Looking to bolster its secondhand-smoke laws, the City Council this week agreed to explore smoking prohibitions on private property and in common areas of multifamily buildings. The proposals, which piqued the interest of council members after hearing from several special-interest groups and residents, could bar smoking at swimming pools, yard areas and private balconies and patios. In all, the new laws could ban smoking at more than 400 private-parking structures and about 22,000 multifamily residential units, said Terre Hirsch, assistant community development director and administrator of li ... Jump to full article >>

Do Michigan lawmakers really want to take a position that it is OK to kill casino workers as long as there are some jobs saved in the process? Apparently so. Both the Senate and the House broke though a long stalemate yesterday to approve a bill that would ban smoking in bars and restaurants. The governor was expected to sign it. But there is a catch. The ban comes with exemptions for casinos. Apparently that was the only way to reach a compromise between Democrats, who generally want the ban but don’t want to hurt casino business, and Republicans, some of whom may have been playing poli ... Jump to full article >>

A statewide ban on smoking in all workplaces, including bars and restaurants, takes effect Saturday, Jan. 2. But that same legislation, passed by the General Assembly in May, also boosts local governments’ ability to restrict smoking in public areas such as parks — a move Asheville is already mulling over. In August, City Council instructed the city attorney’s office to draft an ordinance that would address smoking on city-owned property; it is expected to come before Council early in the new year. “This broadens the areas where we may prohibit smoking,” City Attorney ... Jump to full article >>

Days after the employees of Premier Tobacco Company (PTC) protested against unhealthy working conditions, the Managing Director of the firm, Assinapol Rwigara, has reacted by dismissing their complaints. Employees of PTC have previously claimed that the company does not avail adequate facilities like facial masks to protect them from contracting tobacco-related illnesses while on duty. During a press conference that was held Friday at the company’s headquarters in Gikondo, Rwigara, the proprietor said that the employees’ idea to make such claims through the media was a carefully planned sc ... Jump to full article >>

The country’s most senior doctor unexpectedly resigned last night. Chief medical officer Liam Donaldson surprised the NHS by stepping down after a reign which saw him accused of botching the training of junior doctors and orchestrate the response to swine flu. After working for the Labour Government for the past 12 years, he will leave office in May – just as the Tories are expected to take over. Sir Liam has had a controversial reign as England’s senior medical adviser – facing down calls to quit over the fiasco over an online application system for doctors two years ago. And earlier ... Jump to full article >>

The Cleveland Clinic doesn’t hire smokers, under a policy implemented two years ago by CEO Toby Cosgrove, MD. Dr. Cosgrove also has said he would not employ people who were obese, if that were legal. He told the Wall Street Journal Health Blog that when laws say you can’t refuse to hire someone based on their obesity, “We are protecting people who are overweight rather than giving people a social stigma.” He reiterated that statement to numerous media outlets. In response to the controversy his statements generated, including criticism at the Cleveland Clinic’s ow ... Jump to full article >>

LILY ALLEN is at the centre of an investigation into allegations she flouted a smoking ban during a concert in Liverpool, England. The Smile hitmaker performed at the Echo Arena on Wednesday (09Dec09), and a local newspaper subsequently reported she had been seen lighting up cigarettes during the show. Local authorities are now investigating the incident and liaising with the venue to establish whether Allen’s behaviour contravened the U.K.’s ban on smoking in indoor public places. If officials rule the star did smoke onstage, she and the owners of the venue could face a fine. sou ... Jump to full article >>

First Lady Gaga visited a typical British pub for a pint and chips, and now Pamela Anderson has followed in her footsteps. The former Baywatch star might be more used to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood bats, but she was not averse to popping into a Wetherspoons pub last night. The 41-year-old former Playboy pin-up looked tired and jaded as she chatted to the cast and show’s producers at the The Wibbas Down Inn after her opening night on stage. She tucked into thick-cut chips and a drink after her her first ever appearance in panto, playing the Genie in Aladdin at the nearby New Wimbl ... Jump to full article >>

New Hanover County’s health department hopes to snag federal stimulus funding for tobacco prevention next year. The department’s $1.3 million request is in a batch of more than 250 applications from across the country now sitting at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which will award money for obesity and tobacco-related health programs in February. CDC officials said Monday they would start culling through the requests this week to narrow down to 30-40 communities to receive a total of $450 million in stimulus money. Another $200 million is slated to support those local ... Jump to full article >>

Even though he projects he’ll lose business when a statewide smoking ban takes effect in May, Century Lanes Bowling owner Phil Huffman is optimistic about the challenge it might bring some of his league bowlers. “We want to help our league bowlers who smoke, maybe by helping them quit altogether,” said Huffman, who has contacted the American Cancer Society for ideas about smoking cessation programs to offer his customers. “We want to help them through this deal.” This week, Michigan legislators passed a long-delayed smoking ban that will eliminate smoking in all bars, restaurants, an ... Jump to full article >>

Gambling, guns, tobacco and … milk? Facebook bans the promotion of all four, but a food industry group says it should ease up on the one that comes out of cows and gives you healthy bones. The Center for Consumer Freedom, a Washington-based group supported by restaurants and food companies, said Friday dairy shouldn’t be lumped together with cigarettes and prescription painkillers when it comes to banning their promotions on the site. Facebook says it’s not lactose intolerant, but there are laws prohibiting giving dairy away as a prize. Its guidelines, which are periodically ... Jump to full article >>