Snapshots from around the country

Possible 50,000 Saved By California Smoking Laws

A study by the Pacific Institute for Research and Education (PIRE) estimates that the California Tobacco Control Program, a bundle of smoking laws beginning in 1988, will have saved 50,000 lives by the year 2010. PIRE believes that the program, including laws banning indoor smoking and reducing youth access to cigarettes, higher cigarette prices, and antismoking ads, has led to a 25 percent decrease in smoking in the state.

Smoking in Pregnancy Leads to Stroke, Heart Attack Later in Life

Reuters reported March 2 that children of smokers when studied as young adults were found to have thicker walls in the carotid arteries in their necks. Those whose mothers smoked the most during pregnancy had the thickest arterial walls, researchers found. These arterial walls make the participants more susceptible to stroke and heart attacks. “There is the possibility that the compounds in tobacco smoke go through the placenta and directly damage the cardiovascular system of the fetus," said researcher Cuno Uiterwaal at the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands. "The damage appears to be permanent and stays with the children." The findings were presented at a recent American Heart Association conference in Orlando.

Battle Rages Over Tobacco Regulation Bill

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, a bill that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco products, was introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in February. The bill would require cigarette makers to disclose the ingredients in their products, allow the FDA to regulate nicotine and toxin levels in cigarettes, and give the agency the power to approve or disapprove so-called "reduced risk" cigarettes. The measure also would give FDA authority to regulate cigarette marketing, ban candy- and fruit-flavored cigarettes, and prohibit the use of terms like "light," "mild," and "low-tar" to sell cigarettes. Larger warning labels also would be required on cigarette packs.

Religious leaders, preventions experts, and members of Congress weighed in on the issue. Some senators feel that the FDA would be the wrong agency to regulate tobacco. "Isn't that giving it an FDA stamp of approval?" said Sen. Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), the ranking Republican of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. It has been suggested that the Federal Trade Commission or the U.S. Department of Justice might better regulate the industry, but other lawmakers argue that finding fault with the bill is a way of “stopping progress”. Said Alan Blum, director of the University of Alabama's Center for the Study of Tobacco and Society, "Placing it under the FDA is unwise. [Consumers] are going to believe a problem has been taken care of. They are going to assume the harm has been reduced. ... There is no evidence this bill will save any lives at all. It could well be renamed the Marlboro Protection Act and will prove destructive to the public health." Matt Myers, president and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said 69 percent of voters support FDA regulation of tobacco, with strong backing even from voters in tobacco-growing states.

In another angle, the Association of American Advertising Federation and the American Association of Advertising charged in a letter to leading bill sponsor Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass) that the proposed bill’s advertising restrictions “sweep too far too broadly and result in massive censorship”. The groups claim that the restrictions, including bans on outdoor ads near schools and playgrounds, giveaways of promotional items, large warning labels, and limiting tobacco ads to black-and-white text, are unconstitutional.

Kennedy stated, "If we are serious about reducing youth smoking, FDA must have the power to prevent industry advertising designed to appeal to children wherever it will be seen by children. This legislation will give FDA the authority to stop tobacco advertising that glamorizes smoking to kids."

Camel Aims for Women with 'Light and Luscious' Cigarettes

A new variety of Camel cigarettes has emerged, and the packaging sports colors like fuchsia and teal. The Camel No. 9 cigarettes are marketed as “light and luscious” to attract women, who only make up about 30 percent of current Camel smokers. Ads for Camel No. 9 have been seen in magazines like Glamour and Vogue, and references to the new brand were also spotted by La Tanisha Wright, NAATPN’s West Region Director, at a KOOL nightclub event in Dallas, Texas.

Pennsylvania County Judge Rules against Antismoking Ordinance

A judge from Erie County, Pennsylvania, decided to throw out the antismoking ordinance that went into effect in that county last year. The judge’s ruling concluded that state law pre-empts counties and municipalities from passing smoking ordinances. County executives plan to appeal the ruling, which antismoking activists hope may put pressure on the Pennsylvania Legislature to pass a statewide indoor smoking ban. "There are lots of bumps in the road, but it just encourages people to keep up the effort and get in touch with their legislators," said Cindy Thomas, executive director of Tobacco Free Allegheny. "It's the right thing to do in protecting public health."

Baltimore Goes Smoke-Free

A new Baltimore, Maryland ordinance outlawing smoking indoors, including in bars and restaurants, will take effect January 1, 2008. The Baltimore City Council voted in favor of the measure on February 26, and Mayor Sheila Dixon appears heartily in favor.

"Congratulations to the City Council for putting the health of Baltimore's residents first by passing this smoking ban," Mayor Dixon said in a statement. "I am honored and excited to sign this bill as soon as possible. Bar and restaurant employees have a right to a healthy and safe work environment, and restricting smoking will protect other restaurant patrons as well. Smoking bans that have taken effect in other jurisdictions seem to have little or no effect on the restaurant and bar businesses. With four prominent counties and the state's largest city leading the way, I hope the General Assembly will pass a statewide smoking ban this year."