Yesterday, I gave you the American Lung Association’s annual list of grades for each state’s commitment to smoke free air and smoking bans. Today, let’s look at the specifics for the 10 largest cities in California, by population.
Oakland received an overall grade of B for its policies. Los Angeles and San Francisco earned an overall grade of C.
Los Angeles C San Diego D San Jose D San Francisco C Long Beach C Fresno F Sacramento C Oakland B Santa Ana D Anaheim F
The American Lung Association graded the states’ commitment levels to smoking bans and cigarette taxes in its annual ‘State of Tobacco Control’.
The ALA assigned grades to the states based on a smoking ban in workplaces and public places, levying cigarette taxes, and funding prevention campaigns.
Because tobacco use is a major contributor to death and disease in an era when chronic disease and healthcare costs are growing at an alarming rate, "The thing to do is avoid disease altogether," says Chuck Connor, president and CEO of the ALA.
23 states and D.C. have a comprehensive array of laws to keep the air in those states’ smoke free.
Every tobacco company, in an effort to keep nicotine users hooked, is now promoting smokeless tobacco products that deliver a hit of the drug that makes cigarettes addictive, noted the ALA in this year’s report.
Below, I list all states by grade for smoke free air:
Research released in the American Journal of Public Health found evidence that the tobacco industry has manipulated menthol levels and created new cigarette brands with the intention of luring young adults and adolescents into cigarette smoking.
The article, Tobacco Industry Control of Menthol Cigarettes and Targeting of Adolescents and Young Adults, compiled data and tobacco industry documents that reveal the tobacco industry’s intention to vary strengths of menthol flavors in cigarettes, appealing to young people.
The research was conducted by the Division of Public Health Practice at the Harvard School of Public Health and funded in part by the American Legacy Foundation.
Military photos of World War II or the Viet Nam era often show soldiers smoking cigarettes and generals smoking cigars, but it is an image the Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee is trying to change.
The committee is urging veterans to participate in a smoking cessation program and encourages veterans to quit smoking.
Not only were pictures of cigarette smoking plentiful during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, but it was also standard practice for soldiers to receive cigarettes in their rations. As a result of this and other factors that elevate addiction risks, the Department of Veterans Affairs believes, “veterans are disproportionately affected by smoking-related illnesses.”
Celebrity smoking alert at the Golden Globe award show last night in Hollywood!
The smoking celebrities Eva Mendes, Drew Barrymore and Lauren Hutton huddled together next to the pool at the Golden Globes after-party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Another smoking celebrity was Best Actor Mickey Rourke (’The Wrestler’). He held court on the smoking patio, cheerfully posing for photos while smoking a Marlboro red.
Salma Hayek, among the celebrity smokers since filming ‘Frida’, made sure not to give paparazzi another opportunity to catch her smoking cigarettes. The actress was last seen (and photographed) smoking in public in Los Angeles only 2 weeks ago - child in tow.
A controversial smoking ban became law Friday in Belmont, in the San Francisco Bay Area. In consideration of second hand smoke, it extends strict anti smoking laws even to apartments and condos.
This anti smoking law is the first of its kind in California, going far beyond the statewide prohibition against cigarette smoking in businesses, restaurants and bars. In Belmont, it is now illegal to smoke inside any multistory, multiunit dwelling.
The City Council says enforcement should be "complaint driven". The fine for each citation is $100. No ifs, ands or butts.
Other cities in the San Francisco Bay Area that have a similar cigarette smoking ordinance are Novato and Dublin.
The Los Angeles arts and parks committee took a first step Wednesday toward a new smoking ban on restaurant patios or within 10 feet of any outdoor establishment that serves food or beverages.
Bars with outdoor areas and other over-18 venues would be exempt.
If approved, the measure could be in place this summer.
"The patrons are really demanding it," said Councilman Tom LaBonge, chairman of the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee. "One day we’ll be an absolutely smoke-free world as we move forward, but people still enjoy it, so we’re still allowing it."
Though Calabasas and some other cities have far more stringent anti-smoking laws, the refuges for smokers in Los Angeles have dwindled in recent years. In addition to the state ban on smoking in restaurants, bars and other workplaces, smoking is prohibited on city beaches, in farmers markets and within 25 feet of playgrounds, bleachers, sport courts, fields and picnic areas.
In passing the ban on smoking in outdoor dining areas, Los Angeles would be following the lead of other cities, including Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.
Patrick Swayze talked candidly about smoking and cancer symptoms with Barbara Walters on her TV Special yesterday, January 7, 2009. Patrick Swayze says, he knows that smoking can cause pancreatic cancer. He also talks openly about why he has not yet quit smoking.
Please watch this short video! It teaches us a lot about why some men smoke - and why some don’t quit smoking.
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