Researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered that putting tobacco out of sight in shops can change the attitude of young people to smoking, while not hitting retailers in the pocket. Academics from the University’s UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies looked at the effect of the removal of tobacco displays in the Republic of Ireland, ahead of similar legislation which is due to come into force in the UK.

In one study the research team found that the number of teenagers who recalled tobacco displays dropped from 81 per cent to only 22 per cent, after July 1 when the displays were removed.

After they were removed, fewer young people believed smoking is widespread among their peers — before this 62 per cent thought that more than one in five children their own age smoked, which fell to 46 per cent afterwards.

After displays were covered up, 38 per cent of teenagers thought the measure would make it easier for children not to smoke and 14 per cent of adults thought the law made it easier to quit smoking. The research also showed support for putting tobacco out of sight rose from 58 per cent to 66 per cent after the measure came into force.

Professor Ann McNeill, lead researcher on the project, said: “Our research shows that removing point of sale displays of tobacco has a measurable impact on how young people think about tobacco, and helps underline that they are not ”normal consumer products”. The law is popular among adults, even adult smokers.

“Removing cigarettes from sight will stop smokers from being constantly reminded of tobacco. Our research adds to the clear body of evidence that this measure should be implemented by other countries as soon as possible.”

In a further study, the team showed that taking tobacco displays down did not result in any loss of income for retailers. The results should ease concerns that the measures — which are designed to protect children from tobacco marketing and uncontrolled access to cigarettes — will have a negative effect on business. They rebuff claims that Irish shops suffered a large drop in sales and small businesses have expressed concern about this in Ireland.

Dr Quinn, the economist at the University of Nottingham stated: “As expected we did not see any significant change in sales following the implementation of the legislation beyond the trend of falling sales that already exists. This legislation was designed to make smoking less attractive to children and young people not to make adult smokers quit. It will take some time for the impact to work its way through as the next generation of children grow up protected from large and colourful cigarette displays every time they go to buy their sweets. These findings contradict several reports coming from the retail sector that cigarette sales have rapidly decreased since the removal of promotional displays and that this decline is due to the new legislation.”

Professor McNeill added: “The removal of point of sale displays is aimed at reducing the pernicious effects of tobacco advertising on children and is therefore likely to have an impact on sales over a much more protracted time period. Removing tobacco displays from sight is important to help reduce the devastating impact tobacco has on so many lives. Our research shows that retailers do not need to fear this measure designed to protect children from tobacco marketing.”

Read more: Putting tobacco out of sight helps – The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Putting-tobacco-out-of-sight-helps/articleshow/6980955.cms#ixzz16BxytmzH

The rate of illegal tobacco product sales to minors in Calabasas dipped from 35 percent in 2009 to seven percent this year, according to a report presented at the City Council meeting on Wednesday. The decreased number might be a result of the city’s adoption of the Tobacco Retailer’s Registration Program in July last year.

Out of the 14 retailers that sell tobacco products such as cigarettes in Calabasas, three—Ralphs on Commons Way, Village Market on Las Virgenes Road and California Quick Mart on Agoura Road—were found to have sold them to minors in the last 12 months. In the year before the adoption of the ordinance, five retailers had violated the law.

“The store manager of Ralphs said although this was a costly mistake, in the long run they felt it was positive learning experience and gave them the motivation to properly train their employees and build a responsible establishment,” said Associate Planner Michael Klein, who presented the report to the council.

The ordinance requires all retailers that want to sell tobacco products to register with the city before doing so. It also prohibits retailers from selling tobacco products to minors. Those that fail to comply are subject to a $1,000 fine and having their business licenses revoked, and will not be allowed to sell tobacco products for a specific period of time.

“State law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to minors, however it only penalizes the person who actually sold the tobacco product and not the business owner,” Klein said. “This means business owners are not held accountable for their employees’ actions, and hence they may not be concerned with taking proper precautions to prevent the sale of tobacco to minors.”

The city’s ordinance, on the other hand, by revoking a business’ license passes the responsibility of compliance on to the owner.

“We want to educate local business owners that the city takes this issue of selling tobacco products to minors seriously. Each time an owner renews his or her registration, we inform them on the key aspects of the ordinance and remind them that they will be monitored by explorer deputies aged below 18, posing as decoys and periodic compliance checks,” said Klein.

He said local sheriff’s deputies do compliance checks and sting operations at stores in Calabasas as well as in Agoura Hills because they often get complaints from parents in that area about stores that are selling tobacco to minors. “However, in Agoura Hills and unincorporated areas outside Calabasas, the store clerk gets penalized, not the owner, because the compliance checks are done under state law,” Klein said.

He said the data collected so far did not show a consistent pattern in terms of where these violations take place in terms of proximity to schools or other areas. There is no pattern as to what kinds of establishments have violated the ordinance. He said they could be big or small anywhere in the city, and may be a liquor store, gas station, supermarket or pharmacy.

Police cited a local business Saturday for selling cigarettes to an underage purchaser. The Fuel Spot, at 2 Grove St., faces administrative sanctions from the state Department of Revenue Service, which issues cigarette dealer licenses. The clerk who sold the cigarettes to the underage teen, Ali Jafri, 42, of Danielson, was given a $200 ticket. It was his first offense, police said.

Putnam police sent underage youths into 14 downtown stores to try to buy cigarettes Saturday as part of a compliance check, and all but The Fuel Spot passed.
Stores are not permitted to sell tobacco products to anyone younger than 18.

Despite the efforts of the Government, nearly 10 percent minors between 15 and 17 consume tobacco in some form and most of them are able to purchase tobacco products. According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey in India, in spite of a ban on public smoking, nearly 29 percent of Indians are exposed to second-hand smoke outside their house while half faced it at their homes. Among daily tobacco users, 60 percent consumed tobacco within half an hour of waking up.

According to the survey, 34.6 percent of adults use tobacco in some form, out of which 47.9 percent are male members of society and 20.3 percent are females. About five in ten adults (52.3 percent) are exposed to passive smoking at home and 29.0 percent at public places- mainly in public transport and restaurants.
Average age at initiation of tobacco use was 17.8 with 25.8 percent of females starting tobacco use before the age of 15.
Five in ten current smokers (46.6 percent) and users of smokeless tobacco (45.2 percent) planned to quit or at least thought of quitting. Nearly two in three adults (64.5 percent) noticed advertisement or promotion of tobacco products. Three in five current tobacco users (61.1 percent) noticed the health warning on the tobacco packages and one in three current tobacco users (31.5 percent) thought of quitting tobacco because of the warning label.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad released the Global Adult Tobacco survey and called for a jihad against the use of tobacco which causes nearly 0.9 million deaths in India every year. Majority of the cardiovascular diseases, cancers and chronic lung diseases are directly attributable to tobacco consumption. Almost 40 percent of tuberculosis deaths in the country are associated with the habit of smoking.
Azad said, “We cannot indefinitely tolerate a public health hazard in the name of protecting livelihoods. While livelihood of tobacco growing farmers cannot be endangered, we must work towards moving farmers and farm workers out of the tobacco industry.”

A Florida Youth Tobacco Survey shows one out of three children in Bay County is currently using tobacco products. That’s why one group of students, ranging in ages ten through 18, is trying to change county policy. The group is called Students Working Against Tobacco or SWAT. The Bay County Health Department is helping out. For the first time this year, the two organizations hosted a workshop to help push policy change.

Trainers from the company, Civic Communications are teaching around 60 students everything they need to know when it comes to changing policies.

“Youth can pay a really important role in passing policy, especially tobacco policy to reduce youth tobacco use,” said Workshop Trainer, Brian Cody.

The students are focusing on these three policy change initiatives:

1. Banning all candy-flavored tobacco
2. Creating multi-unit housing tobacco free
3. Modeling school policies

Cody says these students can change policy by creating awareness and making sure government leaders hear the message.

“We need advocates, the city council, the school board and the county commissioners to help pass policies. The youth needs to be protected from the tobacco industry’s new tactics,” Cody said.

According to a Florida Youth Tobacco Survey, the amount of youth in Bay County who use tobacco is double the state average. That is why these students are trying to implement policy change and spread this message in our schools.

“I want to teach other students and my friends and let them be aware of what’s going on and how the tobacco industry is actually trying to manipulate us into buying their products,” said SWAT Participant, Kurn Lam.

“I’m going to spread it around the schools, around the county and talk to my friends about it. I’m also going to talk to youth and adults too and make them aware of the effects of tobacco and what it does to you, because I think it’s really important everybody deserves to know the truth,” said SWAT Participant, Destiny Worley.

The students have workshops scheduled through next year.

Finland on Friday banned selling and giving cigarettes to people under the age of 18, part of a drive to make the Nordic country smoke-free by 2040. The new law says that anyone caught selling youth tobacco products faces fines and a maximum six-month sentence. Giving them for free is also forbidden but is not a punishable offense. The legislation also allows housing associations to ban smoking near children’s play areas and on apartment balconies.

“We know we can never completely end smoking but several civic groups are working under the slogan ‘Smoke-free Finland in 2040,’” said Ismo Tuominen from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. “General opinion seems to be in favor of adopting tighter controls.”

Tobacco advertising has been banned in Finland for more than 30 years and in 1995 smoking was forbidden in workplaces, public buildings and on public transport, and was extended in 2007 to bars and restaurants.

In 2000, a law labeled smoke as “a carcinogenic, hazardous substance.” Sales of chewing tobacco and snuff are also banned, but can be imported for personal consumption.

In 2012, cigarettes will be sold under the counter in stores and three years later cigarette vending machines will be banned.

“The idea is to restrict the presence and visibility of tobacco to stop children and youth taking up the habit,” Tuominen said. “We hope other countries will follow suit.”

After World War II about 85 percent of Finnish men smoked — one of the highest percentages in the world — and has gradually dropped to 24 percent in 2008. After the war, few women smoked but now some 18 percent have the habit.

Young age groups are the ministry’s greatest concern.

Tuominen said that now more 16-year-old girls smoke than boys of the same age. “It’s a worrying trend and we don’t really know why it’s happening,” he said.

Freezing figures puffing outside stores and in doorways in subzero temperatures are a common sight in Finnish winter where stricter anti-smoking measures have gone hand-in-hand with tighter attitudes toward smoking.

“We are on a gradual smoking decline,” Tuominen said. “Laws aren’t the cause of it but merely part of the whole pattern in a general change of opinion against the habit.”

Some plans miss the mark.

In 2008, lawmakers threw out a bill banning candy cigarettes and pipes, in a country where licorice pipes are a popular treat for children.

Material by: www.businessweek.com

The cafes are filled with perfumed smoke, hip music and the chatter and laughter of the young people who enjoy them.

Hookah pipes use charcoal to burn flavored tobacco; the smoke passes through water and through a hose from which the user inhales. The lounges are filled with comfortable couches and decorated in a chic way that makes reference to the pipe’s traditions in the Middle East.

Now, a study has been released that shows how this ritual has really caught on among today’s young people.

According to the study by University of Florida researchers, 11 percent of high school students and 4 percent of middle school students have tried smoking hookah.

“This is something that’s become popular in the last couple years,” said Tracey Barnett, medical sociologist and lead researcher on the study.

Some users think the water acts as a filter and makes hookah safer than smoking cigarettes.

“There’s no reason to think it’s any less harmful,” Barnett said. “There’s no safe way to use tobacco.”

Michael Dowie has been working at Hookah Hutt on University Avenue since May 2009. He’s 19, studying History at Santa Fe.

“I know it’s bad, but I still do it,” Dowie said. “I’m aware that it’s not healthy for you.”

He said a lot of young college students and seniors in high school come in to smoke hookah.

Florida’s minimum smoking age is 18.

The owner of Hookah Hutt has been running his shop in Gainesville for three years. He preferred not to be named out of concern for his family. He said that he checks the ID of anyone who looks close to underage.

“If you’re not 18, we can’t serve you,” he said.

He said that his lounge is a good place to socialize. “What makes hookahs so enjoyable is that you connect with many people,” he said.

He said he doesn’t try to hide the fact that smoking is unhealthy. “It’s just as bad as cigarettes … it’s not good for you,” he said.
By Andrew Ford, Gainesville

BOWLING GREEN – A senior at Bowling Green State University, Ryan Lasecki said he started smoking cigarettes only last semester.

He sees cigarettes – surgeon general’s warning or not – as stress reducers.

“Lately I’ve had some bad things happen in my life so I thought I’d give it a shot, and you know it does kind of help out a little,” the 21-year-old said while lighting up outside the Student Union. “I don’t smoke a ton. Some of my friends smoke a pack a day. I don’t smoke that much.”

Some 45 years after the surgeon general issued the landmark Report on Smoking and Health, which documented the health hazards from smoking, young adults continue to smoke at nearly the same rate as they did in 1984, a new report shows.

An analysis published this month by BGSU’s Center for Family and Demographic Research showed that 30 percent of young adults ages 18 to 29 in Ohio smoked in 1984. By 2008, that proportion had dropped only slightly, to 28 percent.

Conversely, 30 percent of adults 30 and older were smokers in 1984, but that rate dropped to 19 percent by 2008.

“Somebody’s getting the message,” remarked Heidi Lyons, an applied demographer with the center at BGSU.

She said she was floored to see the dramatic drop in smoking by older adults, but the almost level rate by younger adults.

“You’d like young adults to not even start smoking, since they’ve grown up with the message,” she said.

Ms. Lyons compiled the report with information from the U.S. Census, the 2008 Ohio Family and Health Survey, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Sur-veillance System. In addition to smoking, the report showed young adults were more likely than older adults to binge drink, less likely to get enough sleep, and less likely to always wear seat belts.

The report also said 30 percent of all young adults in Ohio are overweight, and 20 percent are obese. Along with that came health complications many would not expect to see in young adults, Ms. Lyons said.

Although 10 percent of all young adults have high blood pressure, 21 percent of obese young adults have high blood pressure. Obese young adults also are more likely to have diabetes.

“These [issues] are having significant ramifications in their lives,” she said. “It’s a little bit of a bummer. We need to get that message out there that they need to change their behaviors.”

Some students say they’ve heard the message but choose to ignore it.

One BGSU senior who wanted to be anonymous said she started smoking as a college freshman even though she’s known all her life it was unhealthy.

“Everything I was ever taught was smoking was awful,” she said. “I hate myself for liking it. I regret starting.”

It’s an expensive habit – more than $5 a pack – but a social one, she said.

“If you’re at a bar and you go outside to smoke, you meet people,” she said.

Freshman Michael Williams said he never considered smoking.

“For me it’s too scary to even attempt,” he said. “It’s hard to even breathe in when you walk by someone who smokes.”

Sophomore Derek Reiman said he never found smoking extremely appealing so he didn’t start.

“The young people I hung out with never smoked and I never had any money,” he said.

Like other students who do light up, Mr. Lasecki said he sees smoking as a short-term habit. He said he took a 2 1/2-week trip to Australia over the summer during which he didn’t smoke and didn’t have a problem.

“I don’t plan on doing it for terribly long,” he said.

Contact Jennifer Feehan
at jfeehan@theblade.com
or 419-724-6129.

One step to making North Dakota smoke-free is to get young people interested in the issue…

That’s what is going on at the Bismarck Tobacco Prevention Youth Summit.

Students from St. Mary’s and all Bismarck Public Schools hear how they can help reduce second hand smoke. Andy Berndt is an advocate for 100 percent smoke free worksites in Minnesota.

He says there’s a reason young people need to get involved in the discussion…

Andy Berndt “The young people of ND are the people who will most be impacted by smoke free laws – so getting them interested in the issue is important because those people will get the most benefit from this. They may be working in a place that has smoking making those changes now will affect them for the rest of their life.”

Berndt says it’s a myth that restaurants and bars will loose business by going smoke-free.

He says since the change in Minnesota 77% of all residents say it’s been a great idea.

North Dakota’s Comprehensive State Plan to Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use sets a goal of having 100 percent of all public and work places smoke free by 2013.