The chilly season of cigarette smokers huddled hunched and frozen outside offices and restaurants is upon us. Here’s a modest proposal to the anti-smoking activists who urged the smoking ban into law. Give a little. You got what you wanted and what many — perhaps most — of us prefer, smoke-free environments. Frankly, I like a little fresh air with my dinner and cocktail conversation. But then, it isn’t always about me, is it? It isn’t about you all of the time either, sorry to say. Given that there are still a number of people who smoke, there has to be a market for places where adul ... Jump to full article >>

PETALING JAYA: Workplaces with centralised air-conditioning are among those newly-included in the smoke-free areas designated by the Health Ministry, says its Deputy Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin (pic). “With ministry support, the Malacca government embarked on a Smoke-Free Malacca Initiative where smoking inside buildings within designated areas of the city are disallowed,” she said, adding that more smoke-free areas would be expanded. “Support and co-operation from media personnel, community leaders and members of the public are required to ensure the sustaine ... Jump to full article >>

(JOPLIN, Mo.) The Joplin City Council voted Thursday night to put a measure that would ban smoking in public places to a public vote on the April ballot, on a 6-3 vote. Councilman Siebert suggested the ordinance be amended to only apply to restaurants, bars, and bowling alleys. “We’ve got information that right now that the vast majority of our businesses in Joplin have smoking policies already in place,” he said. “It is a problem inside resaurants, bars, and bowling alleys.” He said it would be “difficult” to support an ordinance spreading out of that scope. Smoke-Free Joplin Co ... Jump to full article >>

Long Beach has joined more than 140 other California municipalities that have banned or partially banned smoking in city parks. The move further shrinks the locations where smokers can legally light up in the city, with smoking already banned in restaurants, bars, beaches and bus stops. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to pass the ordinance, which covers all city parks, sports fields and hiking trails, among other sites. The issue initially came before the council when Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal sought to prohibit smoking at smaller parks because it’s more difficult for nonsmo ... Jump to full article >>

MOBILE COUNTY, Alabama (WALA) – New regulations on smoking in restaurants go into effect Friday October 1. If you serve food in your establishment and allow smoking, four points will be deducted from the inspection score. Wintzell’s downtown is one of many spots that have already jumped on the no smoking train. Russell Mauceri has been shucking oysters for five-years in the seafood restaurant. He said he is excited about the new rules. “For the most part, we get to utilize more of the building. We can get families more into our bar area. It’s actually been pretty benefi ... Jump to full article >>

Missouri City residents are headed for a smoke-free future, at least in public places, as a new smoking ban goes into effect on Friday. The ordinance banning smoking was passed by city council at the July 6 regular council meeting. Smokers will now be prohibited from lighting up in a most public places in the city. Per ordinance those places include restaurants, libraries, elevators, polling places, pool and billiard halls, bingo facilities and educational facilities. Guidelines of the ordinance also restrict smoking in outdoor areas within 25 feet of entrances to public places and workplaces ... Jump to full article >>

Visitors to the Big Apple will soon be breathing in cleaner air after Mayor Bloomberg extended the city’s smoking ban to some of New York’s most popular outdoor spaces. Car free areas of Times Square, parks, beaches and boardwalks will now all be ash free, officials announced today. Nicotine lovers will not be able to light up when hanging out along pedestrian walkways across the five boroughs, in all parts of Central park or along the famous Coney Island boardwalk. Mayor Bloomberg said in announcing the widespread ban, ‘The science is clear: Prolonged exposure to secondhand ... Jump to full article >>

Between puffs of his cigarette, Aristo Lizica explains why he’s all for a smoking ban in public housing—including his own housing project on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. “When you smoke indoors, it hurts everybody,” the 59-year-old says, leaning against an iron fence outside his building. “It’s better for me to just make myself sick.” Lizica would prefer to avoid making himself sick too, of course. “I want to quit,” he adds. “I know cigarettes are bad for my health.” Yet he remains unable to kick the habit. Federal housing officials are trying to help people like Li ... Jump to full article >>

Egypt, the biggest Arab consumer of cigarettes, is beginning an attempt to ban smoking in public places. Alexandria is to be Egypt’s first no smoking city, beginning with a ban on lighting up in government buildings. Egyptians smoke some 19 billion cigarettes each year, prompting concerns for public health. And Egypt is a nation of smokers with traditional shisha water pipes found in many coffee shops, and persuading Egyptians to quit will be a challenge. It is common to find people puffing at cigarettes on the train, in office, even in hospitals. Now in Alexandria that is set to change. ... Jump to full article >>

The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA) announces support for Minnesota’s new Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010. The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association has announced it’s support for Minnesota’s new tobacco law. The Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010 updated Minnesota laws to address new forms of tobacco products, such as snus, disolvables and electronic cigarettes. While the law bans the sale of these products to minors, it keeps these much safer alternatives available to adult tobacco users. ... Jump to full article >>

Air quality isn’t the only thing that’s improved within many of Michigan’s bars, restaurants and bowling alleys. Owners’ optimism also has gone up dramatically. In the days leading up to Michigan’s smoking ban, business owners and others expressed an array of mixed emotions. Almost a month after the state banned all smoking in work places, some business owners’ pessimism has shifted. “I thought we were going to take much more of a hit with the smoking ban, but, surprisingly, we didn’t,” said Abby Shepard, operations manager of Jumbo’s Bar in Owosso. “We haven’t seen a d ... Jump to full article >>