A prominent research firm has apologised over a tobacco survey which some see as an attempt to recruit new smokers. For British American Tobacco, Colmar Brunton pitched the survey to 10,000 people, saying that depending on their answers, they may be asked to join a study in which they would be given cigarettes to smoke. They would also be given $40 and 20 Fly Buys points to cover the cost of any expenses. The Ministry of Health has contacted Co ... Jump to full article >>

Earlier this month, LB colleague Nathan Koppel wrote a story about tobacco litigation in Florida. While in much of the nation, Koppel wrote, smoking-related litigation has reduced to its embers, in Florida it’s on fire, largely due to a 2006 ruling from the Florida Supreme Court. In that case, the Florida Supreme Court decided that the factual findings made by the jury in a case involving a plaintiff named Howard Engle would be binding in futu ... Jump to full article >>

Only 10 per cent of the people in Tamil Nadu are exposed to second hand smoking inside their homes as against 97 per cent in Mizoram, a survey shows. Despite a ban on smoking, 52 per cent Indian adults are exposed to passive smoking at home; it is higher in rural households (58 per cent) and 39 per cent in urban homes. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), released here on Tuesday, said exposure to second hand smoking at work place was the hig ... Jump to full article >>

New figures suggest Canadian smoking rates have been dropping over the past decade but that the decline has slowed considerably, and there’s plenty the government could do about it, reports the Canadian Cancer Society. Rob Cunningham, a senior policy analyst with the not-for-profit, said although the latest Statistics Canada figures show just 18 per cent of Canadians 15 years and older, (about 4.9 million), said they smoked last year compa ... Jump to full article >>

Wolfmother has pulled out of what is expected to be the biggest-ever music festival in South East Asia because it is being sponsored by a tobacco company. The band’s frontman, Andrew Stockdale, says he did not know the Gudang Garam cigarette company is the major sponsor of the Java Rockin’ Land festival in Jakarta. Stockdale says he is morally opposed to profiting from a festival sponsored by a tobacco company. [caption id="attachmen ... Jump to full article >>

When Keith Hern saw the pictures of Hollywood actor Michael Douglas looking gaunt following his throat cancer diagnosis, the painful memories of his own battle with the disease flooded back. He knows what the star can expect to go through as three years ago Keith was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease – and he’s since beaten it twice. ‘It’s not going to be an easy battle. I underwent months of invasive chemo ... Jump to full article >>

Prof Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said parents should take more responsibility, starting even before conception. Cot deaths are linked to mothers smoking while pregnant and evidence from America shows that more children are killed from the effects of parental smoking than by accidents, he said. Yet when the Royal College called for a ban on smoking in cars carrying young children, the idea was attacked as ... Jump to full article >>

In advance of the state’s smoking ban on July 5, the Brown County Tavern League is selling electronic cigarettes, battery-powered devices that use liquid nicotine to imitate a cigarette’s taste and effects. The league began selling the devices in March, and the demand from bars and taverns around the state has been “crazy,” said Brown County Tavern League President Sue Robinson. Made to look like cigarettes, electronic ci ... Jump to full article >>

Naomi Campbell once claimed she preserved her good looks by smoking, drinking occasionally – and never dieting. Eleven years later, the supermodel has to work rather harder at maintaining her beauty. Miss Campbell – who turns 40 later this month – has revealed that she diets on a cocktail of Maple syrup, cayenne pepper, lemon juice and water. ‘I try to do this three times a year,’ she said. ‘The most I’v ... Jump to full article >>

The City Council has approved a new ordinance to make it easier to enforce a state ban on smoking in public places. The city ordinance will allow the Galesburg Police Department to prosecute the smoking ban, eliminating the state’s cumbersome enforcement mechanism. Bars that have flouted the smoking ban could have their licenses revoked under the new system and violations will be prosecuted in the Knox County Courthouse instead of at administr ... Jump to full article >>