Fire-safe cigarette bill’s future in doubt -NE

Published: Tuesday, Mar. 29, 2005

SEABROOK (AP) - A Seabrook lawmaker who supports fire-safe cigarettes is calling the future of a bill that would require them uncertain.
Tobacco taxes are a key revenue source, and it could be tough to convince colleagues that smokers will still want the new products, said Rep. Al Weare, R-Seabrook, who sponsored the legislation.
A vote earlier this month sent the bill to the House’s tax-writing committee to analyze its economics. The legislation could suffer the same fate as a similar bill, which was sent to a study committee for two years, Weare said.
Fire-safe cigarettes just use more finely ground tobacco, which makes them go out if they’re left unattended for too long, he said. They are the same brands and look, cost and taste the same, he added.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050329/NEWS02/50329002/-1/news

Tax Panel Narrowly Send Cigarette Surcharge To Full House -ID

By Associated Press March 28, 2005

 House tax committee members today narrowly voted to approve an extension of Idaho's two-year-old cigarette surcharge. The move would potentially give the state a 21 (M) million dollar margin for error as budget writers finish up this year's spending plan.

House Bill 386 passed the Revenue and Taxation Committee by a ten-to-eight vote this morning. The outcome did not appear to be in doubt.

Committee chairwoman Dolores Crow said it was poor tax policy to target a small portion of the population when they're consuming a legal product.

But no fewer than 18 health, insurance, medical and education groups supported the tax plan. They said it will discourage smoking by both adults and underage smokers.

The bill now goes to the House. If it passes, it will go on to the Senate, where it may be amended further to make the extension permanent.

http://www.kbcitv.com/x5154.xml?ParentPageID=x5157&ContentID=x63778&Layout=KBCI.xsl&AdGroupID=x5154

Smoking Ban Plaintiffs Question Coalition Effort to Join Case WY

Laramie Associated Press

A group suing the city of Laramie over an election that favored a workplace smoking ban says the Laramie Clean Indoor Air Coalition shouldn't be allowed to join the case.
The lawsuit claims irregularities affected the outcome of the vote last fall.
Out of concern that Laramie might settle the lawsuit or otherwise might not represent its interests, the coalition has filed a motion to join the case on the city's side.
In response, the plaintiffs have filed a motion saying the coalition is made up of -- quote -- ``crusaders'' who represent significant outside interests. The plaintiffs in the case say 90% of contributions to the coalition came from outside Laramie.

http://www.kgwn.tv/home/headlines/1415467.html
 

Dog Tries To Snuff Out Smoking -MO

Boxer Has No Tolerance For Owner's Cigarettes

March 29, 2005

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --A guard dog at a Kansas City car lot has a strong dislike for more than just thieves.

Ghost, an albino boxer, has no tolerance for cigarette smoke. His owner, Timothy Leatherwood, is longtime smoker and Ghost seems determined to snuff out his habit.

Leatherwood said he gets the message, and wishes Ghost could get more people's attention about the dangers of cigarettes.

"I think Ghost is letting me know, they're bad and he knows -- animals are smart," Leatherwood said.

The way Ghost attacks cigarettes, Leatherwood thinks he'd be a good mascot for an antismoking campaign. He's approaching local agencies about using Ghost to draw attention to the dangers of smoking.

http://www.nbc5.com/irresistible/4325896/detail.html?z=dp&dpswid=1260382&dppid=65192

Smoking can be banned in Crescent park -KY

By Denise Wilson Post staff reporter  date: 03-28-2005

The city of Crescent Springs can legally ban cigarette smoking in all or part of its community park on Buttermilk Pike, the city's law firm has concluded.

Joe Baker, a member of the Covington law firm of Ziegler and Schneider, told Crescent Springs Mayor Claire Moriconi and city council in a memo that a proposed ordinance to ban smoking at the park would not conflict with any state statutory authority that regulates tobacco.

State statutes gives the city authority to pass an ordinance banning smoking in public places like the park, he said.

His findings will be discussed during a caucus scheduled to immediately follow a special council meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Monday at the City Building, 739 Buttermilk Pike. No action will be taken then, Moriconi said.

Last month, council asked Baker to look into whether the city could ban smoking in the entire park or just in certain parts of it, such as a playground and two picnic shelters.

The issue recently came to light after a resident sent Moriconi an e-mail asking her whether anything could be done about people smoking inside Crescent Springs Community Park.

The resident said she was at the park's playground area with her child and that someone was smoking in the vicinity, and that they could smell the smoke.

In his 3½-page memo to council, Baker cites reasons why the city can enact a smoking ban at the park, including:

The Kentucky Supreme Court has long held that a municipality may pass ordinances to advance the public health, safety or general welfare pursuant to their police powers.

The city may prohibit the use of tobacco products in the park so long as the ordinance is not vague or ambiguous.

Moriconi said she personally does not have a problem with smokers. However, she thinks people should not be allowed to smoke around the playground because it's covered with wood chips that could easily catch fire.

"That's the only thing that concerns me," the mayor said.

Council Member James Collett said he has mixed emotions about the proposed smoking ban.

"On one hand, I think we should discourage smoking any way we can because of health reasons, but on the other hand, I think people have a right to some freedoms," he said.

"When you're in an outdoor area and not in confined space, I don't see where it's harmful for other people if people are smoking in the park. I'm not really in favor of banning it."

Collett said if council does decide to act on the ordinance, he would favor banning smoking only in the children's playground.

http://news.kypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050328/NEWS02/503280355/1014/NEWS02

House committee endorses ending smoking in bars, clubs -VT

March 29/05

MONTPELIER, Vt. A committee of the Vermont House has endorsed a bill that would end smoking in the state's bars and clubs.

Current state law allows private clubs and bars with a cabaret liquor license to permit cigarette and pipe smoking.

But a coalition of groups wants to end those exemptions and the House General Affairs Committee voted seven-to-one in favor of such a bill.

Opponents say that private clubs are not open to the public and therefore shouldn't have to comply with the smoking ban.

Advocates say that gives the clubs an unfair advantage over commercial bars and pubs.

The bill still has to be considered in another House committee before it is debated by the full House.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=3138778

Cigarette user fee is the right thing to do -IA

March 25th, 2005

Sen. Maggie Tinsman is a Republican representing Iowa’s 41st Senate District. Contact her at Maggie.Tinsman@legis.state.ia.us

Much of the talk at the Statehouse this year has centered on increasing the tobacco user fee. Some believe money generated from this increase is necessary to discourage smoking and others have argued the funds are needed to pay for health-care programs such as Medicaid.

I refer to an increase as a user fee instead of a tax. I believe that a tax is imposed and paid for by everyone whereas only those who use tobacco products pay a user fee.

I support the increase in a user fee because I want to strongly discourage smoking, especially in young people. In my opinion, this is a health issue, which over the years causes a great increase in death.

We have a tobacco problem in Iowa today. Around 4,900 Iowans die each year from tobacco- related disease, and $710 million is spent per year on tobacco-related health-care costs. What is even more startling is that 12,000 young people become daily smokers each year! In fact, 90 percent of all Iowa smokers started before they were age 18. If current trends continue, 53,000 young people who are alive today will die from smoking. These statistics are truly hard to believe and help explain why I support an increase in the user fee.

A recent study reported that a 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes would reduce adult smoking by 3-5 percent and youth smoking by 13 percent.

I am flexible as to what the increase should be. I originally said I would agree to $1 increase, but I would honestly support a lower increase as well. In fact, I would prefer keeping our increase lower than the Illinois fee of 98 cents.

How should the money be used? Medicaid can be funded without this fee increase. We do have enough in the budget to cover costs and give a small increase to providers in 2006. But what about in 2007? One option for the money generated would be to repay the Senior Living Trust Fund. We borrowed $118 million a few years ago and it is only right that we repay it in a timely fashion. Using the funds from a cigarette user fee can help accelerate this process to begin to pay our Senior Living Trust Fund debt.

We do not need the dollars for Medicaid in the 2006 budget. However, in 2007 Medicaid is expected to increase substantially due to loss of federal funds. With the tobacco increase going into the Trust Fund this year, the legislature could then appropriate out of the Senior Living Trust Fund for Medicaid and particularly for all long-term care alternatives for seniors. I further proposed that the legislature votes must be 60 percent in both the Senate and the House in order to appropriate out of the Senior Living Trust so as to prevent legislators from taking dollars for other priorities out of the fund. Furthermore, this tobacco fee would continue every year to go into the Senior Living Trust Fund so we would have ongoing funding for long-term care programs. Even if revenues go down, these revenues will, indeed, help us with health-care funding for a few years.

I want to reiterate my desire to help discourage new smokers and help those addicted to quit. In my mind, the main reason to do this is that it is the right thing to do!

http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1047979&t=Opinion&c=22,1047979

Statewide Ban On Smoking Proposal -SC

Sunday March 27, 2005 4:52pm

Theresa Acker

COlumbia, SC - A Columbia lawmaker has proposed a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants.
Representative Todd Rutherford says cigarette smoke in restaurants can ruin meals for non-smokers.  The Democrat says he intentionally excluded bars from the legislation.
He says he does not want to do too much at one time.
Opponents say the decision should be left to individual business owners.  The bill has been referred to the House judiciary committee.

http://www.abcnews4.com/news/stories/0305/216414.html

Half of U.S. Kids Face Parent Substance Abuse

Mar 29, 2005 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Half of all U.S. children live in a house where a parent or other adult uses tobacco, drinks heavily or uses illegal drugs, according to a report released on Tuesday.

These adults are three times more likely to abuse their children and four times more likely to neglect them than parents who do not abuse alcohol or drugs or use tobacco, said the report from Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

"Children of alcohol and drug abusers are at increased risk of accidents, injuries and academic failure. Such children are more likely to suffer conduct disorders, depression or anxiety, conditions that increase the risk children will smoke, drink and use drugs," the center said in a statement.

The report is an analysis of the center's own research as well as dozens of reports from groups ranging from Alcoholics Anonymous, U.S. government surveys on families and health behavior and the Children's Defense Fund, a nonprofit social welfare organization.

It found that 35.6 million U.S. children, about half of all children in the country, live in a home where a parent or other adult uses tobacco, drinks heavily or uses illicit drugs.

More than 37 percent of U.S. children live with an adult who uses tobacco, nearly 24 percent live with a binge or heavy drinker and 12.7 percent live in a household where a parent or other adult uses illicit drugs, the report found.

Several studies show that children exposed to household cigarette smoke have a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome, asthma and ear infections. They are more likely to have their tonsils or adenoids surgically removed and recent studies show they have a bigger risk of cancer and heart disease.

"If substance abusing parents are not concerned about what drugs, alcohol and tobacco are doing to themselves, they should be concerned about the ill effects they have on their children," center Chairman Joseph Califano said.

"Children of substance abusing parents are much likelier to become substance abusers themselves," he added.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=623733

Smoking Issue Blows Up -NZ

NewstalkZB  28/03/2005

A South Island bar owner, John Van Buren, is sceptical that anyone will be fined as a result of the smoking legislation which came into effect late last year.
A Cambridge bar owner, Dean Risi, is likely to face a hearing after patrons have continued to smoke in his bar with his support.
Mr Van Buren is also leader of the newly formed political party WIN, and he says it would be ridiculous to revoke someone's licence over something so petty.
Mr Van Buren says the law is so weak that it has no future.
He says his party supports the freedom of business owners to run their businesses as they see fit.
The WIN party will be registering next week for this year's election.
It is supporting all those who chose to ignore the smoking legislation.
John Van Buren says he totally stands by Mr Risi, who is likely to face prosecution over the new law.
Kelly Browne's Bar is likely to have its licence suspended as patrons continue to smoke in the bar.
Dean Risi says he has displayed no-smoking signs as the law requires.
He says he does not believe he is breaking the law, as it states he has to do everything reasonable to stop people from smoking.
He says making somebody leave by using force does not seem reasonable.
Mr Risi expects he will be one of the first to test the new smoking laws.
He says his views on the ban on smoking in bars and clubs have not changed since the legislation came into force.
He says people still smoke in his bar, even though he has displayed his own signs as well as the compulsory ones provided by the Ministry of Health.
Mr Risi says on his sign he states it is illegal to smoke inside, but encourages patrons to enjoy his hospitality as they have in the past.

http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,11964-4233942,00.html

Ireland celebrates success of smoking ban

But some blame year-old law for drop in pub sales

DUBLIN - Ireland’s pioneering smoking ban has won widespread support despite fears it would put pubs out of business, anti-smoking group ASH said on Tuesday.

The ban on smoking in pubs, restaurants and workplaces, introduced exactly a year ago, was expected to meet widespread resistance in a country where the pub culture of a drink and a smoke were considered part of its lifeblood.

Instead, the sight of smokers huddled outside pub doors is now as familiar as a pint of Guinness.

“The general support for this health initiative is extremely high and has increased further since its introduction, even among smokers -- and exceeds all expectations,” said ASH, noting the new law had 97 percent support in pubs and restaurants.

Professor Luke Clancy, chairman of ASH’s Irish branch, said the ban could become the “health initiative of the century.”

The group estimates that tobacco kills six times as many people in Ireland as road accidents, work accidents, drugs, murder, suicide and AIDS combined. Dealing with smoking-related illnesses is a massive drain on health resources.

“As expected, the scaremongering predictions, such as the projected loss of 60,000 jobs, have not materialized. Neither have vast numbers of public houses closed -- in fact the selling price of these establishments continues to increase,” Clancy said.

Costs drive drinkers home
Similar laws had been introduced before in cities and states like New York and California, but Ireland was the first country to introduce a nationwide ban. A number of other countries, including Malta, Norway and Italy, have since followed suit.

But not everyone in Ireland has welcomed the ban.

Some pub owners and drinks and tobacco firms blame it for a drop in sales -- bar revenues fell 6.3 percent in the first nine months of 2004. Cigarette sales dropped about 18 percent last year compared to a 10 percent fall in 2003.

Locals say the decline of the Irish pub has more to do with high prices and lifestyle changes than the smoking ban.

Alcoholic drinks cost more in Ireland than in any other EU country -- some 82 percent above the eurozone average --according to figures from the EU statistics agency Eurostat last year.

“One year on, there’s no doubt that sales have been hit by the ban, but prices are the bigger issue,” said Bettina MacCarvill, associate director of market research group Millward Brown IMS.

“Many people are opting to spend more on their leisure time at home or in the homes of friends and family, rather than pricey nights out in bars and restaurants,” she added.

But for those smokers who still venture out for a taste of Ireland’s famed “craic” (fun), the ban can have some benefits.

Micheal Martin, the health minister who introduced the ban, said last year the law had spurred a new form of dating -- with smokers striking up conversations outside bars and clubs.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7326032/

Use of Antibiotics and Risk of Breast Cancer

L. A. García Rodríguez and A. González-Pérez

From the Spanish Center for Pharmacoepidemiologic Research, Madrid, Spain

Correspondence to Dr. Antonio González-Pérez, Centro Español de Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica (CEIFE), Almirante 28, 28004 Madrid, Spain (e-mail: agonzalez@ceife.es).

 A recent nested case-control study found that increasing use of antibiotics was associated with a significantly elevated risk of breast cancer. The authors attempted to replicate this finding with a similar study design using the General Practice Research Database in the United Kingdom. Women aged 30–79 years who were registered in the database between January 1995 and December 2001 comprised the study cohort. A total of 3,708 women with incident cases of breast cancer and 20,000 frequency-matched controls were entered into a nested case-control analysis. Use of antibiotics was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. For categories of increasing cumulative days of use (1–50, 51–100, 101–500, and 501 days), the corresponding odds ratios were 1.0 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9, 1.1), 1.0 (95% CI: 0.8, 1.1), 0.9 (95% CI: 0.7, 1.0), and 1.2 (95% CI: 0.9, 1.6) (p = 0.31 for trend). On the basis of these results, antibiotic use does not appear to be a major determinant of breast cancer risk.

http://aje.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/161/7/616

*how can the discount this, yet have tobacco be a danger at lower values?

British American Unit Fined $250,000 in U.S. Government Suit

 March 28 (Bloomberg)

 -- A unit of British American Tobacco Plc was fined $250,000 for failing to provide evidence in the Justice Department's racketeering suit against U.S. cigarette makers.

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler today granted a government request for the fine against British American Tobacco (Investments) Ltd., or BATCo, for ``reckless misconduct and bad faith'' in violating a pretrial order.

Kessler also fined BATCo's attorneys and will prevent the company from introducing evidence relating to its document- destruction policies in the trial, which has been under way since September, she said in the order

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000102&sid=aVGHGHwv6v8o&refer=uk

Getting To The Heart Of The Matter -PA

 Part Three of a five-part series

Part Three - Smoking

HEALTH CHECK WITH Jim McCrossin

In Parts One and Two of this series we learned that the first three steps toward lowering your risk for cardiovascular disease are:

1. A visit to your physician,
2. A change in your nutritional habits and,
3. Controlling or avoiding high blood pressure.

Step four, if applicable, may be the toughest for you.  But, it is imperative for your healthy life and the healthy lives of the people around you.

Step Four:   Say farewell to smoking.

Advising a cigarette smoker to cease from smoking is one of the most difficult things to do.  As a non-smoker, I am not qualified to sympathize with the addictive properties of cigarettes (be they physical or psychological).  And, there is always that proverbial aunt or uncle who “smoked like a chimney” and lived to the ripe old age of 90.  Who can argue with that?  I can.  Yes, there are always exceptions to the rule; but, the number of smokers who follow the classic decline in health far outnumber the exceptions.  Here are some of the facts:

According to the Surgeon General, cigarette smoking is the most important and preventable cause of premature death in the United State today.  It accounts for more than 440,000 of the more than 2.4 million deaths in our country per year.  Cigarette smokers have a much higher risk of developing various types of chronic disorders.  These include fatty buildups in arteries, several types of cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  Arteriosclerosis or “clogged arteries” is a major contributor to the high number of deaths of smokers.  Cigarette smoking alone increases the risk of coronary heart disease. When combined with other risk factors, it greatly increases your risk.

Smoking increases blood pressure, decreases your tolerance for exercise, decreases your HDL or “good” cholesterol levels and decreases your blood’s ability to clot appropriately.   It also increases the risk of recurrent coronary heart disease after bypass surgery.  Research has shown that women who smoke and use oral contraceptives greatly increase their risk of coronary heart disease and stroke compared with nonsmokers who use contraceptives.

So, What about Smoking a Cigar or Pipe?  Research suggests that people who smoke cigars or pipes have a high risk of death from coronary heart disease and possibly stroke.  However, their risk is not as great as those who smoke cigarettes. Currently, there is very little research on the connection between cigar or pipe smoking and cardiovascular disease.  This is unfortunate as the young represent the majority of cigar smokers in our country.  They might be unaware of the damage that they are causing themselves.

I Know I Must Quit, but At Least My Kids Don’t Smoke!   This is a very dangerous way to think.  The fact is that the connection between second-hand smoke and disease is very well documented.  Anywhere between 37,000 to 40,000 people die from heart and blood vessel disease caused by other people’s smoke each year.  Of these, approximately 35,000 nonsmokers die from coronary heart disease, which includes heart attack.  People who have never smoked, but live with a smoker have a 15% higher mortality rate than those who live in a smoke-free household. A recent study performed in Europe found that second-hand smoke at home boosts the risk of lung cancer, on the average of 20%.

Smoking cessation can diminish not only your risk of heart disease, but also that of everyone else around you.  Sure it is going to be hard, but your doctor can help you develop a plan for quitting.  Many hospitals also sponsor smoking cessation programs.  Do it for yourself…do it for your loved ones!

Healthy Eating - Check Out These Recipes For Lunch

http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com/features/McCrossin/270.asp

New Survey Extinguishes 'Smoking is Sexy' Myth -PA

Posted on: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 04:03 AM

PITTSBURGH-- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare today released survey findings that decisively refute the myth that smokers are "sexy." In fact, in a national survey of 784 adults aged 18-44, an overwhelming majority of respondents -- 87% -- disagreed with the sentiment that smoking is sexy. Adding insult to injury, among all adults, almost one quarter (24%) have actually turned down sex because the potential partner was a smoker.

The April Fool's survey also shows that most people find smoking a drag when considering a romantic partner, with more than three-quarters of adults preferring to date non-smokers. And the finding is not limited to those who don't light up themselves, as even 76% of smokers admit that the habit isn't sexy. "There's no doubt that quitting smoking has immediate health benefits. But if people need an additional incentive to quit above and beyond their overall health, perhaps this unexpected advantage to their personal lives is it. We want to be there to help smokers quit regardless of their reason for trying," said Bill Slivka, Vice President, Smoking Control, GSK Consumer Healthcare.

The survey, while lighthearted on its face, is bolstered by several studies that reveal the very serious effect smoking can have on sexual performance in men. Smoking restricts bloodflow and can impact the quality of sexual response. In one study, smokers as young as 31-49 were 50% more likely than nonsmokers to report and suffer from erectile dysfunction.(1) This very real problem is nearly unknown to smokers, as only 28% of those surveyed agree that smoking can cause this side effect.

Fortunately, quitting smoking can improve erectile dysfunction, and new data show that even the heaviest smokers benefit from using medical nicotine to quit.(2) "Many heavily addicted smokers believe nothing can help them, but we now know that these smokers are among the most successful in quitting using medicinal nicotine," said Slivka. "We hope that the added bonus to their sexual health is the push they need to quit."

GSK Consumer Healthcare has a long history in developing innovative smoking cessation products, and currently markets the broadest range of non- prescription, FDA-approved quit methods, including NicoDerm(R) CQ(R) patch, Nicorette(R) gum, and Commit(R) lozenge. To date, GSK Consumer Healthcare's stop-smoking products have helped more than 2 million Americans stop smoking by providing lower, safe doses of nicotine to ease withdrawal from cigarettes. GSK Consumer Healthcare's medicinal nicotine products are clinically proven to help smokers safely manage the symptoms of nicotine dependence and withdrawal so they can quit successfully.(3) These products help smokers quit without exposing them to the more than 4,000 chemicals and at least 69 known or suspected carcinogens found in tobacco smoke.(4) Smokers can choose which medicinal nicotine product to use based upon their preferences and individual smoking habits, including how much they smoke. Further, smokers can choose a GSK Consumer Healthcare medication confident in the knowledge that these products have been tested in over 100 controlled clinical trials involving over 35,000 participants and found to be safe and effective in helping smokers quit.(5)

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over- the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well- known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette(R) and NicoDerm(R), as well as many medicine cabinet staples, Abreva(R), Aquafresh(R), Sensodyne(R) and Tums(R). GSK Consumer Healthcare continues to develop innovative products to help all smokers find their best support system and achieve their goal of being cigarette free.

About GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline is one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare companies. GlaxoSmithKline is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

About the Survey

This survey was conducted for GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare using Opinion Research Corporation's CARAVAN(R) National Omnibus. Telephone interviews were conducted from March 10-14, 2005 among 784 adults 18-44 years of age. A random-digit-dial sampling methodology was implemented for this study.

Margin of error: The results achieved from all sample surveys are subject to sampling error. Sampling error is defined as the difference between the results obtained from the sample and those that would have been obtained had the entire relevant population been surveyed. The sampling error for the total sample of this survey (n = 784) is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Please note that when comparing smaller subgroups, such as respondents divided by gender categories, the margin of error increases.

(1) Mannino DM, Klevens RM, Flanders WD. Cigarette smoking: an independent risk factor for impotence? American Journal of Epidemiology 1994;140: 1003-1008.

(2) Shiffman S, Di Marino MA, Pillitteri, JL. The effectiveness of nicotine patch and nicotine lozenge in very heavy smokers. Journal of Substance Abuse 2005;28(1): 49-55

(3) Public Health Service Guidelines, 2000. Fiore MC, Bailey WC, Cohen SJ, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. June 2000.

(4)http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/toc11.html, Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program.

(5) http://www.cochrane.org/cochrane/revabstr/ab000146.htm

Source: GlaxoSmithKline

CONTACT: Malesia Dunn of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare,
+1-412-200-3544, malesia.a.dunn@gsk.com; or Virginia Bader,
+1-202-973-5812, virginia.bader@porternovelli.com for GlaxoSmithKline

Web site: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/toc11.html
http://www.cochrane.org/cochrane/revabstr/ab000146.htm

http://pittsburgh.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?newsid=17426&type_news=latest

A systematic review of school-based smoking prevention trials with long-term follow-up

Sarah E. Wiehe, a*, Michelle M. Garrison, cd, Dimitri A. Christakis, bd, Beth E. Ebel, bd, Frederick P. Rivara, bcd

Conclusion

Based on the available data in 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a comprehensive tobacco control program  that included a school-based component. In addition, Congress mandated that schools seeking Title IV funds use research-based prevention programs. Despite this, as shown in this systematic review, there is little evidence to suggest that existing programs produce long-term decreases in smoking prevalence.

http://www.jahonline.org/article/PIIS1054139X04004604/fulltext

Casinos fear ban on smoking -NJ & CO

30-03-05

NEW YORK - Smoking bans being considered in New Jersey and Colorado would hurt revenue at casinos, analysts and industry lobbyists say.
Legislatures in both states are weighing bills that would ban smoking in public areas.
"We believe the outcome of the bill could have a considerable impact on Atlantic City casinos," Deutsche Bank analyst Marc Falcone said, adding that an estimated one-third of casino clients are smokers.
The Casino Association of New Jersey, which represents all the major casinos in Atlantic City, opposes including casinos in the statewide ban.
"All of the casinos in Atlantic City currently feature sophisticated ventilation and filtration systems, and most offer non-smoking sections as well," Audrey Oswell, president of the association, said. "The volume of play, however, in non-smoking sections in the casino is significantly less."
Chapter Local 54 of Unite Here - the union that represents 10,000 casino employees - is supporting the New Jersey bill to protect union members from second-hand smoke.
Colorado is a big regional gaming market with more than 40 casinos.
"This (ban) goes against the ‘capture theory’," William Thompson, a casino expert and professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, said in an interview, referring to casinos’ attempts to keep people inside their buildings.
"Now people will go out to smoke and get more of a perspective on things. They might think they are losing too much, or they should quit [gambling] for a while," he said. "Worse yet, once they are outside, they might think of trying another place or leaving altogether."
"I think it would stand to reason they would lose business. They would lose at least the time it takes to smoke a cigarette. And 20 minutes of gambling can be US$100 ($NZ140), even at the cheap tables," he said.
Similar legislation elsewhere indicates Atlantic City and Colorado would lose revenue, at least initially.
Gaming revenue at Delaware’s three "racinos" - racetracks that have slot machines - fell 11 per cent in 2003 after a smoking ban was implemented in 2002.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=3&ObjectID=10117678

Delaware smoking ban seems to be winning public over

But some say 2002 law hurt business.

By Robert Moran Inquirer Trenton Bureau Mar. 29, 2005

WILMINGTON - Tavern owner Nicholas Govatos is unhappy with Delaware's ban on smoking in restaurants and bars.

"It's rough," said Govatos, 52, who estimated that business at his downtown Wilmington watering hole declined 50 percent after the prohibition took effect in late 2002.

For his nonsmoking bartender, however, the ban is a breath of fresh air.

"I probably wouldn't be bartending if there was smoking in bars," said Gretchen Ghione, 32, of Chester County, who took the job at Govatos Tavern two months ago.

In Delaware, many bar owners and their patrons still gripe about the ban, but most of the state seems to have accepted - even embraced - the law.

"The longer we go, the more people like it," said Greg Patterson, spokesman for Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, whose second husband died of lung cancer.

"We get far more kudos than criticism from visitors" about the ban, said J. Harry Feldman, executive director of the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau.

As Philadelphia and New Jersey consider their own smoking bans, Delaware offers a useful comparison, especially with its three racetrack casinos.

Delaware's ban applies to its casinos, and gambling revenue slumped after it was imposed - a fact that Atlantic City casinos cite as proof that they would be hurt by a New Jersey ban.

For slot machines in Delaware, 2002 was a banner year, with $556.8 million in net revenue, of which $292.4 million went into state coffers.

In 2003, with the smoking ban in effect, net revenue declined $31 million, or 5.6 percent. It was the first year that revenue from slots had declined since they were introduced at the end of 1995.

In 2004, net revenue ticked up but was still 4.4 percent behind 2002.

"We did take a hit on the revenue, but how much of that was due to the smoking ban? There's no way I can tell you," said Wayne Lemons, director of the state lottery, which oversees the slot machines.

He noted that a blizzard and a hurricane in 2003 had shut down the racetracks for several days, and that hurt revenue.

Some officials pointed to the recession and the start of the Iraq war in 2003 as factors.

Lemons said the smoking ban had hurt slots to some extent, "but in my opinion, we've rebounded from it."

At Dover Downs racetrack last week, smokers and nonsmokers were busy feeding money into the rows of video slot machines.

Muriel Mosley, a 62-year-old former smoker from Maryland, said she loved gambling in the smoke-free enviroment.

"I used to come in here when you could smoke, and I couldn't take it," she said. "I'd go home, and my clothes would be stinky. It would be in my hair."

Dover Downs accommodates smokers with partially enclosed smoking areas, including one that features a bar and several large-screen TVs.

In the bar last week, David Hudson, 77, a World War II veteran and tobacco farmer from North Carolina, puffed on his Winston and called the ban on smoking in the casino "a bunch of baloney."

"What do you expect when you go into a bar or casino? Cigarette smoking and booze," said Frank Wornom, 71, a Maryland resident who joined Hudson for the smoke break.

Several bar owners and patrons around the state echoed that sentiment.

"Anyone that tells you it is working out is nuts," said Frank Infante, owner of Bull Dozer's Saloon in Smyrna.

Infante, 38, was so riled by the ban that it inspired him to run for governor last year against Minner.

Arlene Eskin, 57, said she had to close her fledgling bar and restaurant, Naamans Cafe, six months after the ban took effect.

About a mile from the Pennsylvania border, Naamans Cafe's sales dropped 60 percent when customers crossed the state line to patronize smoking bars, Eskin said.

Her other place near the border, Pepi's Bar & Grill, is still in business, but sales are down 35 percent, she said.

"I'm not convinced it's bottomed out," she said.

While some of the anecdotal evidence is grim, several measures indicate that the restaurant industry generally is doing well with the ban.

In the first 11 months of 2002 - before the ban took effect - the state Division of Revenue collected $3.97 million in gross receipt taxes from restaurants, including fast-food chains and other previously nonsmoking establishments.

For the same period in 2003, collections increased 3.7 percent. And they rose an additional 8.2 percent in the same period last year.

The number of liquor licenses for bars went from 101 in 2002 to 109 in 2003, according to the state. In 2004, the number dropped to 108.

While lighting up in a bar is against the law, it is still legal in private clubs.

"I go to the VFW now because it's a private club and I can smoke in there," said Kevin Kaiser, 43, as he stood smoking outside Just Mugs Saloon in Bear.

Inside, owner Liz Moorhead, 38, flipped through a blue folder stuffed an inch thick with documents on the smoking ban.

She has been cited several times for violations of the ban, and said she had received more scrutiny because she was an outspoken opponent.

When a bill exempting bars was considered in 2003, Moorhead explained to lawmakers that she had lost $41,000 in the ban's first four months.

"They didn't really care," she said.

The bill was voted down.

For most restaurants, the story is different.

John Conley, co-owner of Conley Ward's Steakhouse in Wilmington, said the ban had not hurt his business. And smokers still come. For cold weather, the restaurant set up a tent outside for smokers. "Saturday night, we'll have 30 people out there smoking," he said.

Noting the spread of smoking bans elsewhere, he said, "It's inevitable that it's going to be banned nationwide.

"There's nowhere to hide."

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/11253530.htm

Old bar wants out of smoke ban -FL

By Linda Kleindienst | Tallahassee Bureau Posted March 29, 2005
TALLAHASSEE -- Sloppy Joe's might have been Ernest Hemingway's favorite bar, but the state says the Key West landmark is a restaurant, which makes it illegal to light up a smoke there.
Owners of the national historic landmark are hoping for a reprieve, asking the Legislature to redefine what it considers a "stand-alone bar" and exempt their 72-year-old establishment from the state's constitutional smoking ban.
The state law allows smoking in bars where no more than 10 percent of the revenue comes from food sales and where the business is devoted predominantly to selling alcoholic beverages.
Sloppy Joe's food sales account for 17 percent of the business.
It is asking the stand-alone bar exemption on food to be raised to 20 percent, but only for any business located in a building individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
"If you have eight beers and one burger with fries, where do you think you are, a restaurant or a bar?" asked Chris Mullins, whose family has owned the Duval Street bar since 1978.
He said revenues dropped $1 million a year -- 10 percent of business -- after the smoking ban took effect.
The ban has also led to customers to leave cigarette butts on the front walkway, so he tried to get approval from the local historical commission to put ashtrays at the entrance.
"But since ashtrays weren't considered historical, we weren't allowed to do that," Mullins recently told members of the House Business Regulation Committee.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ken Sorenson, R-Key Largo, passed in a 12-6 vote.
A similar measure has been filed in the Senate by Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, but has not yet had a committee hearing.
The proposed changes are opposed by the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society and the Florida Restaurant Association.
"The reality is that the smoking ban has hurt many restaurants and some have suffered a more than 20 percent loss," said Warren Husband, a lobbyist for restaurant owners.
"But the law is the law."
Some lawmakers were concerned that changing the law to help out Sloppy Joe's could end up exempting a host of bar/restaurants in historic places such as Ybor City, near Tampa, and St. Augustine.
"And then next year another business will come in with problems. Where do we draw the line? There has to be some respect for the law," said Rep. Jennifer Carroll, R-Green Cove Springs.
But state officials estimate perhaps only five businesses across the state could benefit from the exemption proposed by Sloppy Joe's

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-locsloppyjoe29032905mar29,1,1681108.story?coll=orl-news-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true

Philip Morris to Appeal N.Y. Smoker Award -NY

 Published: March 29, 2005 9:50 AM 

By Christina Cheddar Berk Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--A New York jury ordered Philip Morris USA to pay $17.1 million in punitive damages to a lung cancer patient, who claims the cigarette maker failed to warn her about the dangers of smoking.

The award Monday came one week after the same jury at the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan ordered Altria Group Inc.'s (MO) Philip Morris USA unit and American Tobacco, which is now a unit of Reynolds American Inc. (RAI), to pay $3.42 million in compensatory damages to Norma Rose, a 72-year old woman who began smoking as a teenager, and her husband Leonard. The compensatory award was split equally between the two companies.

"Philip Morris USA will appeal this decision and believes the judgment should be overturned based on the facts presented at trial and the novel legal theory asserted in the case," said William Ohlemeyer, Philip Morris USA vice president and associated general counsel, in a written statement.

In addition, Ohlemeyer said the jury's punitive damages award was inconsistent with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the State Farm case. In the State Farm case, the court imposed limitations on the amount of punitive damages that are permissible.

In the case, Norma Rose alleged smoking caused her lung cancer and the companies manufactured a defective product.

http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20050329-000321-0950

Surrey chapter enforces smoking policy -ND

By ANDREA JOHNSON, Staff Writer ajohnson@ndweb.com

Lighting up is no longer allowed anywhere on the school grounds at Surrey Public School, and that's the way students like it.

Misty Huesers, a member of the Students Against Destructive Decisions chapter, said group members spoke three times to the Surrey Public School Board last year to get the smoke-free policy passed.

Now SADD members are also taking a hand in enforcing the new policy at school events. Huesers said she and other students stand outside the school doors at games and tell smokers they must go across the street if they want a cigarette. Huesers said the policy has taken some getting used to, but most of the reaction has been positive. Even smokers who forget and light up outside the school apologize and walk across the street when reminded of the smoking ban.

Surrey is one of a growing number of schools in the state that have gone smoke-free. It's also one of a growing number with SADD chapters.

Huesers and sophomore Trisha Melin were among members of the Surrey chapter who attended a state conference in Jamestown earlier this month. The girls and other members of the chapter taught a workshop on the importance of diversity there. They also came away reenergized and filled with ideas for next year.

This year chapter members have gone into elementary classrooms and taught younger kids about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol, about the importance of wearing seatbelts and resisting negative peer pressure and making positive life decisions.

Earlier this year, the chapter sponsored a school speaker on the dangers of drunk driving. A local man spoke about his daughter, who was critically injured in an alcohol-related car accident several years ago and is now in a coma. The presentation brought several students in the audience to tears, said Huesers. It was a timely reminder because the prom season is coming up, she said.

The students said a SADD chapter gives them a place where they can fit in and do positive things together.

"We all have the same views and values," said Melin.

http://www.minotdailynews.com/news/story/0329202005_new29news2.asp

Robber beats up store owner -TX

By Domingo Ramirez Jr. Star-Telegram Staff Writer Posted on Tue, Mar. 29, 2005

BEDFORD - A convenience store owner was beaten and robbed Monday morning by a bandit who rushed into the store minutes after it opened and attacked her from behind, police said.

The 55-year-old owner from Grand Prairie was hit numerous times in the head and face, according to police reports. She was taken to Harris Methodist H.E.B. hospital, where she was treated and released.

The holdup occurred about 7:15 a.m. at Viva Food Mart, 1305 Brown Trail.

The victim told police that before opening, she saw a young man and a teen-age girl in front of the store. The couple did not enter the store when she opened for the day, police said.

"She was concerned enough that she called her husband at another store," Bedford Lt. Kirk Roberts said. "But a few minutes later, she decided everything was fine and went back to working in the store."

The owner told police that she was attacked a few seconds later.

"The [robber] used his fists and other objects to hit her in the face and head," Roberts said.

The robber took an undetermined amount of cigarette cartons. He left on foot, police said.

The victim described the robber as a white man in his early 20s, about 5 feet 7 inches tall and wearing a black-hooded sweat suit. He had his nose and ear pierced, police said.

Anyone with information should call Bedford police at (817) 952-2431.

http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/states/texas/northeast/11256672.htm

Tribal member awarded thousands for injury suffered by trooper -RI

Jurors say trooper used excessive force
Sam Lewin 3/29/2005
Victory for the employee of a tribal smoke shop involved in a violent raid by Rhode Island State Police.
A jury has found that trooper Ken Jones used excessive force against Narragansett tribal member and smoke shop employee Adam Jennings during the raid. They awarded $301,100 in damages to Jennings. The award breaks down to $1,100 for medical costs and $300,000 for pain and suffering, jurors said.
Jones cried after the verdict was announced.
During the trial, Jones, who was accused of breaking Jennings’ ankle, said he used a technique that had previously been approved by department guidelines.
“I applied a controlled technique. I used the pressure that I thought was necessary to get Mr. Jennings to comply with the verbal commands that were being issued," he testified.
The lawsuit originally targeted seven troopers involved in the raid, but federal Judge Ernest Torres rejected claims of false imprisonment and false arrest against four of them-leaving only Jones, Staci Shepherd, Ken Bell. The federal jury dismissed charges against Shepherd and Bell.
During opening arguments, plaintiff’s attorney Michael Bradley said even though his clients attempted to follow orders to the best of their ability, authorities manhandled Paulla "Sunflower" Dove Jennings, a member of the Narragansett Tribal Council, and the manager of the smoke shop, Keith Huertas. The three accused authorities of violating their constitutional rights and of committing assault and battery and false imprisonment.
Adam is Paulla’s son.
“It's good to see some justice done," Paulla Jennings told reporters after the decision was handed down. "I didn't come here expecting anything. I just wanted our voices heard."
The incident happened in July 2003, a mere two days after the smoke shop opened. Rhode Island television stations captured images of the incident and broadcast them nationally. Narragansett Chief Sachern Matthew Thomas was arrested during the raid and lightly injured.
The tribe had been frustrated in its efforts to build a casino in the state. Chief Thomas maintained the Narragansett were following the lead set by other tribes that operate tax-free smoke shops in neighboring states. The Narragansett Indian Tribe is a poor one, and Thomas said the smoke shop is necessary financially.
Although he later backed off somewhat, Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri initially defended the raid, saying the state had “every right and authority” to stop the tribe from selling tax-free cigarettes.
Indian interest groups did not see it that way.
The National Congress of American Indians said at the time that they were "shocked and disgusted by the blatant disregard for sovereign rights shown in the actions…of the Rhode Island State Police."
Then Colorado Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell wrote in a letter to then Attorney General John Ashcroft that, “Anyone who witnessed the episode on videotape -- as I have -- surely was sickened and profoundly disappointed at the tactics used by the state in its dispute with the tribe regarding sales of tobacco on the tribe's lands.”
An independent committee later appointed by Carcieri to examine the raid released a report that criticized both the tribe and state police for their actions in the case

http://nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=6228

Passive smoking claims defeated -UK

Published 31-Mar-2005

A pub manager has had her passive smoking claim defeated in Newcastle County Court.

Ann Michelle Muir lost her claim for personal injury against Laurel Pub Company and the Whitbread Group.
She claimed that as manager of the New Derby in Roker Baths, Sunderland, between 1993 and 2003, the pub had been noisy and smoky and both staff and customers complained of the levels of smoke.

She had made a claim for £400,000, saying that as a result of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) she developed tonsillitis, laryngitis and vocal cord nodules, which made her unfit for work.

Both Laurel and Whitbread admitted breach of duty of regulations five and six of the Workplace Regulations 1992, relating to ventilation.

Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said: “This important case has established the difficulty of proving the ETS connection with ill-health.”

http://www.thepublican.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=16797&d=11

Nfld. budget invests in health care -NL

Dene Moore Canadian Press March 21, 2005

ST. JOHN'S, Nfld. -- Buoyed by record-high oil prices and a federal windfall, Newfoundland's Conservative government had a little something for everyone in its second budget Monday.

In a dramatic departure from its first year in office, when the government slashed spending and called for the elimination of thousands of public sector jobs, the province announced small investments across the board.

The government will increase overall spending by four per cent to $4.24 billion in 2005-2006.

The annual deficit is projected at $492 million - almost half the amount projected in last year's budget.

There are no new taxes, but the tobacco tax will go up by one cent per cigarette.

"Overall, I think it balances our fiscal responsibility with a social conscience,'' Finance Minister Loyola Sullivan told reporters prior to tabling his budget in the legislature.

The province will receive a guaranteed $2 billion over the next eight years in a new offshore accord with and oil revenues are at record highs.

The federal government has increased equalization payments to the provinces and Newfoundland will receive an extra $30 million this year in federal health transfers.

"Our situation is improved and it's improved considerably, but we still have a long ways to go,'' he said. "We're still cognizant of the bottom line but we can't put everything on hold.''

The province was in position to balance its budget on a cash basis this year, but it chose instead to pay off some debts.

Sullivan said he now hopes to have a cash surplus of $143 million by 2006-2007.

Roger Grimes, leader of the Liberal Opposition, said the government is low-balling its revenue projections.

There is already a surplus but the Conservatives want to keep expectations low, he said.

"It's way over the line in terms of driving down expectations and trying to make people believe that we don't have money when we do have it,'' Grimes said.

The budget estimated oil revenues at $38US per barrel. Oil is currently trading at $56US per barrel.

Jack Harris, leader of the provincial NDP, said the government had no excuse for a bad-news budget. But labour leader Reg Anstey said that's what it delivered.

"It's a budget that scatters nickels and dimes all over the place but plays games with the estimates and the revenues,'' said Anstey, head of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour.

There were no promises to make pay equity payments or reinvest in the public sector, he said.

The federal government will remain the largest single source of provincial income in 2005-2006, providing 37 per cent of revenues.

The Tories sounded the fiscal alarm when they took office in October 2003.

Last year, the government announced the elimination of 4,000 government jobs over four years. They say there will now be fewer jobs eliminated, but won't say how many.

"We made some tough but necessary choices and we have been fortunate to benefit from increased revenues in key areas,'' Williams said in a statement.

There is still much to be done, he said.

Among $180 million in increased spending, the province promised $20 million in one-time funding for regional health authorities so they can meet budgets that were slashed last year.

The Conservatives will spend $23.2 million to reduce patient wait times and purchase medical equipment and $7 million to expand the provincial drug program.

The business community agreed with Sullivan's approach.

"We never did say to them put everything on the deficit,'' said Marilyn Thompson, president of the St. John's Board of Trade. "What we did ask them to do is, if you're going to spend, spend strategically.''

They seem to have done that, she added.

http://www.canada.com/maritimes/news/story.html?id=986e1f06-8ce3-47d1-aa14-710d30db82c2

Tobacco farmers in limbo
Many want to exit industry, but face huge operating loans

Daniel Pearce - SIMCOE REFORMER
Monday March 21, 2005

DELHI - Ontario’s tobacco growers are heading into another season of uncertainty, frustration, and potentially fateful meetings with bankers.
Every spring, they must borrow heavily to cover wages and bills until the crop is sold in the fall and the loan can be paid back.
As the industry continues to spiral downward, the question is how close are farmers to the breaking point? At which point do they give up? At which point can they no longer put seedlings into the ground?
“When the bank tells them they can’t,” Burford-area grower Brian Poreba said while standing on the floor of the auction exchange here. “I haven’t been in yet (to see his banker).”
Poreba said he’s probably just breaking even but has to continue growing to generate money to pay off debts. He’d like to exit the industry, which has shrunk by about one-half in the past 20 years, but is waiting for a buyout program to take shape.
So far, from what he’s heard, the payoff won’t be enough for him to take.
“I have no choice (but to continue growing),” he said. “I just don’t know how much longer I can do this.”
Farmers are struggling against small crop sizes and stagnating prices for their products. They are being overtaken by cheaper imported tobacco and face regulations in Canada that they say prevent them from lowering their prices.
Their final demise may come if and when banks refuse them operating loans.
The whole industry is in danger of collapse if the annual crop size falls below 100 million pounds, the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board has repeatedly warned.
This year, 87 million pounds was contracted with the cigarette companies. Talks for this year’s crop are just beginning and it is uncertain if the 100 million pound mark will be reached again.
“Things are serious,” said Ken Tota, chair of Tobacco Farmers in Crisis, a newly-formed lobby group for growers.
The problem, said Brian Edwards, the group’s president, is that plummeting values for farms have left growers with no equity to borrow against.
“We’re well past the breaking point now,” said Edwards, who added that he knows farmers who have been refused loans this year.
Because a buyout program has been delayed and doesn’t look profitable enough, farmers are trapped and must continue growing, he said. “There’s no escape.”
Edwards himself saw the writing on the wall and sold his Vanessa-area farm about a year ago. He describes himself as “financially secure” and fortunate.
Even in the past year, the value of farms has dropped considerably, he noted.
However, there continues to be demand to buy tobacco quota, the legal right to grow a percentage of the province’s annual crop, said Dan Van Londersele, a Delhi real estate broker and former grower.
“Some producers who are financially secure enough feel there will always be a tobacco market,” Van Londersele said. “But this is not a majority of growers.”
Deals are not being made because the prices on offer are too low and growers are waiting to see how a buyout program will work, he said.
Edwards said about 35 per cent of the province’s 775 growers need to leave the industry to keep it viable and right now there’s not enough money committed from the government to retire that many.
“It’s not even close,” he said.
Ottawa is talking about conducting a reverse auction. Under that scenario, farmers would submit sealed tenders committing themselves without knowing the final price they’d get, Edwards said.
Van Londersele said he thinks it’s time to revive the Committee of Concerned Tobacco Area Municipalities, a group of 26 municipalities that successfully lobbied the federal government 20 years ago to lower cigarette taxes.
“They’d get the same message sent before: that tobacco is a lifeline in this community and the economic spinoff across the province is quite significant,” said Van Londersele, who chaired the committee.

http://simcoereformer.ca/story.php?id=149912

N.B. bar owners say smoking ban hurts -NB

Chris Morris Canadian Press March 23, 2005

FREDERICTON -- New Brunswick bar owners say the province's smoking ban is killing their businesses.

Kim Hunter, president of the New Brunswick Licensees' Association, said Wednesday bar owners are looking to the province's Conservative government to find ways to keep their industry healthy.

Hunter said sales in bars and restaurants plummeted by 24 per cent in the first two months of the province's comprehensive ban on smoking in public places, which took effect last October.

She said many small bars soon will be out of business.

"People are hanging on by their toenails,'' Hunter said.

"The bar business in this province is in crisis.''

Hunter said more and more people are staying home to enjoy a drink and a smoke rather than going out.

She said sales to licensees from October to December of 2004 dropped by 7.02 per cent while consumer purchases at provincial liquor stores increased by 7.3 per cent in the same three-month period.

Hunter said that at the same time sales are being battered by the smoking ban, bars and restaurants are also having trouble coping with skyrocketing prices for everything from electricity to insurance.

"We're getting hit time and time again.''

Premier Bernard Lord's government brought in the province-wide ban on smoking as a health measure.

There have been more than a hundred incidents of non-compliance with the new law. However, so far only one Moncton bar owner has been convicted and fined for allowing smoking.

Hunter said her industry will approach the government for help, but she would not say what the bar owners have in mind.

She said operators themselves have to find new ways to make their businesses profitable.

"We realize smoking bans are the way of the future and, as an industry, we have to work harder and come up with new revenue streams to ride out this new market reality of no smoking in public places.'

http://www.canada.com/search/story.html?id=20964f31-ae08-4dba-aac0-6a500d87b4f2

Charities concerned over anti-smoking law -AB

canada.com Wednesday, March 23, 2005

EDMONTON -- Alberta charities fear that a move toward provincial legislation to curb smoking in public places will jeopardize funding they get from bingos.

The Charity Defence Fund represents groups and organizations that rely on bingo money.

It says a private member's bill on smoking, currently being debated in the legislature, could drive away players who light up during games.

Fund spokeswoman Sabine Brasok says officials estimate that could take about 30 million dollars out of charities' pockets, province-wide.

Brasok says other provinces that have banned smoking in all indoor public places have noted a 30-per-cent drop in bingo attendance.

Her group would like to see separate smoking rooms and ventilation systems.

Premier Ralph Klein has said that the smoking bill, if passed, would have extensive amendments and would exempt places like bingo halls.

http://www.canada.com/search/story.html?id=34688f6e-126d-49e6-8ce8-26d80c28f646

Restaurants urge fair smoking ban -QC

'There must be a level playing field'. Eateries prepared to support restrictions if they apply to bars that serve food, too

ANN CARROLL The Gazette Thursday, March 24, 2005

Quebec restaurant owners say they would support a government ban on smoking in dining rooms as long as the same rules apply to bars that serve meals.

"We believe there must be a level playing field," said Hans Brouillette, spokesperson for the Association des restaurateurs du Quebec.

The lobby group, which represents 5,500 restaurants, yesterday made public its position on possible changes to Quebec's tobacco legislation.

The province is expected to adopt stricter rules on smoking and tobacco sales this year, following a review of its 1998 tobacco law.

"We know a smoking ban is inevitable, we just don't know when or how," Brouillette said, noting that tougher tobacco rules are also to go into effect next year in Ontario.

Following the success of the annual smoke-free restaurant day in January, restaurant owners say a smoking ban could work, under certain conditions:

Make the ban effective May 2006 to give heavy smokers advance warning, and to coincide with better weather and the new Ontario legislation;

Compensate restaurant owners who have already invested in enclosed smoking areas and better ventilation systems;

Permit smoking on open-air terraces (similar to outdoor festival sites), and in restaurant bars that do not serve food.

"There must be the same rules for everybody," Brouillette said. "That's the only way a smoking ban won't have a huge negative impact on our sales."

But bar owners say they should be exempt from smoking restrictions, whether or not they serve food.

If that lures customers away from restaurants, so be it, says Renaud Poulin, president of the Corporation des proprietaires de bars, brasseries et tavernes.

"We can only serve people 18 and over," he noted. "Restaurants have family clientele, and we don't have that advantage."

Asking bar-goers to butt out could drive smokers to drink at home and cost bar owners a hefty percentage of their business, the corporation noted during public consultations in January on changes to the provincial tobacco legislation.

Health Minister Philippe Couillard is waiting for a report from the consultation committee before recommending changes to the law, a department spokesperson said yesterday.

http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/montreal/story.html?id=9314f53a-fcf1-4245-8e50-47ed652231e2

Kenora doctor's smoking ban going to court -ON

Ontario government to defend order

By Helen Fallding Monday, March 28th, 2005

THE Ontario government is going to court to defend a controversial Kenora doctor's right to ban smoking in Northwestern Ontario workplaces as a health hazard.

Regional medical officer of health Dr. Pete Sarsfield created an uproar when he ordered businesses in the region to stop employees and patrons from smoking Jan. 1, 2003.

Municipalities across Canada and provinces, including Manitoba, are now banning smoking, but Sarsfield was the first doctor to attempt to take the issue out of the hands of politicians.

When Northwestern Ontario restaurants and hotels that defied the ban were ordered by Sarsfield to comply, they appealed to Ontario's Health Services Appeal and Review Board.

The board did not question that second-hand smoke is dangerous to health, but ruled in early 2004 that Sarsfield did not have the authority to impose a ban.

Sarsfield chose not to appeal the ruling, which had created so much hostility in the region that business owners were vowing to ignore any health orders from his office.

But Ontario's attorney general is calling for a judicial review of a decision the Liberal government believes could undermine the ability of medical officers of health across the province to do their jobs.

Just because a provincial law could deal with a health hazard doesn't mean medical officers are barred from doing so, government lawyer Sara Blake argues in a recent submission to Ontario's Superior Court of Justice.

The case will be heard in Toronto Sept. 26.

"Should a local medical officer of health be prevented from dealing with a local health hazard caused by tainted meat just because the problem could also be dealt with under the Meat Inspection Act?" Blake writes in the submission. "Should a local medical officer of health be prevented from dealing with a contaminated public water supply just because that problem could also be addressed under the Ontario Water Resources Act?"

Sarsfield is thrilled with the judicial review and supports the attorney general's arguments.

He said the government cannot afford to weaken the power of medical officers to protect the public in the wake of the Walkerton contaminated drinking water disaster and in the era of new infectious diseases like SARS.

Sarsfield's original smoking ban did not have the backing of the former Conservative government or Ontario's former chief medical officer of health, but the government has since changed hands and a new chief medical officer has been appointed.

The new Ontario government has announced a provincewide smoking ban in public places and workplaces to kick in May 2006.

Sarsfield said bans are especially difficult to enforce in rural areas with high rates of smoking. In Northwestern Ontario, life expectancy is almost five years lower than the Canadian average, which Sarsfield attributes in part to smoking.

Rural Manitoba bars continue to fight Manitoba's provincewide smoking ban, which came into effect in October.

Sarsfield said bars, tobacco farmers and corner stores that sell cigarettes should just accept the inevitable decline in smoking and find another way to make money that doesn't harm people.

"There's no safe way to use tobacco."

www.winnepegfreepress.com

Partial smoking ban takes effect this week -AB

By Bradley Fehr bfehr@bowesnet.com Monday March 28, 2005

Hinton Parklander — By April 1, restaurateurs must choose between allowing minors or smokers into their businesses.
That is when a new smoking bylaw comes into effect, which states that smoking in restaurants is prohibited when minors are present.
Eateries have three compliance options. They could ban smoking and allow minors into the restaurant, ban minors and allow smoking in the restaurant or set hours that minors are permitted and allow smoking during the hours they are prohibited.
In addition, the bylaw allows for smoking in areas completely sealed off from the remainder of the restaurant.
Gus’ Pizza is one restaurant that is going completely non-smoking. Proprietor Gus Tsougrianis said he doesn’t have much choice because many of his patrons are families. He has even gone one step further and quit smoking himself.
The local Royal Canadian Legion has taken the opposite approach and minors, like cadets, will no longer be permitted in the downstairs lounge.
“They don’t leave us any choice,” said Laverne Kellie, branch manager, adding many legion members smoke and they must cater to their membership.
“I just don’t think it’s fair that the town should dictate how we run our business.”
The restaurant and hall upstairs will remain non-smoking and the cadets will still be able to access their downstairs office because of a glass partition.
Cedar Creek restaurant is taking an approach somewhere between the other two options. The restaurant will allow minors into the establishment until 5 p.m. and then dedicate the seating to adults and smokers after that.
“We feel we’re being pressured into this,” said co-owner, Brian Tomkins. “We don’t want to exclude anyone.”
He said about half of their clientele work in the oil and gas industry and many smoke.
“We’d have to watch half of our clientele walk out the door,” he said, adding those customers will just go somewhere else that allows smoking.
Cedar Creek will post signs at the door and on a bulletin board out front to inform the public of their decision.
Some restaurants, such as Boston Pizza and Ranchers, have a completely separate smoking lounge. These restaurants will not have to change anything, but will have to continue to ensure minors don’t enter those rooms.
Rachelle Andre, coach of Building Leadership for Action in Schools Today (BLAST), a group which approached town council last year about the possible implementation of a bylaw.
She said the bylaw amendment that is about to take effect is a step in the right direction.
“It’s a really good start. There’s a better choice than before,” she said.
High school student and BLAST captain, Angela Volk, is pleased with the approach taken by some restaurants.
“It’s great that some restaurants are setting an example for the other restaurants that have chosen toxic air rather than children,” she said.
The owner of Queen’s Bakery, Peter Bundscherer, has run his business smoke free for the last decade and said his business has survived.
He said he initially lost some customers when he made the change, but soon made up for it with increased business from families.
In addition, he said non-smokers spend less time in his establishment and the higher turnover is beneficial to his bottom line. Bundscherer believes the whole province will eventually be smoke-free.
“Smoking is out. It’s just a matter of time,” he said.

http://www.hintonparklander.com/story.php?id=151383

Petition to exempt Legion from smoke-free bylaw -ON

Woman says members being discriminated against

By Michael Jiggins Times-Journal Staff Monday March 28, 2005
It was a photo in the Times-Journal that pushed Brenda Langille over the edge.
The picture that so infuriated Langille showed a St. Thomas Bingo Country patron enjoying a cigarette while playing, thanks to the hall’s exemption from the city’s new smoke-free bylaw.
At the same time, she saw 80-year-old Lord Elgin Branch 41, Royal Canadian Legion, members huddling together against the cold outside for a smoke because the Legion’s exemption bid was shot down.
“My 70-year-old father had to go outside to have a smoke on his birthday,” fumed Langille, a 52-year-old who’s been a Legion member for 25 years and a smoker for 37.
Instead of stewing quietly, Langille decided to do something about it.
Two weeks later, she has more than 500 names on a petition calling on city council to give the Legion an exemption.
“The issue is the discrimination of giving an exemption to one place and not any other. The Legion does just as much good for the community as they say the bingo does,” the Jackson Street resident told the Times-Journal on Sunday.
St. Thomas council’s controversial smoke-free bylaw to regulate smoking in public and work places came into effect March 1.
After rejecting a bid by Bingo Country for an exemption last summer, council flip-flopped just weeks before the implementation date.
Langille said she could live with a smoke-free bylaw that had no exemptions.
“I’d go for that. (But) if you’re going to go non-smoking, go all the way. No exemptions.”
Anything else, she contended is discrimination against smokers.
She brushed aside a suggestion the smoke-free environment is better for Legion members’ health, noting aside from one or two people, no one used a smoke-free room prior to the bylaw’s implementation.
Langille has collected 302 signatures herself, a third of whom she said are non-smokers.
Legion president Bill Adams is among those who have signed.
Langille even has a sign expressing her outrage on the front of the scooter she uses to get around town.
Her petitions can also be found at several bars, variety stores and other locations in the city.
Possessed with an admitted stubborn streak, Langille’s petition is her first dabble in political activism.
But she appears to be getting a taste for it.
“I want to do a rally,” she smiles. “If I could get enough people together, I’d get some signs and do a rally at city hall. Just like they did in the ’60s and ’70s. … What are they going to do, arrest us?”
Langille hopes to collect 1,000 signatures, at which point she plans to make a delegation to council and ask for Legion to be exempted.
As for what success she’ll ultimately find, she shrugs, “I don’t know. But you wouldn’t get anywhere if you didn’t try.”

http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/story.php?id=151177

Ontario says its grain and oilseed farmers deserve big share of federal aid -ON

GREG BONNELL March 29, 2005 - 18:48

TORONTO (CP) - Ontario's grain and oilseed producers deserve one-quarter of the federal relief funds earmarked for their beleaguered industry nationwide, provincial Agriculture Minister Steve Peters said Tuesday.

"They announced $480 million for the grains and oilseeds sector, but it wasn't broken down by province," Peters said. "I think quite honestly that Ontario farmers deserve ... their full share of that $480 million. That's why I'm calling on (Ottawa) for the $120 (million)."

The federal government announced the income relief for grain and oilseed farmers as part of a larger, $1-billion package for the agriculture industry. Provincial breakdowns were not provided as federal Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell travelled to Guelph, Ont., to deliver the news.

Just hours later at the provincial legislature, the Ontario government announced it would put $79 million toward relief for grain and oilseed producers.

That's on top of $88 million delivered earlier this month after a number of rallies at the legislature, during which protesters bemoaned 25-year lows in commodity prices.

Those investments keep with the traditional 60-40 federal-provincial split for such aid, Peters said.

The province then called on Ottawa to round out its funding commitment, while the feds challenged the provinces to add to their farm income relief pot.

The fact the two levels of government failed to co-ordinate their efforts Tuesday, or make clear how much money grain and oilseed farmers in Ontario can expect, was a sore point for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

"I'm a little disturbed there wasn't the conversations taking place back and forth between two levels of government," said federation president Ron Bonnett. "I will be talking to both ministers about that."

The crisis in agriculture demands that governments work together, he said.

"As we move ahead, we've got to have a solution that works nationally and provincially."

If Ottawa dedicates $120 million alongside Ontario's commitments, the province's grain and oilseed producers stand to receive $286 million in aid.

"I think it's good news in the fact that it's going to flow some money quickly," said Bonnett, who added more will have to be done to address the difficulties farmers face this year.

That sentiment was echoed by the Ontario Grain and Oilseed Group.

"We're committed to working with (the province) further on addressing our $300-million shortfall for the '05 crop," chair Peter Tuinema said in a release.

The Ontario government also put $50 million into a transition fund for tobacco farmers looking to get out of the business.

"We recognize though as we move forward with our smoke-free Ontario initiative that there is a need to provide assistance," Peters said.

"There is an obligation on us in helping to ensure there is an orderly and smooth transition."

Some 750 growers in Ontario provide 95 per cent of Canada's tobacco, he said.

While numerous alternative crops are being considered, replacing tobacco with medicinal marijuana is not one of them.

"Growing medical marijuana is not something we would be advocating in this province," Peters said.

Opposition critics called that stance wrong-headed.

"The federal government is in the process of decriminalizing marijuana; the demand has never been greater," said NDP house leader Peter Kormos.

"Why are we letting biker gangs grow it in grow operations with illegal hydro hookups when we could be letting former tobacco farmers earn a living doing it in a controlled, regulated way?"

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/politics/news/shownews.jsp?content=n032955A

also http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005/03/29/975993-cp.html

Booze, cigarettes targeted in robbery  NS

CBC News Last Updated Mar 29 2005 01:27 PM AST

HALIFAX – Police are investigating a crash and grab at a grocery store in Porter's Lake, on the Eastern Shore.

Thieves broke into the Superstore on Highway 7 around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday by smashing a window with rocks, RCMP say.

The bandits grabbed some liquor before driving a stolen van through the window of the tobacco shop next door. Then they took off with several bags of cigarettes.

As they started to speed away in a second stolen van, a couple of store employees confronted them.

"They attempted to stop the vehicle and threw a rack at the vehicle and broke a window," said RCMP Const. Kim Murphy.

The thieves abandoned the van a short distance away. But two suspects were later picked up in nearby Gaetz Brook.

Murphy says using a big vehicle as a break-and-enter tool is not common in her territory, but it's an old trick that's been used in other areas.

There were two incidents earlier this month where thieves used vans as battering rams. The first was at a jewelry store in Dartmouth's Penhorn Mall. Two days later, it was the smoke shop at a Sobeys in Fall River.

http://novascotia.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=ns-smash-porters20050329

Tobacco farmers won't grow marijuana -ON

Broadcast News March 29, 2005

TORONTO -- Ontario's tobacco farmers won't be sowing their fields with marijuana seed anytime soon.

Agriculture Minister Steve Peters says the government is looking at alternative crops to replace tobacco.

But he says that won't include medical marijuana.

He says that's an issue for the federal government to tackle.

Ottawa allows for the use of medical marijuana and is working toward decriminalizing pot.

While Ontario's anti-smoking campaign is taking a toll on tobacco farmers, Peters says fruits and vegetables are among the alternative crops being looking at.

He says industrial hemp -- the kind you can't smoke -- could also replace tobacco down the road.

Hemp can be harvested to produce paper, clothing fibre and certain oils

http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=900481d8-f69c-4e88-9417-0a9f782fb59f

From: tmc_6882@yahoo.com  

To:"looped" <looped_ca@yahoo.ca>

Subject:Re: Drew Barrymore Caught Smoking Cigarettes Backstage @ "The KROQ Weenie Roast" Concert

Date:Mon, 28 Mar 2005 22:27:01 -0800

looped wrote:
> Yes your point in life would be to find a reason to hate anyone who smokes!  Well I believe in free choice, and oblivious to you, she has  some.
>
I as an American citizen have a right to my opinion as much as you or Drew Barrymore does.  So if I have a problem with her (especially a person who already has a much documented history with drugs) smoking cigarettes in her movies or in front of cameras out in public, then I'm going to express them.

You know, Drew Barrymore's grandmother Dolores Costello, who if you look closely carries a fairly strong resemblance to her granddaughter (and apparently, also spoke with a lisp like her granddaughter), died from emphysema. The point is, considering her family's fairly close connection with smoking related illnesses, I absolutely don't see the logic of her insisting on smoking (for which he has apparently been doing since the age of 9) so much.

I have tried to email back a response, and it is a non existent account.  So here I am responding in this forum.  I do this to show the rhetoric, and how easily it's manipulated in some people's minds. 

My response: 

1) she can easily afford to get health treatment later in life.  It's not going to cost any one elase.

2) emphysema isn't caused by smoking, so your point is?  it doesn't affect your life, why worry.  Every person takes risks in life.  We can die from getting out of bed.

3) shouldn't the more manageable and larger dangers be put under control, since it's a greater danger!

4) Margo Kidder has managed her psychotic episodes using Vitamin B.  There was an accepted theory that emphysema is caused by lack of vitemins as well.  May be this mismanagement of vitamins is the reason for the genetic link? 

Thanks Linda

Press Survey: Cigarette Tax Vote Would Be Close In Senate
03/24/05

Half of Mississippi's 52 senators say they would vote for a 50 cents-a-pack cigarette tax increase if given the chance.

That's according to a survey conducted Thursday by the Capitol press corps.

The survey of all senators shows 26 would vote for the increase and 20 would vote against it. Four said they were undecided and two senators would not answer.

Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck has said for months that there is no sentiment for tax increases in the Senate.

Passing any tax increase would take a three-fifths majority. That's 32 votes if all 52 senators are present.

Some lawmakers interpret the press survey numbers to say it's possible to reach the three-fifths threshold. That counts the 26 who say they would vote for an increase, plus most of those who either wouldn't answer or said they were undecided.

Some of the senators who said they'd vote not also said they could change their minds.

The survey of the 52 senators was conducted by reporters from The Associated Press and five newspapers: The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, The Commercial Appeal of Memphis, The Commercial Dispatch of Columbus, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal of Tupelo and The Sun Herald of Gulfport-Biloxi.

http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=3123321

Group Seeking to Overturn Smoking Ban -AZ

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) -- A group of Prescott businessmen are once again leading an effort to overturn a 2003 ballot initiative that banned smoking in nearly all public places, including restaurants.
  
The 2003 initiative allowed a two-year delay for the restrictions to take effect in local bars.
  
The latest effort aims to change the law before the bar restrictions would go into effect.
  
The opposition group called the Prescott Free Business Association, aims to get the issue on the September 13th city primary ballot.
 
The city clerk says the group has until May 13th to collect the required 16-hundred-28 signatures and file the petitions needed to force a new vote.

http://www.kpho.com/Global/story.asp?S=3082963&nav=23KuXXRJ

Institute for Cancer Prevention research or IFCP where now?

Philip Morris to buy indonesian tobacco company
$5 billion offered for No. 3 producer

By Christopher Wang Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Philip Morris International has offered $5 billion for Indonesia's third-largest cigarette producer, a move that would fatten its share of that country's fast-growing tobacco market as health concerns squeeze smoking elsewhere in the world.

Philip Morris, a unit of Altria Group and maker of best-selling Marlboro cigarettes, said late Sunday that it has arranged to buy a 40 percent stake in PT Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna from its principal shareholders for $2 billion.

It will make a tender offer for the remaining stock at $1.13 a share -- a 20 percent premium to Sampoerna's closing price of 95 cents last Thursday.

The deal values the Indonesian company at $5 billion. Philip Morris would assume about $160 million in debt, the company said in a statement.

The bid by the Richmond, Va., company highlights efforts to expand its presence overseas as government bans and increased awareness of the health risks from smoking have curbed tobacco use in mature markets -- the United States and Europe.

"The market in the United States is not growing at the same rate it used to be. There are beginning to be smoking bans in Western Europe too," said Argus Research's Erin Smith. "Some of the less-developed countries don't have that threat."

Last year, Philip Morris' domestic tobacco sales rose 3 percent to $17.5 billion while international sales billowed 18 percent to $39.5 billion.

An estimated 60 percent of males smoke in Indonesia -- the fifth-largest tobacco market behind China, the United States, Russia and Japan -- and growing numbers of women are smoking, according to some analysts.

A buyout of Sampoerna would position Philip Morris as Indonesia's second-largest cigarette maker with more than a fifth of the market and increase its global market share by close to 1 percentage point, Altria Chief Executive Louis C. Camilleri said on a conference call with analysts yesterday.

The deal also would give Philip Morris a way into Indonesia's market for "kreteks" -- cigarettes with a blend of tobacco and cloves that dominate the industry there. Kreteks account for 92 percent of the country's cigarette market, which is estimated at 210 billion cigarettes a year.

More than 80 percent of Indonesia's kretek market is controlled by No. 1 PT Gudang Garam, Sampoerna and PT Djarum, Lehman Bros. analyst Michael Branca said.

About 700 smaller manufacturers account for a 17 percent share, he wrote in a research note.

Also yesterday, Philip Morris USA was awarded $173 million in damages from Swiss cigarette retailer Otamedia in a trademark-infringement suit.

Philip Morris said the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ordered Otamedia to pay the fine for selling Philip Morris USA-brand cigarettes in the United States.

Otamedia operated the Internet site yesmoke.com, which sells cigarettes around the world and avoids many of the import tariffs and taxes imposed on domestic retailers.

Dow Jones Newswires contributed to this story.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050315/BUSINESS/503150351/1003

Disparities in health care are pervasive in America

Healthcare News Published: Tuesday, 15-Mar-2005

Disparities in health care are pervasive in America. These disparities adversely impact the cardiovascular health of Americans, especially African Americans, Hispanics, poor and uneducated people, according to a report in a special disparities themed issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Health disparities refer to differences in health indicators of population groups whether defined by race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status or geography.

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed national health surveys to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and overall quality of life of U.S. adults age 18 and older and found a wide range of differences. They said the disparities data may help develop new public policies and programs to close the gaps.

"In general, the population subgroups most significantly and adversely affected were African Americans, Hispanics/Mexican Americans, people with low socioeconomic status, and residents of the southeastern United States and the Appalachians," said George Mensah M.D., acting director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the CDC.

People with less than a high school education also tended to have more cardiovascular disease and related risk factors, regardless of race or ethnicity.

"These disparities appear to play a key role in the observed differences in the overall life expectancy and quality of life of the population subgroups," he said.

Health care disparities should matter to all Americans, Mensah said. "To paraphrase what Dr. Martin Luther King said about justice, 'poor quality health care anywhere, is a threat to quality care for all Americans everywhere.' As a heart specialist, I am aware of the power of prevention and the remarkable advances we've made in the treatment and care of heart disease and stroke. I am always saddened to admit that many ethnic minorities, persons with low income, those with less than a high school education, women and millions of Americans without health insurance do not get the quality health care we are capable of delivering."

In the study, men and blacks had more premature death due to cardiovascular disease, compared with women and whites, as measured by years of potential life lost before age 75.

In 2001, overall U.S. life expectancy was 77.2 years. Life expectancy was higher in women than men by 5.4 years and higher in whites than blacks by 5.5 years. Men lost 1708.3 years of potential life per 100,000 persons due to "diseases of the heart" compared to women, who lost 765.4 years. Blacks lost 2,248.9 years of potential life per 100,000 persons compared to whites, who lost 1,115 years.

Particularly surprising, Mensah said, were findings about obesity.

"Educational attainment reduced the prevalence of obesity, especially in men," he said. "In contrast, African-American women had a high prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity regardless of educational status. These data suggest the need for increased emphasis on understanding the determinants of obesity in African-American women and investing in policies and programs to decrease obesity."

Eliminating health disparities is the overarching goal of the Healthy People 2010 national public health agenda, Mensah said. In this study, CDC researchers examined the most recently available population-based data on disparities in cardiovascular disease and its related risk factors.

Researchers reviewed the results from three major studies:

• Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a random telephone survey conducted by state health departments and the CDC;
• the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002; and
• the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a continuing nationwide sample survey of the civilian non-institutionalized population collected through household interviews.

The BRFSS and NHANES survey results were designed to represent the entire U.S. population.

Also among their findings:

• Hispanics were least likely to have health insurance, least likely to receive flu or pneumonia vaccinations, and had the highest prevalence of poor or fair health.
• Data from the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) showed the median prevalence of obesity was 39.2 percent for American Indian men and 37.5 percent in women, compared with only 2.9 percent in Asian/Pacific Islander men and 3.6 percent in women.
• According to NHANES data, black women have the highest prevalence of obesity at more than 47 percent regardless of education level.
• Data from REACH also showed that cigarette smoking was common in American Indian communities with a median of 42.2 percent for men and 36.7 percent for women. According to BRFSS, black men without a high school diploma have the next highest smoking prevalence at 41.8 percent.
• Blacks had the highest prevalence of hypertension, the highest self-reported prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, and the highest rate of hospitalizations for stroke.
• People with less than a high school education were more likely to smoke and to report that they had been diagnosed with diabetes.
• People with higher education were more likely to have health insurance.
• Ischemic heart disease and stroke were inversely related to education, income and poverty status.
• Among Medicare enrollees, congestive heart failure hospitalization was higher in blacks, Hispanics and American Indians/Alaska Natives than among whites.
• Residents of the southeastern United States had the highest rates of hospitalizations for congestive heart failure and stroke, and the highest age-adjusted death rate for stroke and heart disease.
• Cholesterol levels were highest among white men, Mexican American men and white women regardless of education levels.
• Hospitalization rates were higher in men for total heart disease and acute heart attacks but higher in women for congestive heart failure and stroke.
• Women consume more fruits and vegetables than men; and daily intake of five or more servings of fruits and/or vegetables was low in all groups and lowest in black and white men with less than a high school education.

This study did not examine the reasons for these disparities, or present information on access to care, disease management or indicators of the delivery of quality cardiac care.

Researchers noted that despite several national calls to action for aggressive prevention and control of cardiovascular risk factors, little progress has been made in reducing physical inactivity, poor nutrition and prevalence of hypertension.

"Most importantly," Mensah said, "although some significant improvements – such as reductions in gender disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) – have been noted, disparities in CVD mortality based on race/ethnicity have remained largely unchanged, and disparities in the morbidity of major CVD appear to be increasing."

Co-authors of the study are Ali H. Mokdad, Ph.D.; Earl S. Ford, M.D., MPH; Kurt J. Greenlund, Ph.D.; and Janet B. Croft, Ph.D.

http://www.americanheart.org/

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=8428 

Tobacco industry pays scientists to challenge secondhand smoke's link to infant death risk

07 Mar 2005

The link between secondhand smoke and sudden infant death has been discredited in the last few years in scientific articles paid for and influenced by cigarette manufacturers, according to a new study of once-secret industry documents.

The key article, commissioned by Philip Morris and published in a respected pediatric epidemiology journal in 2001, discounts the significance of research showing a link between exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The article has been cited in at least 19 other scientific papers, misleading physicians, their patients and researchers about the risk of secondhand smoke exposure.

"Undermining people's understanding of the link between secondhand smoke and SIDS places infants everywhere at increased risk," according to Stanton Glantz, PhD, director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at UCSF and senior author of the new study analyzing the tobacco company documents.

Analysis of the Philip Morris documents shows that the company sought and paid an author to write an article for publication in a scientific journal, guided his writing and suggested changes in his conclusions in order to call into question the published studies showing links between secondhand cigarette smoke and SIDS.

The new report was prepared by researchers at UCSF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and appears in the March issue of the journal Pediatrics.

The article Philip Morris commissioned was part of the company's overall scientific strategic plan for addressing secondhand smoke (SHS) and childhood health issues, the documents show. One document summarized the "impact assessment" for this project as follows: "Should provide the necessary scientific background for a policy on the acceptability of smoking around children."

The key article acknowledges that smoking during pregnancy can endanger the fetus, but casts doubt on the published scientific finding that secondhand smoke increases the risk of sudden infant death -- a finding highlighted in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and reinforced by the California Environmental Protection Agency in 1997.

The tobacco company carried out this disinformation campaign even after the landmark 1998 settlement between all of the major U.S. tobacco manufacturers and 46 states. In the settlement, the tobacco firms agreed to pay the states $206 billion over the first 25 years and continuing amounts after that, and agreed to stop creating controversy about the evidence linking smoking and disease.

The tobacco industry's disinformation campaign regarding secondhand smoke and maternal and child health can be counteracted, the UCSF and CDC researchers write in their analysis.

"Secondhand smoke must be recognized as an established, controllable risk factor for SIDS, like prone sleep positioning," they conclude. "Clinicians and public health officials should intensify their efforts to promote reducing infant exposure to secondhand smoke as an effective strategy for reducing SIDS."

The documents show that the tobacco industry hired scientists on at least two different occasions to prepare articles challenging the SHS/SIDS connection. The first one failed to attract an influential journal. But then Philip Morris retained a consultant to write a comprehensive review of all known risk factors for SIDS. Philip Morris was to provide the literature review, and the hired scientist was to write the paper. The company's documents show that Philip Morris budgeted $50,000 to $100,000 for this project.

The company's papers reveal a concerted effort by Philip Morris to influence the paper's content and conclusions. When the author completed his first draft, he sent it to the company for review. The original conclusion stated that secondhand smoke increased the risk of SIDS. But a Philip Morris scientific affairs executive questioned this conclusion. The author accommodated many of Philip Morris' suggested changes, and when he submitted his final draft to them, he had removed his original conclusion about the effect of secondhand smoke on infants. Instead, he wrote that "the majority of the effects of smoking can be explained by prenatal smoking by the mother," and that postnatal (infant) secondhand smoke effects were "less well established" than prenatal smoking.

As published, the article mentions the financial support of Philip Morris, but does not acknowledge that the article was initiated, reviewed and influenced by the tobacco company. Not only does the limited acknowledgement mask the extent of the tobacco company's influence on the conclusion, but totally hidden from view is the fact that the article was essentially conceived by the tobacco company in the first place, UCSF's Glantz points out.

"This study of Philip Morris activity since the tobacco industry signed the Master Settlement Agreement in 1998 shows that the industry continues to use its 50-year old strategies to sow confusion about the real dangers of secondhand smoke and to distort the entire scientific process," says Glantz.

The tobacco industry documents were made available as part of the Master Settlement Agreement, in which among other things, tobacco companies pledged to cease their efforts to discredit research on smoking and health. To this end, the current Philip Morris web site includes this statement:

"Public health officials have concluded that secondhand smoke from cigarettes causes disease, including lung cancer and heart disease, in non-smoking adults, as well as causes conditions in children such as asthma, respiratory infections, cough, wheeze, otitis media (middle ear infection) and sudden infant death syndrome. In addition, public health officials have concluded that secondhand smoke can exacerbate adult asthma and cause eye, throat and nasal irritation."

"The new study shows clearly that Philip Morris continues to orchestrate a behind-the scenes effort to undermine the credibility of the health warnings their web site acknowledges," Glantz says.

In their paper, he and his co-authors call into question the practice of accepting tobacco industry funds to support research.

"The tobacco industry's long and consistent history of manipulating the content and presentation of scientific results raises questions about publishing work funded by the tobacco industry," they write.

First author on the study is Elisa K. Tong, MD, a postdoctoral fellow in the UCSF Division of General Internal Medicine. Co-author is Lucinda England, MD, a medical epidemiologist in the Division of Reproductive Health at the CDC.

The research was funded by the National Cancer Institute. 
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=20839
 

SMFM: Smoking linked to higher risk of open neural tube defects

Heavy smokers had more than twice the risk of non-smokers; risk appears to be dose-dependent

By Patricia Nicholson

RENO, NEV. – Smoking during early pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of open neural tube defects (NTDs) by a University of Alberta study presented here at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine meeting.

Previous studies had identified smoking as a risk factor for folate deficiency, said study author Dr. Kirsten Gustafson, of U of A's department of obstetrics and gynecology in Edmonton. Despite equivalent folic acid intake, smokers have lower levels of serum folate in their blood.

To investigate whether smoking had an impact on open neural tube defects, Dr. Gustafson and co-author Dr. Sujata Chandra studied pregnancies diagnosed with an open NTD between 1992 and 2002 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, the referral site for all high-risk pregnancies in northern Alberta. All singleton pregnancies with open NTDs, including deliveries, fetal deaths and terminated pregnancies, were considered.

Of the 191 diagnosed cases of open NTDs, 99 met the study criteria. Exclusion criteria included anticonvulsant use, multiple fetal anomalies, chromosomal abnormality or a previous child with an open neural tube defect. A control group was matched for age, month of conception and postal code, which served as a rough socioeconomic indicator.

Dose relationship

The findings indicate that, compared with non-smokers, women who smoked during pregnancy had a higher risk of open neural tube defects (odds ratio 2.2, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.25 to 3.93). Women who smoked less than half a pack per day had a lower risk than heavy smokers (odds ratio 0.58 compared with heavy smokers, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.42 to 0.82).

The NTD risk associated with smoking appears to be dose-dependent. These research results indicate that women who smoke may require higher doses of folic acid to help prevent NTDs.

Nearly two-thirds of the pregnancies diagnosed with NTD were terminated. Dr. Gustafson said this study is the first to control for terminations, folic acid supplementation and other variables such as age and body mass index.

"It adds to the power of our study," she said.

Posted on Tue, Mar. 15, 2005

http://www.medicalpost.com/mpcontent/article.jsp;jsessionid=DBCIDHIIFKNA?content=20050314_195538_4176

Sarcoidosis risk associated with environment

Pesticide exposure linked to greater likelihood of granulomatous conditions

By Heather Ennis January 25, 2005

DENVER – A new study has identified several factors that may be associated with a mystery disease with no known cause and a puzzling epidemiology.

Researchers found that people with sarcoidosis, a systemic granulomatous condition that can affect nearly every organ system, were more likely to be involved in agricultural work, have occupational exposure to pesticides and report mouldy or mildewy environments more than those without the disease.

Though normally a mild condition, sarcoidosis can result in lasting tissue damage. It is characterized by an inappropriate immune response leading to numerous granulomas throughout various organs—including the lungs, skin, lymph nodes and eyes. When needed, treatment is usually a several-month course of prednisone. There are scant data on the prevalence of sarcoidosis, but some U.S. reports have estimated the incidence at approximately 11/100,000 people among white Americans and 35/100,000 among black Americans. It is more common in Canada and Northern Europe.

Odds ratios

Researchers recruited 706 patients at 10 sites in the U.S. with newly diagnosed sarcoidosis and an equal number of matched controls without the disease. Occupational and other exposures were determined using an interview and questionnaire, and the results suggest a positive association between sarcoidosis and agricultural work (OR=1.46), insecticides at work (OR=1.52) and the presence of mould or mildew in the workplace (OR=1.61).

"It says that in the research, we need to look more diligently at the exposures and the risk of disease in agricultural settings. It suggests we should continue to look harder for microbes that might be causing sarcoidosis," said Dr. Lee Newman, a pulmonologist at the National Jewish Medical and Research Centre in Denver and primary author of the study. "It does not prove that either agriculture or pesticides or a particular microbe in a mouldy environment causes sarcoidosis, but the followup research should focus on those areas."

The links can be added to a growing list of occupational factors previously associated with sarcoidosis, including employment in health care, firefighting, military and lumber industries. Though various other potential triggers have been suggested, the cause of sarcoidosis remains obscure.

The strongest association in the study, which was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, was found between sarcoidosis and cigarette smoking. Smokers were significantly less likely to have the disease than non-smokers (OR=0.62), indicating smoking may confer protection from sarcoidosis.

"Tobacco smoke does tend to inhibit or quiet down certain immune system cells so they're not as good at triggering an immune reaction," said Dr. Newman, who noted this isn't the first time the tobacco link has appeared in sarcoidosis research. "The studies don't prove that smoking is protective, but the association is there and certainly looks like it's protective."

The nature of sarcoidosis as a single disease has also been questioned. While American blacks often suffer a more severe form of the disease, it is most common in Scandinavian countries, where patients usually suffer fewer and less acute symptoms.

"It may be that when we talk about sarcoidosis, we really should be talking about different subsets of disease," said Dr. Newman.

Canadian prevalence

There are no good data on the prevalence of the disease in Canada, but the pattern is closer to that of Scandinavia than the U.S., according to a Canadian doctor who treats sarcoidosis.

"Canada has one of the higher incidences," said Dr. Rob McFadden, a respirologist at St. Joseph's Health Care in London, Ont., who follows approximately 30 sarcoidosis patients at any given time. "The most benign form we tend to get in Canada is very common in Scandinavia. It's a different disease in American blacks."

Though the most recently identified associations add to a growing body of sarcoidosis research, both doctors urged physicians not to overinterpret the results. No causative factors have been found, they said.

"Probably, it's reasonable to take a good occupational and exposure history," said Dr. McFadden. "But you wouldn't want to overreact to that because you'll convince some poor guy who's just unlucky and got the disease that it was due to some place he worked. There's not enough evidence to prove that."

http://www.medicalpost.com/mpcontent/article.jsp?content=20050123_130706_980

American Lung Association Links Socio-Economic Factors to Environmental Health Hazards

i-Newswire, 2005-03-18 - The Hispanic community is disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards such as air pollution, according to a new study by the American Lung Association. The report, Lung Disease Data in Culturally Diverse Communities, provides a definitive link between air pollution and lung disease prevalence in communities of color.
“In many instances, Hispanic communities are disproportionately affected by environmental exposures, which can lead to a host of lung diseases. This publication calls on legislators and community leaders to fight for stricter air pollution standards, said Donald Woods, Vice President of Cultural Diversity for the American Lung Association. “The American Lung Association is committed to educating these communities about lung disease and achieving our mission to eliminate lung disease and promote lung health.”
Lung Disease Data in Culturally Diverse Communities shows that Hispanics and African Americans together suffer disproportionately from asthma, compared to Whites, and provides important information about clean air and the long-term effects of exposure to tobacco smoke and air pollution. The report calls attention to the health disparities and other socioeconomic factors that may account for the high prevalence rates within diverse communities.
According to the report, lung disease affects people of all cultures, races, and ethnicities, but some groups have higher rates than others. The study shows that Hispanics are more than twice as likely as either African Americans or Whites to live near high traffic areas such as freeways and other areas with heavy diesel truck traffic. These areas have higher levels of air pollution and increase the risk of lung disease and premature death. Studies have shown that Puerto Ricans may have higher asthma prevalence rates and higher death rates than other Hispanic subgroups and non-Hispanic Whites.
Click here for the Lung Disease Data in Culturally Diverse Communities: 2005 report
About the American Lung Association
For 100 years, the American Lung Association has been the lead organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined.
The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is “Improving life, one breath at a time.”
For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA ( 1-800-586-4872 ) or log on to http://www.lungusa.org.
American Lung Association
If you have questions regarding information in these press release contact the company listed below. Please do not contact us as we are unable to assist you with your inquiry. We disclaim any content contained in this press release.

http://i-newswire.com/pr10770.html

Industry plays down passive smoke -UK

Tobacco chiefs have clashed with Scottish politicians over the threat passive smoking poses to health.

Last Updated: Tuesday, 15 March, 2005, 20:04 GMT

The Tobacco Manufacturers' Association (TMA) played down claims that second-hand smoke causes disease while talking to Holyrood's health committee.

But MSP Mike Rumbles said research had concluded there was a link between passive smoke and cancer.

The exchange on Tuesday came as the pub and tobacco industries try to urge parliament to abandon its smoking ban.

The director of trade and industry affairs at the TMA, Christopher Ogden, conceded to the committee that second-hand smoke can be "annoying and irritating to non-smokers".

But he said reports of its links to death and disease had been overblown by the anti-smoking lobby.

He said: "What we do object to is the distortion of science to further an anti-tobacco agenda.

"It's one thing to tell smokers they're harming themselves but quite another to say that by smoking they are harming others.

"The whole issue of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is being driven by a strident, determined anti-smoking lobby whose ultimate objective is a tobacco-free world.

"Our view is that the scientific evidence does not prove causation between ETS and death or disease."

Conclusive evidence

Mr Ogden said even a former editor of the British Medical Journal admitted the risks of passive smoking had not been definitively answered.

However, Mr Rumbles, the Liberal Democrats' health spokesman, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had concluded second-hand smoke was carcinogenic to humans.

The representative of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) at the same meeting said it found claims of hundreds of deaths a year of non-smoking bar workers from passive smoke to be "incredible".

Asked by Mr Rumbles whether he accepted second-hand smoke was carcinogenic, the body's chief executive, Paul Waterson, would not be drawn on the issue.

He said: "We don't know of any bar workers at all that are dying through this. We think these claims are grossly exaggerated."

The SLTA is opposing the smoking ban, claming it will lead to the loss of an initial 2,300 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector once it is introduced.

The organisation also claimed the move would increase alcohol abuse by encouraging people wanting to smoke and drink to do it at home, outwith the controlled environment of a pub.

Later, the chairman of the British Hospitality Association's Scottish committee, Paddy Crerar, appealed to MSPs to exempt hotel bedrooms from the legislation.

He argued that hotels with guests from heavy-smoking countries on continental Europe could be badly hit if the ban covered their rooms.

Another witness, George Ross, representing Royal British Legion clubs, asked for politicians not to rush the ban as it could push some smaller clubs out of business.

He asked the committee: "Give us time. We are trying to modernise but I feel that bringing in this complete ban all at once is provocative against my members."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4352211.stm

Study Examines Racial Differences Among Children To Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

CINCINNATI -- A new study may help explain why African American children suffer disproportionately from tobacco-related illness.

The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center study shows that African American children with asthma have significantly higher levels of cotinine -- a substance produced when the body breaks down nicotine -- even though these children's parents report lower exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, commonly known as second-hand smoke.

"There are at least two possible reasons why African Americans have higher levels of cotinine," says Stephen E. Wilson, MD, a scientist at the Cincinnati Children's Center for Environmental Health and the study's lead author. "Numerous studies have demonstrated significant racial differences in the metabolism of tobacco-related products. But differences in additives to cigarettes commonly smoked by African Americans, such as menthol, could also explain the observed racial differences."

The study will be published in the March issue of Environmental Health Perspectives and is currently available online at http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/

The study is based on data from the Cincinnati Asthma Prevention study, an ongoing study of the Cincinnati Children's Center for Environmental Health. Dr. Wilson and his colleagues measured cotinine in the blood and hair of 222 children with asthma. Cotinine is considered the best marker of environmental tobacco smoke exposure. The investigators also assessed exposure to environmental tobacco smoke using a validated survey.

Surprisingly, the investigators found that African American children with asthma had higher levels of cotinine in the blood (1.41 ng/ml vs. 0.97 ng/ml) and hair (0.25 ng/mg vs. 0.07 ng/mg) compared to white children. This pattern held true even after taking into account tobacco smoke exposure, size of home and other sociodemographic characteristics, according to Dr. Wilson.

"These differences in cotinine could provide clues to the racial differences in tobacco-associate morbidity and mortality," says Dr. Wilson. "If African American children are more susceptible to tobacco-induced toxicity, we should target policy initiatives to reduce exposure among this population."

Editor's Note: The original news release can be found here

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050309144253.htm

Smoke shop robbery turn deadly

Policeman opens fire, kills suspectSam Lewin 3/17/2005
A tribal police officer shot and killed a fellow tribal member that was trying to rob an Indian smoke shop in Reno, Nevada.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said an officer with the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Police Department shot the suspect twice at the Colony Smoke Shop II. The spokesman said the shooting happened as the officer was trying to apprehend the suspect.
The man that was killed has been identified as 26-year-old Kyle Melendez. Melendez, who was armed, allegedly tried to flee the shop when authorities approached, and he later turned on the officer, prompting the shooting.
Reno-Sparks Indian Colony spokesman Don Vetter told the Native American Times that Melendez was an enrolled member of the tribe and has a large family in the area. He also said the incident was something that was “out of character” for Melendez.
An employee at the smoke shop who said her name was Lawanda said that the store’s management had no comment on the shooting.
The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony operates five smoke shops. The shooting happened across the street from the tribe’s senior center.
This is not the first time an Indian smoke shop has been targeted by violent robbers. Last month an Arkansas City man was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for the November 2003 armed robbery of the Otoe Missouri’s Chilocco Smoke Shop in Kay County, Oklahoma. Cody Wayne Griesel, 24, and his accomplice, David Dean Ambroz each pointed a gun at two female employees of the business and two customers and ordered them to get down on the floor while they rifled the cash register, officials said. Ambroz had earlier been sentenced to more than six years in prison for his role in the robbery.

http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=6169