The You Docs: Are e-cigarettes helpful?

We normally cheer anything that can help you kick butts, but we're urging a bit of caution about electronic cigarettes, or "nicotine delivery devices." E-cigs look like cigarettes and come in cute colors and wild flavors, such as chocolate, cherry and cigar. They use batteries to vaporize a nicotine/propylene glycol solution. You inhale - or, in the new parlance, "vape" - a shot of nicotine that's supposed to be a tiny fraction of what's in tobacco products. We're big boosters of nicotine patches, gum and lozenges to help get you off cigs.
However, one study found that the amount of nicotine released by e-cigs varies from 6 mg to 24 mg. (The average cigarette contains 10 mg.) Just be aware that you may get more nicotine than you think.
Still, e-cigs don't contain the thousands of other chemicals packed in your smokes.
Some may have trace amounts of tobacco carcinogens. One thing that troubles us is that you apparently get some of the toxin propylene glycol.
How much isn't clear. And another concern is the dearth of research on e-cigs. They debuted in the United States a little more than three years ago.
Although they appear to be safe, the Food and Drug Administration already has cited five distributors for poor manufacturing processes and claiming the products help people stop smoking without proving it. Although the risks may be slight and the devices are promising, using them makes you a guinea pig in an unofficial market test of an unregulated product.

Singapore Custom Bans Moon Mountain

Singapore Custom has banned the use of illegal brand of Moon Mountain cigarettes. As per reports, the custom had seized 32,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes, which included 16,500 packets of Moon Mountain cigarettes in Woodlands on March 11.

In addition, four men involved in the crime, including three Singaporeans and a Chinese national, were arrested on the spot. The network of the smugglers has still not been tracked, but the authorities are digging all the possible options so that perpetrator can be nabbed and suitably punished for the crime.

Citing concern over the network of smugglers, Singapore's Custom officials reportedly claimed that no licensed supplier of the Health Sciences Authority is selling the Moon Mountain cigarettes in Singapore.

Moreover, the custom officials appealed the public to refrain from this brand and assured that such illegal practices will not be tolerated within the periphery of Singapore.

New Hampshire Experiments with Lower Cigarette Taxes

File this under “Adventures on the Laffer curve.” The New Hampshire House is seeking to lower its cigarette tax from $1.78 per pack to $1.68. Almost every other state has increased cigarette taxes over the past few decades. In New York, an individual pays an extra $4.35 per pack (minimum, not including any local taxes) of cigarettes, about $.20 per cigarette.

Some legislators believe it will bring increased revenues, through increased cigarette sales and other economic activity near the border, among other things. The opponents do not believe this:

But state Rep. Christine Hamm, a Hopkinton Democrat, called the move “fiscally stupid.”

“No state has cut their tobacco tax and seen a revenue increase,” she said.


According to this data from the Tax Foundation, it isn’t clear that any states have actually tried cutting their tobacco taxes (is this something that we would expect a lawmaking body to try?), so I’m not sure that statement is relevant. From 2000-2010, cigarette taxes in the 50 states either stayed steady or increased.

According to this map, Vermont ($2.24/pack), Maine (2.00), and Massachusetts ($2.51) all already have higher state taxes per pack. A $.10 per pack decrease isn’t incredibly significant, but it will be interesting to see what happens to tax revenues and other economic activity on the New Hampshire border.

Prove you smoked ITC cigarettes, tobacco giant tells cancer patient

Responding to a cancer-stricken customs officer’s allegation that tobacco giants ITC got “paid” scientists to file affidavits in consumer court, where his Rs 1 crore law suit against the company is being heard, the ITC said the complainant has no proof of the purchase of cigarettes.

Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise Deepak Kumar, who lost his voice after his larynx was removed to prevent the spread of cancer to other parts of his body, alleged that the four scientists -- Jeffrey Idle, Michael Lewis, Jaques Lelorier and Cyril Fisher -- have long been associated with the British American Tobacco Company (BAT), which holds 30 per cent stake in ITC.

The four scientists have argued, through independent affidavits, that there is no conclusive proof that cigarette smoking can cause cancer of larynx, a condition that severely damaged Kumar's vocal chord, voice box and other areas of throat (Ciggy biggy’s smokescreen in landmark cancer case, Mumbai Mirror, December 7, 2010).

Arguing on behalf of ITC, senior counsel Navroze Seervai said, “The complainant has not produced any receipt that shows that he bought ITC-made cigarettes.

There is no proof that he ever smoked ITC cigarettes. Also, cigarettes are not addictive and the concept of addiction is still not very clear.”

Seervai said Kumar came up with a “hopelessly delayed” case. “Why did he wait till he developed cancer? He has not been able to show that the product of ITC is defective. He has a case under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) only if the product is defective.

Tobacco Free Missouri says statewide policy is needed

More communities are enacting smoking ordinances, but one organization says until there’s a change in policy, the health of Missourians is still largely at risk. Tobacco Free Missouri is an advocacy group that — among other things — provides resources and technical support to communities crafting smoking bans or restrictions.

Spokeswoman Kendre Israel says Maryville was the first Missouri community to pass a non-smoking ordinance a few years ago, which was not comprehensive; the community has since strengthened that ordinance to make it comprehensive, meaning it covers all public places, including bars, restaurants and businesses.

About 15 Missouri cities now have smoking restrictions in place, and while Israel says it’s a step in the right direction, a report from the Centers for Disease Control says Missouri still has a high rate of smoking compared to other states.

An indoor clean air act has been introduced in the Missouri House, sponsored by Representative Jill Schupp of Creve Couer. The bill is not currently on the calendar. Missouri has the lowest cigarette tax in the nation — Governor Nixon and lawmakers have indicated they will not seek to raise it.

Despite opposition from businesses, Tobacco Free Missouri Spokeswoman Kendra Israel says studies conducted by several reputable researchers show that smoking bans do not cause drops in revenue.

Kick Butts day aims to keep kids away from tobacco

Abbie Miller said she is looking forward to helping students avoid using tobacco by her participation in Kick Butts Day on Wednesday. The Hilldale eighth-grader is a member of Students Working Against Tobacco, an organization holding a variety of anti-tobacco events that day.

Event organizers estimate that a minimum of 300 to 500 students in several area schools will hear the Kick Butts Day message.

Miller said she and the other SWAT students believe they can either stop teens from using tobacco or quit if they have begun. The Hilldale group plans two public awareness actions.

“We’re going to make table tents with information on them about why they shouldn’t smoke,” Miller said. “We’ll put them on the tables in the cafeteria. They’ll have statistics and messages like ‘Don’t Smoke’ and pictures and stuff. We’ll make 128 table tents.”

Miller said her group will also hand make 50 posters with similar health warnings to be placed throughout the school. She said it’s important to hold this type of event for children at the middle-school level.

“This is so kids can make a choice not to smoke,” she said. “It’s better for everyone if they don’t smoke or do tobacco. I hope they understand that they shouldn’t give in to peer pressure, and that tobacco is really, really bad for you.”

Tricia Wall, SWAT coordinator for Muskogee and Wagoner counties, said it’s important to have teens involved in this type of event.

“They’re the main target of the tobacco industry, in their effort to replace those (customers) who are dying,” Wall said. “We lose 1,200 people every day to tobacco-related illnesses and diseases, and so they’re targeting the teenagers to be able to replace those people as far as customers and to keep their revenue flowing.”

Wall said, according to the Oklahoma State Health Department, 6,200 kids under the age of 18 become new smokers every day. This doesn’t include the 216,000 kids who are subject to secondhand smoke, which causes more than 5 million deaths worldwide each year.

Wall said participating schools are spread across the county and city.

Balan 'requests on-set smoking ban'

Vidya Balan is said to have asked unit members on her new film not to smoke.

The actor, who plays the role of a pregnant woman in Kahaani, has requested that smoking is banned on the set of the Sujoy Ghosh project.

According to The Times of India, the director commented: "Vidya eats, sleeps, and breathes her character. She's so much into it that sometimes it gets scary."

The filmmaker added: "But we are all cooperating and I as a director, I love it."

Balan recently performed another pregnant role in the commercially successful Amitabh Bachchan production Paa.