Past News - September 2006

September 30
Smoking breaks banned at work - Australia
No-last gasp reprieve for smokers - Bermuda
James Bond's smoking ban - "I can blow off someone's head at close range and splatter blood, but I can't light a good Cuban cigar."
Falklands : Falklands Set To Go Smokeless
LEAVE SMOKERS ALONE -Letter from Wales with 'foul' comment
City smoking ordinance strikes a better balance - Fort Wayne
Health busybodies strike again - US article - Maybe I'll even light up an after dinner cigar just because I can. I don't smoke, but it's nice to have a choice in the matter, unlike some people in this country.
Pubs fear smoking ban and winter will bring the big freeze - Scotland - Health minister Andy Kerr has said “there is no evidence to suggest that pubs, cafés or restaurants will go out of business as a direct result of the smoking ban”.

September 29
No smoke indoors, no drink outdoors. - Aberdeen
Council's smoking policy bans workers' fag breaks - Cambridgeshire
Love thy neighbour - or lose thy licence, Judge warns - Galway
Broke as a Smoke - Seattle
Smoke ban forces pubs to re-think
A ban on smoking will hurt conventions - Fort Wayne -Letter

September 28
Smoke-Free?Naturally? - With More of Portland's Bars Going Non-Smoking Voluntarily, Is a Legislated Ban on Smoking Even Necessary?
Butts Out - Six Things Portland Should Know Before Banning Smoking
Interfering Holyrood is assembling a totalitarian jigsaw - GERALD WARNER
Smoke ban forces pubs to re-think - Scottish community pubs are beginning to either close or change their customer offer in response to the smoking ban, new findings suggest.
Smoking ban is no success - Scottish letter
New rules on tobacco sales are welcomed - Dorset - Raising age from 16 to 18 -When did this come in?
Issue to allow smoking in some places makes ballot - Smoke-less petition
Cancer charity wants all buildings smoke-free - Ulster
New Year for final smoke ban details? - UK
Scottish licensees face tough winter, trade leader warns
'I will go to jail to fight smoke ban' - Go get 'em Hamish

September 27
Smoking ban eats into trade at pubs with no food
DOHERTY AND MOSS IN SMOKING BAN BREACH
Broke as a Smoke - Seatle - "It's very strange, I don't know where everyone has gone. Maybe they are staying at home."
Smoking limits may hit home - OHIO - More custody fights being won by the nonsmoking parent, and courts uphold that as a healthy move.
Scottish councillor fails in outside smoke ban bid and No ban on smoking OUTSIDE pubs

September 26
WE CAN SMOKE PARTY New entry on Links page
Hundreds of smokers fined in wake of ban - Evidence that it's welcome by all?
Drinkers toast fresh air in wake of smoking ban - More Scotsman rubbish -What about job losses?
Property rights under attack daily - US opinion
Call to ban smoking in cars - NZ
'Ban smoking in pub gardens' says councillor - Scottish insanity - good comments after
Doorway smokers risking fines - Scotsman article + lots of Comment
Drinking habits changing, pub groups say - But there will be no drinking in traditional pubs???
Scottish trade "pessimistic" about future of smoking ban - STLA

Septembber 24/5
"Smokers are voters, too" FOREST tells Labour party conference
County's anti-smoking zealotry is a real drag - Smoking is indefensible; therefore, it is all the more necessary to defend smokers from irrational harassment.
Amarillo Under Siege - A good rant - no pulled punches
Anti-smoking initiative pushes people into corners - It is our choice to segregate ourselves into groups of personal preference
Weak surveys, inflated science foul the air - supports the ban Bcan't excuse bad science
'Ban smoking in pub gardens' says councillor - AND -COUNCILLOR GOES TO HOLYROOD IN BID TO EXTEND SMOKING BAN proves councillors don't need a brain
Assembly smoking shelter may become illegal - More Welsh nonsense
Battle starts to blow away opposition to smoking ban - Even more Welsh toffee - BUT they admit there is opposition.
Snuff it, geezers - short but sweet

September 23
Hain: Labour must not be Big Brother
For and against - Greenock Telegraph - some pubs and clubs have reported a drop in takings. but only one looser mentioned
COUNCILLOR GOES TO HOLYROOD IN BID TO EXTEND SMOKING BAN

September 22
Pub smoker targets Number 10 - He'll get my vote
Al fresco smoking ban for pub-goers? - Clotted Cream from Jersey??
No Smoking in the Green Zone - Anti-smokers enter Iraq
Falklands : Public Meeting Report (19/09/06)
French favour smoking ban - Well actually --- They don't!!
Smokers need tough love to quit - US - The writer of this crap needs help but (s)he'll probably end up running ASH

September 21
Supplementary evidence to MSPs from ASH & Tobacco Manufacturers(v. interesting stats from TMA) -
Man-made toxins are found in even the best diets - from The Times
Does Tobacco Money Taint Research? - Interesting discussion - How about "Does Government and Charity money taint Research?"
Smokers have higher risk of HIV, study - BUT there were 16 studies so they only used the 5 with positive results!!!!!!!!
Community’gobbledygook as government diktats kill those communities - Ireland (maybe subscription) -"Mr. Ahern ........... seemed totally oblivious to the way draconian State policies are working to kill off civic spirit in peripheral rural areas in particular."
‘Common sense on smoking issue' -US - Letter

September 20
Bans not hurting business, smoke-free advocates say - Pensilvania -“Smokers have become accustomed to being an ostracized class of people,” she said.
Local bingos are getting smoked out - Edmonton Sun report - "profit from bingos that go to charities was down an alarming 53% in that time frame, or $6.8 million."
For bowlers, ban would be one unlucky strike -US - "On the first night of league play soon after the ban was instituted, five teams told him they were leaving after they were surprised to learn that they couldn't smoke"
Nonsmokers oppose a ban - US Portland -
Game is over for Sports Ticket - Middletown Rhode Island - "The smoking ban really hurt their business because that was a place people would go and watch a game,"
Does social engineering work? - Guardian Article - "For instance, taken as a discrete measure, the Scottish smoking ban seems to be a success, but arguably it is still wrong because it undermines our power to make autonomous choices for ourselves."
£2,500 ANNUAL COST IF YOU SMOKE 20 CIGS A DAY - Typical Mirror crap
Sherbrooke wants smoking zones in schools -Quebec - "students have made a habit of leaving school to smoke — whether it's walking several blocks away, sneaking into neighbours' backyards, or crossing busy streets."

September 19
Game is over for Sports Ticket - US - "The smoking ban really hurt their business because that was a place people would go and watch a game," Silva said. "That just devastated things."
When Banning Smoking, Please Speak English - Philadelphia
Burning questions - What would local smoking ban do to smokers, club-hoppers? - US - Fort Wayne letters
Adults’ rights among smoking ban worries - US - More Fort Wayne letters
Another bingo bites the dust = Crest Bingo closes, charities feel pinch - In the past year, four Edmonton bingos and one St. Albert bingo have closed down. That leaves 11 bingos - 10 in Edmonton and one in St. Albert, said Ian Taylor of Alberta Satellite Bingo.
SMOKING BAN MOVE SEES £300,000 RECRUITMENT PLAN DRAWN UP - Northern Ireland
Noise warning for pubs

September 18
PM’s wife’s law firm to advise on ban case - Guernsey protest march
No third series for 'The Smoking Room' - No reason given
Smoking Ban Is Unpopular With Mental Healthcare Staff, UK - Many staff worry that introducing a smoking ban in mental health units is unfair and will cause confrontation between patients and staff
Pennsylvania Dental Association's Health Advice Decidedly Unhealthy, Says Renowned Tobacco Expert - article insists that Smokeless tobacco is relatively safe with links to the http://www.smokersonly.org/ site
Love is like a cigarette - Don't really know what to make of this
Butt out - Companies are stamping out smoking to cut their medical costs and protect the health of employees - with McFadden comment
Smoking ban bad idea, says Jewett City vet -"I don't think it's a good idea and I don't smoke,"
Gurnee off smoke-free bandwagon - "also noted that officials have heard from very few residents in favor of a smoking ban".
Face of the Fair - The end of an era was also marked on Saturday, with what is expected to be the last day clay piping smoking contest to be held im the Market Hall, due to the upcoming smoking ban.

September 16/17
Smoking ban views sought from Bradford
Smoking ban supporters see health issue, detractors say their rights would be trampled - US
The man behind the brow - comments about Scotland & labour
Policy-makers must take more responsibility for our children’s wellbeing
let the free market settle the smoking ban debate AS I SEE IT - Kansas
Smoking Opponents Produce Air Quality Results - US
Northern chiefs to challenge smoking ban - Manitoba
It's time for nanny to just pipe down - Neil Rafferty - Great Comment
Cancer Research UK - Not really!!!! -donations are give to anti-smoking campaigns
Fuming about the smoking ban (1) - From MALTA
Cumming hits out at Jack's 'racist' own goal - Some comment about 'new' Scotland
NearlyDone article 'Birth of a Ban' UPDATED

September 15
Smoke protest planned for Labour conference - Good old Hamish from Blackpool - His Website
Figures from Ireland show continuous rise over 15 month - 1.5% rise March '05 toMarch '06- full report at www.otc.ie/research_reports.asp ----- Click here to see larger image
Smoker Numbers Rise, but Mayor Lauds Other City Statistics - New York
Ruben, Giannetti fail to retain seats -"she looks forward to spending more time with her family, and will continue to lobby for a statewide smoking ban. "

September 14
Smoking ban takes away rights- US Student comment
THE FEDERATION OF THE RETAIL LICENSED TRADE NI Response and Economic consequences document - some real infrormation

September 13
Editorial: "Reducing Tobacco Use" - Truthful information not a ban
Nicotine Lessens Symptoms of Depression in Nonsmokers
Higher Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes May Be Beneficial - 'cos you don't smoke as many and get as much tar
Exploding Graydon Back on the Butts - a man with money struggles to quit
Judge rejects separate account for $20 M in anti-tobacco money - How much money do the antis get?
County may designate smoking areas - a thinking approach!!!
Penn panned for lighting up at Toronto film fest -

September 12
If You Smoke, You Stink -- Adjudication
Ban forcing hospital smokers onto street -- Anyone wishing to have a cigarette must leave the premises, while hospital staff are banned from smoking at all while in NHS uniform.
Public health plans 'in disarray' - Government fails on "Choosing Health" targets
Vapors from some mothballs and deodorizers may harm lungs
Smoking-ban 'logic' - Letter - Is anyone forcing customers to patronize any given bar or restaurant? etc.
The NHS site with so much misleading rubbish - Is this over-stepping the mark??
A couple of studies about the economic effects of smoking bans - FRLT represents around 1,200 licensees in Northern Ireland - PUBCO Releases Economic Impact Study(Canada) - and - Government Data Shows Smoking Bans Devastate Bar Industry Reports Leading Economist
Smoking a burning issue -US - small businesses do suffer
The legal drugs that could kill you - In the UK, 10,000 people are killed every year by adverse drug reactions (ADRs) which happen when the prescription drug supposed to be curing you kills or harms you instead.
SMOKING BAN - UK -Letter
Potential carcinogen revealed in french fries - Not a single comment from me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

September 11
Transcript of Tom Utley Article
Doctors fume over WAG smokers' shed - Welsh assembly "to stop staff who smoke from catching colds out in the elements"
Pubs 'healthier' after smoke ban - CancerResearchUK waste more money on a poll!!!
Half would like smoke ban in cars - Irish Health site

September 10
Smokes ban snuffs couple's pub dream - Australia
Minimum smoking age limit to rise to 18 - Scotland
Straight talk about secondhand smoke - Propaganda
Up in smoke - Scotland - why are so many girls still taking up the habit?

September 9
NH Senate Says No To Smoking Ban - On Principle! - New Hampshire - Listen to the senators

September 8
Cigarette can offer relief to patients' stressed-out loved ones -US
UK pub group backs smoking ban despite Scots sales fall - despite seeing profits at its fume-free Scottish pubs fall 11%.
Rebus brought to book - "What I do find annoying is that the government tells us how to behave and removes the option of choice from our lives.

September 7
Pubs to stage smoke ban protest - Guernsey
Punch holds steady in Scotland despite ban on smokers - but read a little deeper
Some smoking questions -US. -A letter to the Editor
No to pub's outdoor smoke zone - Wetherspoon's Dagenham
Pub toasts beer garden victory - East Lothian

September 6
Catch-up
0800 hotline to shop smokers - Environmental health officers will then be able to launch surveillance operations and raids to catch pubs, clubs, restaurants or other venues that are illegally allowing smoking.
Rank blames Scottish smoking ban for 200 job cuts
O'Grady makes an appearance - "I'm not going to go on the anti-smoking wagon and I don't agree with the ban on smoking in pubs."
Smokers must choose to clear the air - Title sounds right -some realism but justifies ban
Council wants pub to pilot smoke ban trial - "In return the council will associate itself with the venue and promote the business as pursuing public health objectives"!!!!
Blackpool bar owner leads smoke ban protest PUB PROTEST: Hamish Howitt claims a smoking ban will finish off his business
Wetherspoons' profit rise fades away
Stub it out-Belgian health minister Rudy Demotte may be raising catering industry hackles with talk of a bar and restaurant smoking ban. But he's right nevertheless.
The last puff for Cigarettes in Holland? - "The heat is on! The Dutch government fired the first shot in a new war on 1 January when tough new anti-smoking measures came into force. But the humble cigarette is not going out without a fight, writes Cormac Mac Ruairi".
Bar Owners Sue Over Smoking Ban - Colorado
Nursing home residents regain right to smoke US
Business Owners see profits go up in Smoke- US
Target: Tobacco-Free Fewer teenagers are smoking, study says - Is this simply through EDUCATION?

Time out' -- Back in a couple of days'

September 3
Smoke ban’s here to stay’ typical 'holier than thou' stuff
Holy smoke, the pubs reek of BO - The Health Bill is not the only thing that stinks.

September 2
Hospital bans smoking in vehicles - So what can there justification be????????
Austin smoking ban: Enforcing the ban - US damage
Bingo operators call for £100m ‘smoking ban’ tax rebate - Scotland
Smoke ban’s here to stay’- Geurnsey-ANTI-smoking campaigners say licensees need to accept that the ban is here to stay. -Usual tired claptrap
Rank to Cut Bingo Jobs, Shut Head Office to End Slide (Update2) - Much more detail about Bingo losses
Pen and Teller on Second Hand smoke -- Great Video
International Review of the Health and Economic Impact of the Regulation of Smoking in Public Places - Sadly amusing but this is the selective rubbish bans are based on
Statewide, local smoking rates declining -"We'd like to claim that the voter-approved and Columbian-endorsed statewide ban on indoor public smoking has been a factor, but the ban didn't go into effect until this year, and the smoking-rate data are based on 2005 statistics."

September 1
Freedom to Choose have reported their judicial review on the smoking ban element of the Health Act is on time and on target., www.thebigdebate.org
SMOKING BAN IS MY LEGACY - JACK McCONNELL
Action breaches human rights - Scotish Letter
A Blackpool bar owner is leading "the biggest one-man protest the UK has ever seen" against the smoking ban.
Greene King managed pub sales up - BUT not in SCotland
Scottish smoking ban hits Rank and Rank to axe 240 and quit London and Scottish smoking ban hits pubs and Smoking ban affects liquor sales in Scottish pubs – but pub restaurants have never fared better!
Johnson: Let's light up and cheer Roadhouse ruling - Colorado
The Intolerance and Arrogance of the Modern-Day Anti-Smoking Movement from April but a great way to start a new month
Spanish bars fret over new smoking law
Austin smoking ban turns a year old
Another look at the ClearWay numbers - Some Stats that hadnt been expected to be published!