Somebody's got to pat him on the back

Prospero is being a right nuisance this morning. He goes about with a big smile on his face, expecting congratulations from all and sundry. For what? we hear you ask. He has let it drop into the more receptive ears that today is the second anniversary of his having given up smoking. It was, apparently, during the earlier stages of the World Cup in South Africa, but he chose this date because he says he can remember it more easily. Well, remember it he does, and doesn't let anyone else forget it. The illustration here is the one he put up not too long after the magnificent event he still won't let anyone forget. So here we go: Well done, Prospero!

82% agree with smoking ban

Prospero, who gave up smoking
in June 2010, no longer feels like this
(except when he does)

SPAIN A Spanish medical research organization, Sociedad Española de Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria reports the result of a recent survey of over 4,000 people aged 18 and over at Primary Health Care Centers (the local Health Centre, to the rest of us), covering smokers, non-smokers and ex-smokers. The research says that 82% of the population is against allowing the ban on smoking in public places to be rescinded (something that had been put about by the pro-smoking lobby when the government but has been officially denied). And 78% believe the anti-smoking law that came into force at the beginning of 2011 was a success. It is calculated that only 27% to 29% of the total population - lower than a few years ago, when it went to 35% - is considered to be a smoker (Prosp note: this number must include babies and small fry, surely), but the law has not managed to reduce smoking in private places: 57% of those polled said they smoke at home since the ban, of whom 12% say they do so more frequently, while 10% said they didn't smoke then and they don't smoke now. Smoking among women aged 12 to 22 is up by 12% since the ban, according to another survey, while it has diminished by 1.4% among males of the same age.

Government announces smoke-free environment plans

Dr. John Cortes,
Minister for Health and the Environment 

GIBRALTAR (Press release) The Minister for Health and the Environment Dr John Cortes is pleased to announce that in keeping with the Government's manifesto commitment, and in line with modern practice, a Bill for a Smoke-free Environment Act will be introduced shortly so that legislation will become effective as from 1 October 2012. This will allow establishments a lead-in period to  accommodate the requirements of the law, including the provision of no smoking signs, etc. It will coincide with a reduction in rates to bars, restaurants and social clubs, on a sliding scale, which will revert to the standard position over a period of three years. A command paper setting out the proposed provisions of the Smoke Free Environment Bill will be published within a month. At the same time the Gibraltar Health Authority is stepping up its anti-smoking campaign, which will include the launch of a series of locally produced TV advertisements and will be promoting its stop smoking service which now includes the newly implemented provision of nicotine replacement therapy. No-smoking day is a significant date in the calendar and many people choose to quit smoking on this day. The GHA will be marking this event with the manning of a stand at the north end of Main Street outside the lobby of the ICC between 10am and 2pm on Wednesday 14th March, offering information and advice to people who wish to quit or learn about quitting.

RIP cigarettes as from tomorrow all over Europe

EUROPE (euroalert.net) As from 17th November 2011, once the new safety standards enter into force, national authorities will make sure that all cigarettes sold in the EU are of a type known as 'Reduced Ignition Propensity' (RIP). This means cigarettes which self extinguish when left unattended and which are thus less likely to cause fire. According to the European Commission, the number of fatalities caused by fires can be reduced by over 40% with the introduction of 'Reduced Ignition Propensity' (RIP) cigarettes. Therefore, once the new safety standards are published in the EU Official Journal, all cigarettes sold in Europe will have to comply with these measures. The Commission remains committed to a "smoke-free Europe" and address this issue via its on-going EU "Ex-smokers are unstoppable" campaign, which was launched in July 2011.>>>

Pfizer anti-smoking drug in trouble over cardiovascular risks

WORLD (InPharm) Pfizer has been drawn into a war of words over its quit smoking pill - smoking cessation drug, they call it - Champix after a review of existing data suggested it was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular problems. The meta-analysis, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, analysed data from 14 trials involving Champix (varenicline, known at Chantix in the US) in more than 8,000 patients. The report’s authors, Singh et al, concluded that there were “safety concerns about the potential for an increased risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events associated with the use of varenicline among tobacco users”. But Pfizer is standing by its drug’s benefit/risk profile. “Pfizer scientists and doctors continuously evaluate the benefits and risks of its medicines, including Chantix,” said Gail Cawkwell, the manufacturer’s vice president of medical affairs.

FC Barcelona members to vote on smoking ban

BARCELONA (El Pais) Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium will be the first in Spain to ban smoking if members of the Liga soccer club vote for the measure at its next general assembly. Until a decision is taken, the Catalan giant has recommended that supporters refrain from smoking in the stands, even though open-air arenas such as soccer stadiums are exempt from the anti-tobacco law that came in to effect on January 2. A complete ban on smoking inside Camp Nou has been proposed by the club president, Sandro Rosell, who on Monday announced the measure alongside the regional health chief, Boi Ruiz, and the president of the Barcelona Medical Association, Miquel Vilardell. "You can do what you want with your health," Rosell said, citing the number of children who attend games. "But not with that of others."

Cigarette sales down by 32.57% in first month of smoking ban

SPAIN (Agencies) Cigarette sales went down by 32.57% in January, compared to December 2010, according to the Treasury, and by 34.03% when compared to January of last year. For the first time since these figures have been published, the number of cigarette packets sold was under the 200 million mark in a year; 194,770,461 to be exact. The descent has susprised even the Comité Nacional de Prevención del Tabaquismo (CNPT, or National Prevention of Tobacco Addiction Committee), which had not forecast such a sharp descent. Their prediction was>

Gibraltar: small but smoky

GIBRALTAR (Photo: illustration only, before we get a whole lot of llanito e-mails!) The smoking ban, one of the toughest in Europe came into effect on January 2, 2011. In Spain, but not on the Rock. England, Northern Ireland and Wales got theirs in 2007, Scotland in 2006 and Ireland in 2004. But not Gibraltar. Despite the enclave's closeness to Spain and its affiliation, legally-speaking, with the UK, there is no smoking ban there, nor does there appear to be any Government move toward an all out ban, though studies have been carried out. Nevertheless, Gibraltar is not completely bereft of some protection for non-smokers (or is that 'passive smokers'?).>

Bars and night spots lose over 19% of sales thanks to smoking ban

SPAIN (Agencies) The Federación Española de Hostelería (FEHR), which groups various catering and hostelry organizations, reports that bars and cafes, and night spots, have seen a decrease in sales of 19.14% and 19.88% respectively in January, according to a poll taken among 1,200 businesses. The smoking ban has affected restaurants a little less, as these report a downturn of 14.35%. The report says that the ban has caused 'significant losses' in 85.94% of establishments, while only 1.49% report an upturn. "This makes the former Health Minister, Trinidad Jiménez (now Foreign Minister), a liar because>

To smoke or not to smoke at the Ferias

SPAIN/ANDALUCÍA One of the consequences stemming from Spain's new anti-smoking law, which came into effect on January 2, is a great deal of confusion about whether smoking is or is not allowed in the casetas (marquees) at the innumerable ferias throughout the country. The largest of these in Andalucía(Sevilla, Jerez and Algeciras) began asking their local councils about how the new law would applied, and the same could probably be said of any town or village anywhere with an annual fair.>

How's the smoking ban doing? Where can you smoke? Where not? What could you be fined?

SPAIN (Source: El Pais.com) The majority of smokers are abiding by the new anti-tobacco law, which came into force on Sunday. Spaniards were "reasonably" compliant with the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces, according to Dionisio Lara, of the Spanish Service Industry Federation, who reported that drinkers had shifted to outdoor tables en masse. Regulations forbidding smoking within 100 meters of health centers were less rigorously observed and smokers could be seen puffing away at the entrance to various Madrid hospitals.(See below for full information on where you can and cannot smoke, what the fines are, etc.)>

Spain backtracks on smoking ban; Gibraltar's 'a massive failure'

A proposed ban on smoking in all public places has been 'shelved temporarily' by the Spanish government after extensive complaints from the hotel, bar and restaurant industries, who criticized that only two years ago they were forced to invest large sums in updating their establishments to meet the law then. In the meantime, Bryan Zammitt of the ‘Stop Smoking in Public Places Campaign’ described Gibraltar's prohibition in government offices as “a massive failure.” He added, “according to the Civil Servants that have complained to us, many of these bosses have blatantly ignored the ban. Due to the fact that heads of departments continue to smoke, other civil servants that are also smokers continue smoking themselves, saying that they will continue so long as their boss continues."