americaeconomica.com – 22 de diciembre de 2014 – Uruguay

Uruguay sube los impuestos al tabaco

El Gobierno de Uruguay ha anunciado que incrementará el gravamen que se aplica al tabaco por primera vez en los cinco años de esta legislatura a través del Impuesto Específico Interno (Imesi).

Así lo ha confirmado el Ministerio de Economía, que ha asegurado que los paquetes de tabaco de 20 cigarrillos pasarán de 38 pesos uruguayos (en torno a 1,5 dólares) a 41 (unos 1,7 dólares), lo que supone un incremento del 8% sobre el precio de cada cajetilla. En el caso del tabaco de liar, el aumento será del 7,6 % al situarse en 18 pesos uruguayos (unos 0,75 dólares), frente a los 17 (o 0,70 dólares) con que se gravaban hasta ahora. 

El anuncio, el primero de este estilo durante la presidencia de José Mujica, llega a meses de que espire su legislatura y deje paso al Ejecutivo de Tabaré Vázquez, que hizo de la lucha contra el tabaco una de sus banderas durante su anterior mandato.

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http://www.americaeconomica.com/uruguay/19703/uruguay-sube-impuesto-tabaco.html

crhoy.com – 21 de diciembre de 2014 – Costa Rica

Concurso insta a celebrar una Navidad 100% libre del tabaco

El Instituto de Alcoholismo y Farmacodependencia (Iafa) busca que los ticos celebren una Navidad 100% libre del humo del tabaco y es por esto que lanzó el concurso El Mejor Regalo.

Para participar usted debe entrar al perfil del Facebook del Club de los Vencedores e ingresar a la aplicación del concurso y responder a la pregunta: ¿cuál es el mejor regalo que has recibido al dejar de fumar?

En la pestaña del concurso ya hay algunas historias para que usted vote. Una de esas es la de Allan Mora, quien asegura que estuvo atado al cigarrillo por más de doce años y que lo que lo impulsó a dejar el vicio fue ver a un familiar enfermo por esta causa y sus dos hijas.

“Empecé a ver muchas cosas: la tos en la noche que no me dejaba dormir, el mal aliento y no podía ni correr, me cansaba mucho. Luego, al ver a un familiar enfermo por el cigarro, me di cuenta que no quería morir por este vicio y dejar solas a mis dos princesas. Esta decisión la tomé el día 3 de febrero del 2014, ahora 10 meses después, me siento excelente”, es parte del relato que compartió Mora.

Quienes obtengan más “likes” a su respuesta serán los ganadores de una orden de compra por 50 mil colones y un kit “antifumado”.

Ese paquete incluye material gráfico con consejos para dejar de fumar, una botella, un paño, una camiseta, chicles y maní (éstos dos últimos son algunos de los aliados para “matar” la ansiedad que provoca dejar el vicio).

¡Participe! El concurso se cerrará el próximo martes 23.

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http://www.crhoy.com/con-concurso-instan-a-celebrar-una-navidad-100-libre-del-tabaco/ 

peopledaily.com.cn – 22 de diciembre de 2014 – China

Cerca de 1.100 millones de chinos sufren por efectos de tabaco 

BEIJING, 20 dic (Xinhua) -- Cerca de 1.100 millones de personas en China fuman o están expuestas al tabaco como fumadores pasivos; declaró hoy un funcionario.

Alrededor de 356 millones de personas mayores de 15 años son fumadores, mientras 738 millones de personas son fumadores pasivos, dijo Jiang Yuan, directora de la Oficina de Control de Tabaco del Centro de Control y Prevención de Enfermedades de China.

Los tipos de cáncer y las enfermedades cardiovasculares y respiratorias provocadas por fumar han provocado cargas económicas superiores a los 223.700 millones de yuanes (35.900 millones de dólares USA) por las personas mayores de 35 años, dijo.

"China tiene que adoptar medidas integrales, a largo plazo y efectivas para el control del tabaco", dijo.

China analiza prohibir todas las formas de publicidad del tabaco, patrocinios y promoción de productos de tabaco, según un proyecto de regulación publicado en noviembre por la oficina de asuntos legislativos en la página de Internet del Consejo de Estado de China.

El proyecto prohíbe fumar en todos los lugares públicos y espacios abiertos en jardines de niños, escuelas, colegios, hospitales para mujeres y niños, así como en sitios de entrenamiento físico.

También en noviembre, la legislatura de la municipalidad de Beijing adoptó una legislación contra fumadores para prohibir fumar en todos los espacios públicos cerrados, lugares de trabajo y vehículos de transporte público. La regulación entrará en vigor el 1 de junio del próximo año. 

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http://spanish.peopledaily.com.cn/n/2014/1222/c31614-8825950.html

tristatehomepage.com – 17 de diciembre de 2014 – EEUU

Firefighters Warn E-Cigarette Users Over Potential Fire Hazards

As e-cigs become more popular, firefighters say they're more worried about them being fire hazards. It follows a recent fire this weekend where investigators say an e-cig was a factor in a mobile home fire outside owensboro.

"We don't get into the health issues, we get into the fire safety issues," says Owensboro Fire Battalion Chief Steven Leonard. Leonard says the issue isn't the electronic cigarette, it's is source of power.

"The big problem we're seeing is people will plug them in at night, beside their bed, or on a counter, and leave them on overnight, and overcharge and cause the fire and explosion," says Leonard.

An e-cigarette possibly started a mobile home fire just off of Reid Road Saturday morning. Residents told fire investigators an e-cig was on a table next to a gallon of gas when it was discovered, but weren't sure if that was the cause. Leonard, who didn't investigate that fire, says the lithium ion battery in an e-cig can overheat if its overcharged.

"Once the lithium ion battery heats, the core heats to the point that it will actually explode, and can actually rocket across the room, and throw projectiles across the room," he says.

A U.S. Fire Administration report shows most of the 25 reported incidents involving e-cigs happen while its being charged. USB ports that don't come with e-cigs can also be a factor, since voltage can vary significantly. Leonard says simple ways to stop a fire is following charging instructions and don't overcharge it.

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http://www.tristatehomepage.com/story/d/story/firefighters-warn-e-cigarette-users-over-potential/34614/47xUVwSbAESshQJhoVTTQg

bdnews24.com – 17 de diciembre de 2014 – India

Bangladesh among top smokeless tobacco-using nations

The report produces sufficient evidence to conclude that smokeless tobacco, like smoking, causes cancer and serious health harms.

It also points out that the smokeless tobacco use remains an “overlooked” public health menace in the world.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute have jointly produced the report that also highlights the need for policymakers, researchers and health advocates to better understand and address the burden.

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http://bdnews24.com/health/2014/12/17/bangladesh-among-top-smokeless-tobacco-using-nations

thechronicleherald.ca – 17 de diciembre de 2014 – Canadá

Public consultation about flavored tobacco ban starts January

Consultations on a proposed ban on flavored tobacco and e-cigarette juices will begin next month.

In November, the Liberal government introduced a bill that would, among other things, institute a ban on all flavored tobacco and e-juices with an exemption for menthol. But just a few days after introducing the legislation, the Grits gutted it in the face of criticism about a lack of consultation, removing all flavored product bans.

Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine promised at the time to consult with interested parties and bring in a second piece of legislation in time for the spring sitting. A news release from Glavine’s department Wednesday said the government would get information from public and online submissions.

“Focus groups will be held to gather input from youth (and) facilitated meetings will be held with health partners, Nova Scotia-based e-cigarette vendors and Nova Scotia-based small business organizations representing tobacco vendors,” according to the release.

Glavine has said he intends for the new flavored ban legislation to come into effect May 31, the day the original piece of legislation banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors and the use of the devices in public is scheduled to take effect.

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http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1258361-public-consultation-about-flavoured-tobacco-ban-starts-january

livemint.com – 17 de diciembre de 2014 – EEUU

Teens turn to e-cigarettes as tobacco smoking hits 40-year low among school-aged youths

A new University of Michigan study shows that tobacco use among high school-aged teens has fallen to the lowest it's been in the last 40 years, but kids have replaced traditional smoking habits with something experts say is still harmful to their health.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Monitoring the Future study, more teens, in 2014, more teens reported use of e-cigarettes than tobacco cigarettes or any other tobacco product.

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices with a heating element, which produce an aerosol, or vapor, that users inhale. The vapor typically contains nicotine, although the specific contents of the vapor are proprietary and are not regulated.

The liquid that is vaporized in e-cigarettes comes in hundreds of flavors, and many experts speculate that the variety of flavors attracts more teenage users.

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http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2014/12/youths_turn_to_e-cigarettes_as.html

livemint.com – 17 de diciembre de 2014 – India

ITC shares rise 2% on reports of tobacco inclusion in GST

Mumbai: Shares of ITC Ltd gained 2% in early trade on Thursday on reports that tobacco has been added in the goods and services tax (GST) ambit. Inclusion in GST’s realm will most likely keep tax rates lower for tobacco-based products, according to analysts. The amendment will be introduced in the ongoing winter session of Parliament concluding next week. Other cigarette makers also gained. Godfrey Phillips India was up 1.9% and VST Industries rose 0.7% At 10:33am, ITC shares were trading at Rs.375 apiece, up 0.9%, while the benchmark BSE Sensex rose 1% to 26,973.88.

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http://www.livemint.com/Money/bKLmtQrCxTqvLgV0yp2qfN/ITC-shares-rise-2-on-reports-of-tobacco-inclusion-in-GST.html

thetimesherald.com – 17 de diciembre de 2014 – EEUU

McLaren Port Huron won’t hire tobacco users starting Jan. 1

The campaign against tobacco use is merging into the hiring process at McLaren Port Huron.

The hospital said Wednesday that, starting Jan. 1, it won’t hire people who use nicotine.

Ginger VanNuck, hospital spokeswoman, said the decision was made to create a healthier environment for the hospital’s caregivers, patients and visitors.

McLaren Port Huron, at 1221 Pine Grove Ave., already conducts a drug-testing panel for its employees during the pre-employment process. It will add a test to detect the presence of nicotine.

“Following the conditional offer of hire, an employee will be tested during the drug test,” VanNuck said. “The offer will be rescinded if nicotine is found. Those who test positive may quit smoking and reapply in six months.”

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http://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/local/port-huron/2014/12/17/mclaren-port-huron-hire-tobacco-users-starting-jan/20556991/

hawaiinewsnow.com – 16 de diciembre de 2014 – EEUU

Teens use e-cigs more than tobacco

Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A new national report called "Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 16 Years Later" ranks Hawaii fifth for how it spends tobacco settlement money on prevention programs.

"Prevention is absolutely key," said Jessica Yamauchi, executive director of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii.

But the report criticizes the state for cutting funding for tobacco prevention by 30 percent in the past three years. The report goes on to say more of the money Hawaii gets from tobacco companies should go to prevention efforts.

The state Department of Health is limited in how much it can spend.

"The law does stipulate that we cannot spend more than 50 percent of the principal that's there. There is a threshold that we have to watch," said Lola Irvin, DOH Tobacco Settlement Project Manager.

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http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/27646221/tobacco-prevention-report-ranks-hawaii-fifth