up chewing tobacco this year.  

  Source: Huffington Post, 08 August 2011
  Link: http://huff.to/pofkHw