A U.S. trial judge ruled Monday that a British American Tobacco PLC subsidiary is no longer subject to her landmark 2006 racketeering judgment against the tobacco industry. U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler ruled that recent legal precedent by the Supreme Court required her to find that British American Tobacco (Investments) Ltd. wasn’t liable under U.S. racketeering laws. In 2006, Judge Kessler ruled that the tobacco industry violated federal racketeering laws by engaging in a decades-long scheme to deceive the public about the dangers of smoking. In recent court proceedings, BAT ... Jump to full article >>

OTTAWA — The federal government plans to introduce legislation Tuesday that, if passed, would make good on a campaign promise to ban flavoured tobacco products that are considered appealing to children. The bill, “An Act to Amend the Tobacco Act,” also is expected to mandate that mini-cigars, called cigarillos, must be sold in packages of at least 20, and that all tobacco advertising and promotion in print and electronic media that may be viewed and read by young people is prohibited. More details will be revealed when the bill is introduced in the House of Commons by Health Mini ... Jump to full article >>

School districts can now sell advertising space on the sides of their buses. This could be a beneficial source of extra revenue, but should be handled responsibly by the school districts. The restrictions established by the law are that half of the revenue be used to pay fuel costs for student busing, and alcohol, tobacco and political ads are prohibited. As for content, we want school districts to go further and avoid advertising for fast food, junk food, soda and religion. The ads will be seen by the public as the buses travel the streets, but it’s the kids who will see it every day. S ... Jump to full article >>

BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) — China’s Health Ministry admitted Monday that it has a long way to go in tobacco control, amid criticism of the country’s failure to honor its commitments to the World Health Organization (WHO). China was the world’s largest tobacco producer and consumer, and tobacco control was a complicated social activity, which involved political, economic and health sectors, said ministry spokesman Deng Haihua at a press conference. Deng’s remarks came after a report issued Thursday which said China’s progress in tobacco control was limited a ... Jump to full article >>

DENVER, Pa. – Morphy’s is starting off the new year on a high note with the Jan. 8 auction of a single consignor’s lifetime collection of antique advertising pieces. Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com. Included in this collection is a great selection of Coca-Cola and other soda pop-related items, with a special highlight being an array of early and very desirable Coca-Cola serving and tip trays. The trays date from 1907 through 1942 and feature a bevy of Coca-Cola beauties from that era as well as all-American scenes that include friends chatting alongside ... Jump to full article >>

I am a student in the Health and Human Services program at the University at Buffalo who recently helped conduct a survey organized by the American Cancer Society and the Erie-Niagara Tobacco Free Coalition to measure tobacco advertising in retail stores. As a surveyor, I was surprised by the placement of tobacco ads in stores. We documented store after store where advertisements are predominantly placed near the cash register. Either making a purchase or simply exiting the store requires you to walk past the cash register where you are bombarded with these ads. Tobacco marketing is placed fro ... Jump to full article >>

I am responding to a letter that was recently published in New Vision titled “Revenue from smoking is incompatible to public health”. In the letter, the writer implored our legislators to enact laws against smoking in public places. However, I would like to remind the public that Uganda already has such a law. It is called the National Environment (Control of Smoking in Public Places) Regulations 2004. In Uganda, smoking in public places was banned in February 2004. This followed the December 2002 declaration by the High Court that smoking in public places was a violation of non-smokers’ ... Jump to full article >>

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada could ban all types of advertising of tobacco in Ukraine under a new law now undergoing initial scrutiny. A bill on amendments to some laws concerning a ban of advertising, sponsorship and promotion of tobacco sales was passed by 303 MPs at first reading at a plenary meeting on Tuesday. The bill also suggests that the advertising of trademarks of goods and services and other objects of intellectual property rights under which tobacco is produced be prohibited. The sponsorship of television and radio programs, performances and concerts, sports and other events wit ... Jump to full article >>

Young Australians, aged 24-29, currently have the highest rate of smoking among Australians, who currently have a nearly 20 percent rate of smoking overall. Australia has some of the world’s toughest tobacco advertising restrictions and already bans advertising on television and radio, in newspapers and magazines, and at sporting events. Retailers are prohibited from displaying cigarette packets in shops and cigarette packets carry graphic images of cancer and a health warning that smoking causes cancer. “Prohibiting retailers from peddling cigarettes as ‘cheap’ or R ... Jump to full article >>

Concert promoters MCD have been reported to a health chiefs over the alleged promotion of cigarettes at a music event, it emerged today. Anti-tobacco campaigners Ash Ireland claimed free cigarettes were handed out backstage at the Oxegen festival, with only one brand on sale to revellers during the three-day event. Dr Angie Brown, of ASH Ireland, said complaints against MCD and a Temple Bar venue have been made to the Office of Tobacco Control and Health Minister Mary Harney. “ASH Ireland is concerned that the tobacco industry will use every means possible, with the vast profits at their dis ... Jump to full article >>

Statement of Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Washington, D.C. – The nation’s three largest tobacco companies and New York City tobacco retailers have put their profits ahead of health and lives in suing to block the City’s rule requiring all businesses that sell tobacco products to post tobacco health warning signs. New York City acted appropriately and within its legal authority in approving the new signage requirement last year as part of its highly successful efforts to prevent children from smoking, better educate the public and encourage smok ... Jump to full article >>