New York Raises the Bar

This week Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed legislation into law expanding it Smoke Free Air Act. The law will not allow smoking in the city's 1700 parks, 14 miles of beaches, marinas, and boardwalks. This means that the famous site of Times Square will be smoke free!
Supporters of the ban say that, along with protecting public health, it will reduce the amount of trash in parks and beaches. The measure was overwhelming approved by the City Council.
The mayor hopes that the law will be enforced by the citizens. The law will take effect in 90 days, violations of the law will carry a $50 fine.

An article on the topic can be read by clicking below:

http://technorati.com/lifestyle/article/new-york-city-bans-smoking-in/

Funding Tobacco Prevention is Important...and here's why

Tobacco use is STILL the #1 cause of preventable death and disease in Wisconsin. With tight budget times and the state government looking every which way to see where it can save tax payer dollars, tobacco prevention programs are already engaging in saving millions of dollars and thousands of lives.

Healthcare costs directly attributed to smoking were nearly $2.8 billion in WI in 2007.

However, In states with successful tobacco prevention and control programs, like WI, each dollar invested has saved at least $3.60 in tobacco-caused healthcare costs.

Also, since 2000:

• Middle school smoking has dropped 67%.
• High school smoking has dropped 46%.
• Adult smoking has dropped 21%.
• More than 150,000 calls have been made to the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line.
• Tobacco sales to minors have also decreased 83% since 2001.

Instead of debating for hours on end about what programs should be cut, maybe the state legislature should start talking about what programs to invest in...Tobacco Prevention and Control looks like a good place to start.

Major League Baseball asked to go Tobacco-Free

Two Senators sent a letter to Major League Baseball (MLB) commissioner Bud Selig to ban all tobacco use in baseball, with an emphasis on smokeless products.

Sens. Dick Durbin (IL) and Frank Lautenberg (NJ) are asking Selig to include such a ban during negotiations for a new collective bargaining contract which will be later this year.

Since 1993, tobacco use has been prohibited in MLB, but only in the minor leagues, the big leagues have allowed players to use tobacco during games.

The Senators were motivated when they read a recent artilce written by a fellow major league player. In the article, the player states that he started chewing tobacco because other major league players were doing it and he wanted to be like them. If professional athletes chew, only because their peers do it, what message are we sending our young fans?

With statistics showing that smokeless tobacco use is on the rise with male youth, it's time MLB steps up to the plate and strikes out all tobacco products from the game we love.

Full article can be read below:



http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/15/6058907-senators-ban-smokeless-tobacco-use-in-mlb-

New Year's Resolutions.....One Month Later

We all know that the new year brings about change for many. Whether its dieting, excersize, or lifestyle changes. Trying to quit smoking is the number one resolution people attempt, one month into the new year we hope they are still successful.
2011 was no different, except for the tobacco industry. Always looking for new ad compaign, this year they went after those trying to quit. RJ Reynolds launched a national campaign, known as "2011 smoke-free resolution". The ad, which ran in Entertainment Weekly, People, Sports Illistrated, Time, and US Weekly, stated that Reynolds supports those who have decided to quit tobacco use, "But if you are looking for smoke-free, spit-free, drama-free tobacco pleasure, Camel snus is your answer". The ads are part of Reynolds "take the pleasure switch challenge" which promotes a new Camel snus website. When asked about the "drama-free" reference, Reynolds stated it was in reference to businesses, or other social outlets that have made smoking socially unacceptable.
The full article can be read by clicking the link below.

http://www2.journalnow.com/business/2010/dec/28/reynolds-takes-aim-smokers-trying-quit-ar-650731/