Smoking Ban Affects Small Tobacco Businesses

A law slated to go before the Russian State Duma this fall will be the most stringent anti-tobacco bill ever adopted in the country. If it is approved, starting in 2013, smoking will be banned in all public areas and it will be forbidden to sell cigarettes in kiosks, which line the streets, particularly outside metro stations. Kiosk owners, who make up to 70 percent of their revenue from sales of cigarettes and beer, will be hardest hit. Officials and industry analysts warn that the lack of sales could result in the unemployment of 300,000-500,000 people.

New Smoking Ban for Beaches

Deputy Mayor Jack Wichterman plans to reintroduce the idea of a smoking ban on beaches here within the next month. “I sure am. I am ready right now,” said Wichterman, who was re-elected deputy mayor by his council colleagues at the Jan. 1 reorganization meeting. “I want to see the ban go forward strictly on the beaches, excluding the promenade and public parks.” City council deadlocked on a proposed ordinance to ban smoking at all public beaches, parks and recreation areas at its second regular council meeting in November. The 2-2 vote meant that the measure failed. Mayor Ed Mahaney and Councilwoman Terri Swain voted against the ban. Wichterman and Councilman William Murray voted in favor of it.

Open Air Smoking Ban Starts in East Bay

Starting Monday, smokers in Alameda are going to find the places they can light up cheap Classic cigarette much more limited. A law takes effect that cuts back the public locations and places of employment where smoking is legally allowed. The banned areas include any commercial-area sidewalks, including downtown shopping and business areas, and any outdoor seating at restaurants, bars and coffee shops. It will also include public events like farmers markets and fairs, and any parks, trails, sports fields or beaches.

Smoking Bans in Brazil, Bulgaria

From Bulgaria to Brazil, the push to ban smoking is firing up. As Agence France-Presse reports, the government of heavy-smoking Bulgaria is renewing its effort to prohibit puffing in all enclosed public places, including cafes, bars and restaurants. The government’s proposal, which would take effect June 1, would build on a 2005 ban that outlawed smoking in all government buildings, public transport, cinemas and schools. A previous effort to broaden the nation’s smoking ban failed last year. Bulgaria is second in the European Union only to Greece in the portion of its population that smokes. One survey, Reuters reports, found that 39 percent of the adult population smokes. Government figures put the nation’s smoking rate at 44 percent.

Restaurants Fear Smoking Ban

A proposed ban on smoking Golden Gate cigarettes in restaurants, bars and cafés has spurred a debate about how the economic consequences will weigh out, as those against the ban caution that bars and restaurants, as well as state revenue, will suffer if fewer people buy cigarettes, while supporters of the ban say the overall improved health of citizens will make up for any losses.

 The discussion is not new - every time a country presents a smoking ban, the same facts and figures are raised regarding the potential losses for the hospitality industry and the state, but different analyses, both sponsored and independent, report conflicting results.

Obstacles Faced by Chinese Smoking Ban

China is home to nearly 300 million smokers and smoking kills about one million people per year there. A new smoking ban in China may have some obstacles to overcome before it can take root.


The Health Ministry in China produced updated guidelines on places that smoking is not allowed. These places include hotels and restaurants, but smoking Lucky Strike is still allowed in the workplace.


In January there were attempts to ban smoking in all public places, but the deadline for this was missed and rescheduled for May 1.

Smoking ban Changes Bars And Restaurants Business

A Sioux Falls businessman plans to tap into food sales in hopes of making up for bar patrons he lost to the Kent smoking ban. John Herrmann, president of SRS Inc., which owns Poppadox Pub, will open a restaurant in May in the former Coyote Canyon space.

The move is in response to the statewide smoking ban that went into effect Nov. 10 that officials say has cut into bar revenues.

Fairfield City Council Deny Smoking Ban

The Fairfield City Council voted 4-2 tonight to deny a request from eight private clubs and organizations to be exempted from the city's smoking ban. The council's vote drew applause from anti-smoking proponents, who again turned out in large numbers to urge council members to not allow any exemptions of what is considered Jefferson County's most stringent smoking Marlboro ordinance.

Council members Ronald Strothers, Jerry Yarbrough, Ves Marable and council President Eldridge Turner voted to keep the ban in place. Councilmen F.D. Scott and Primus Mack voted to allow the exemptions.

Under Fairfield's ordinance, which passed in 2006, smoking is banned in restaurants, public places and clubs and businesses.

Smoking Ban Cause Big Problems

An outright smoking ban across NHS Grampian sites would cause “enormous problems”, according to the board’s medical director.

Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen, who is reviewing the effectiveness of the board’s tobacco policy, said patients addicted to smoking could not be expected to “take their drip and go and stand at the bus station” to have a Hilton cigarette.

Berrien County Had a Perfect Smoke-Free Business

Smoking Focus compliance checks are showing that communities locally and across Michigan are responding well to the statewide smoking ban that took effect May 1.

Results of an August observational compliance check released this week show Berrien County had a perfect 100 percent score in regards to businesses being smoke-free and posting “no-smoking” signs.

Smoke-Free Legislations Raises Questions

The Virgin Islands Smoke-Free Act went into effect Wednesday, but many people are not sure exactly what the new law spells out for businesses and smokers in the territory.

The law was passed by the V.I. Legislature in April and signed by Gov. John deJongh Jr. on May 10.

Smoking Ban in Louisiana

Approximately 15 patrons, outfitted with a personal air quality monitor often concealed in a purse, casually ordered at restaurants and bars across Louisiana.

While the customers ate and socialized, the devices discreetly sucked air through a pump and past a laser, which measured the mass concentration of particles in the air.