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It is enormously helpful when researchers consider new, not-yet-tried
tobacco control interventions (such as this study's consideration of
warning messages on cigarette sticks), especially when researchers figure
out effective ways to evaluate the not-yet-tried interventions.
Some additional possibilities related to new warnings or pack changes
that might be considered:
It is enormously helpful when researchers consider new, not-yet-tried
tobacco control interventions (such as this study's consideration of
warning messages on cigarette sticks), especially when researchers figure
out effective ways to evaluate the not-yet-tried interventions.
Some additional possibilities related to new warnings or pack changes
that might be considered:
(1) Put instructions for use in all cigarette packs that instruct
smokers (with explanations) about how they can minimize the harms and
risks to themselves and to others from their consumption of the
cigarettes, such as:
-- Do not smoke the cigarettes
-- Do not smoke near anyone else
-- Do not smoke in enclosed spaces
-- Do not smoke by inhaling
-- If inhaled, inhale as shallowly as possible
-- Do not smoke more than a few puffs of each cigarette (or do not
smoke more than halfway)
-- Do not smoke in bed or when tired
-- Make sure all smoked cigarettes are fully extinguished before
discarding
-- Discard of all cigarettes carefully (do not litter, do not discard
in waterways, do not leave where children or pets might consume).
(2) Make one cigarette in each pack a rolled-up scroll of information
or instructions for use for smokers (which would also reduce the number of
cigarettes that could be smoked in each pack, perhaps reducing
consumption).
(3) Audio warnings that play each time a pack is opened or a
cigarette is extracted (now possible with available technologies).
NOT PEER REVIEWED This article is manifestly wrong in material content.
Hong Kong has in fact, two current large domestic manufacturers of tobacco products, Hong Kong Tobacco Co Ltd and Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Co Ltd.
Moreover the HK Customs Dept are all over the local dial-up-delivery smuggling syndicates to the extent that the tobacco funded front groups ITIC and Oxford Economics had to produce wildly false and flawed
Inform...
NOT PEER REVIEWED This article is manifestly wrong in material content.
Hong Kong has in fact, two current large domestic manufacturers of tobacco products, Hong Kong Tobacco Co Ltd and Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Co Ltd.
Moreover the HK Customs Dept are all over the local dial-up-delivery smuggling syndicates to the extent that the tobacco funded front groups ITIC and Oxford Economics had to produce wildly false and flawed
Information on the supposed level of illicit product availability (suitably decimated by the following reports).
The HK Government gauges smoking prevalence from its Thematic Household survey reports; what is lacking in Hong Kong is the absence of questions in these Thematic Household Surveys seeking information
on how many interviewees had purchased and / or used illicit tobacco in the previous year, the price they paid for it and the frequency of such DNP usage and whether they were concerned that the ingredients / nicotine/tar levels would most likely be far more toxic than the excise DP cancer sticks. Only with the incorporation of this relevant data could the claimed 10.7% prevalence levels be accurately gauged.
In Singapore which has a lower cost of living than Hong Kong, a DP packet of Marlboro retails at HK$ 76 whereas the same DP packet in Hong Kong costs only HK$ 50, meaning tobacco remains affordable and available to HKG youth and there is no tobacco retailer license system, no POS display legislation and no onus on liquor /mahjong / sauna licensees to enforce the anti smoking legislation in their premises. The Health Department Policy Bureau failed to seek an excise increase in the last Budget, according to the Financial Secretary in an RTHK radio interview in Feb 2015. The Tobacco Control Office has just over 100 'enforcement' officers to cover Hong Kong, Kowloon, the New Territories and the Islands area over two shifts meaning they have insufficient manpower to patrol.
http://seatca.org/dmdocuments/Asia%2014%20Critique_Final_20May2015.pdf
http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2015/01/05/tobaccocontrol-2014-051937.full
http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr11-12/english/counmtg/hansard/cm0322-translate-e.pdf
page 7400
http://www.customs.gov.hk/en/publication_press/press/index_current.html
Shows the multiple seizures and arrests.
Hong Kong Tobacco Company Ltd
Address : 3/F Paramount Building, Hong Kong
Tel 25618111
Owner Charles HO Tsu Kwok
https://webb-site.com/dbpub/positions.asp?p=4462
http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=8075652&ticker=1105:HK
https://webb-site.com/articles/bauhiniafound.asp
Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Co Ltd
http://www.nbt-hk.com/
Location: Tuen Mun Hong Kong
http://www.zigsam.at/B_Peel.htm
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1846318/tobacco-worker-43-dies-industrial-accident-hong-kong
Nan Yang also manufacture flavored tobaccos (PEEL)which are sold in the local market
http://english.caijing.com.cn/2004-03-20/110030213.html
Smuggling arrests
http://www.siic.com/en_service_4.html
Nanyang owners
Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Co., Ltd.
Nanyang Brothers Tobacco (short for "NBT")is the largest cigarette manufacturer in Hong Kong, of which main brand is "Double Happiness " and has a history of more than 100 years. At present, "Double Happiness" has been one of the most valuable trademarks in the tobacco industry. The production base of NBT is located in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. NBT owns advanced manufacturing techniques, and its process of production is completely under computer control and management in order to guarantee the quality of products. The product of NBT is not only sold to China Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, but also sold to Singapore, Thailand and Korea and so on. In 2011, its sales revenue and net profit reached 2,473 million HK dollars and 610 million HK dollars respectively.
Cigarettes manufactured by Nanyang Brothers Tobacco
Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Co. Ltd., located at Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Co. Ltd., located at 9 Tsing Yeung Circuit, Hong Kong, China
Founded in 1906. NANYANG means SOUTH PACIFIC.
Current PRODUCTS:
Alain Delon, Centori, Chunghwa, DJ Mix, Just Above, Peel, Polar Bear, Shuang Xi, Texas 5, (The Globe), Wealth
NOT PEER REVIEWED
The recent endgame review by McDaniel et al1 demonstrates a major
flaw in thinking within the tobacco control community. The industry is
seen as dominated by the "big tobacco" cigarette companies. The real life
industry is intensely competitive and highly fragmented. There are, within
the industry, many who could effectively partner with the public health
community, if given the opportunity to do so. Bec...
NOT PEER REVIEWED
The recent endgame review by McDaniel et al1 demonstrates a major
flaw in thinking within the tobacco control community. The industry is
seen as dominated by the "big tobacco" cigarette companies. The real life
industry is intensely competitive and highly fragmented. There are, within
the industry, many who could effectively partner with the public health
community, if given the opportunity to do so. Because of this flaw in
thinking, the tobacco control community has been unwilling to consider any
role for tobacco harm reduction or electronic cigarettes in any public
health initiative. E-cigarettes have the potential to substantially reduce
smoking-related illness and death and do so without recruiting significant
numbers teens or other non-smokers to nicotine use. .2-5
The McDaniel paper1 lists sixteen end-game proposals, fourteen of
which consist of partial or total bans on aspects of the manufacture or
sale of non-pharmaceutical nicotine delivery products. Only two, one
referencing e-cigarettes and another "advantage cleaner nicotine products
over combustibles" make any reference to tobacco industry participation in
pursuit of tobacco control objectives. Both are discouraged as unproven
and impractical despite substantial scientific evidence to the contrary.
The time has come for the public health community to engage in
dialogue with those stakeholders in tobacco-related industries who are
ready, willing and able to partner with public health in pursuit of shared
public health objectives. The purpose of this dialogue would be to help
secure reductions in tobacco-related illness and death not likely
achievable by other means.
Experience to date with e-cigarettes gives us grounds for optimism
that this could easily be done without recruitment of teens and other non-
users to nicotine use. .2-4
A world in which tobacco-related addiction, illness and death have
been reduced to trivial public health problems could be achieved within our
lifetimes. Achieving this goal will require re-orienting tobacco control
from a crusade against all things "tobacco," to a public health initiative
considering all options for the prevention of addiction, illness and
death. This is a goal not likely achievable by any other means. A
seemingly small change in the wording of our tobacco control goal from "a
tobacco-free society" to "a smoke-free society" would get us most of the
way there.
References
1. McDaniel PA, Smith EA, Malone RE. The tobacco endgame: A
qualitative review and synthesis. Tob Control 2015 28 August; Special
Communication Published On Line:1-11.
2. Nitzkin JL. The case in favor of e-cigarettes for tobacco harm
reduction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public
Health 2014;11:6459-71.
3. Nitzkin JL. E-cigarettes: A life-saving technology or a way for tobacco
companies to re-normalize smoking in American society? FDLI's Food and
Drug Policy Forum 2014 30 June;4(6):1-17.
4. McNeill A, Brose L, Calder R, Hitchman S. E-cigarettes: An evidence
update. A report commissioned by Public Health England
[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/e-cigarettes-an-evidence-
update]. A an Evidence Update Plus Policy Implications. London, England,
August, 2015. 19 August 2015.
5. Farsalinos K, Polosa R. Safety evaluation and risk assessment of
electronic cigarettes as tobacco cigarette substitutes: A systematic
review. Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety 2014;5(20):67-86
Conflict of Interest:
I currently serve as Senior Fellow for Tobacco Policy for the R Street Insitute
Despite the seemingly decline in tobacco use, the habit is picked up
by youths on a daily basis. According to the CDC fact sheet, tobacco use
is established primarily during adolescence where 9 out of 10 cigarette
smokers first initiate smoking by age 18. In the United States, more than
3,800 youths aged 18 years or younger try their first cigarette every day
[1]. If the trend continues, about 5....
Despite the seemingly decline in tobacco use, the habit is picked up
by youths on a daily basis. According to the CDC fact sheet, tobacco use
is established primarily during adolescence where 9 out of 10 cigarette
smokers first initiate smoking by age 18. In the United States, more than
3,800 youths aged 18 years or younger try their first cigarette every day
[1]. If the trend continues, about 5.6 million Americans that are less
than 18 years will die early from a smoking-related illness i.e. 1 of
every 13 young Americans will lose their lives to tobacco use [1]. These
figures are disturbing, and though tobacco control is at the forefront in
trying to reduce these mortalities from tobacco use, the road ahead seems
long and weary.
In 2007, a study using modelling techniques showed that increasing
the smoking age would lead to a drop in youth smoking prevalence from 22%
to under 9% for the 15- 17 year old age [2]. Another study done in
England, also found that increasing the age for legal purchase of tobacco
was associated with reduction in smoking [3]. According to a study done in
1996, "adopting the tobacco policy of raising the legal age would delaying
the initiation of smoking if it succeeds"[4]. And that it might also
contribute to the reduction of smoking-related mortality and morbidity in
the youth[4].
In this current study, the authors showed that the Needham community
in Massachusetts has achieved success with this policy by comparing the
youth smoking trends in this community with surrounding nearby communities
that have not raised the legal age for tobacco purchase [5]. Their results
showed that there was a greater decline in youth smoking in Needham due to
an increase in the legal smoking age relative to the other communities.
Although this study shows promising results for the immediate effects of
decline in tobacco use, it should be noted that present day youths now
have the leisure of purchasing alternative tobacco products in the form of
e-cigarettes, hookahs and smokeless tobacco. It is reported that nearly 4
of every 100 middle school students in 2014 use e-cigarettes, 3 in 100 had
used hookah and more than 5 in 100 currently use smokeless tobacco [1].
Enacting the policy on increasing the legal age to purchase tobacco
should be thoroughly comprehensive to include alternative tobacco products
as well. Though, the future of tobacco control seems daunting, it is still
worth a try to raise the legal age of tobacco purchase in order to curb
the sequelae of a lifelong addiction that has deleterious health effects.
2. Ahmad. (2007). Limiting youth access to tobacco: Comparing the
long-term health impacts of increasing cigarette excise taxes and raising
the legal smoking age to 21 in the united states. Health Policy
(Amsterdam), 80(3), 378; 378-391; 391.
3. Millett, C., Lee, J. T., Gibbons, D. C., & Glantz, S. A.
(2011). Increasing the age for the
legal purchase of tobacco in England: Impacts on socio-economic
disparities in youth smoking. Thorax, 66(10), 862-865.
4. Breslau, N. (1996). Smoking cessation in young adults: Age at
initiation of cigarette smoking and other suspected influences. American
Journal of Public Health (1971), 86(2), 214.
5. Schneider, S. K., Buka, S. L., Dash, K., Winickoff, J.P.,
O'Donell, L. (2015). Community reductions in youth smoking after raising
the minimum tobacco sales age to 21. Tobacco Control
doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2014-052207
NOT PEER REVIEWED To the Editors,
In the article entitled, "Weight control belief and its impact on the
effectiveness of tobacco control policies on quit attempts: findings from
the ITC 4 Country Project" I noticed a problem regarding the measurement
of weight control beliefs. This variable (weight control beliefs
associated with tobacco use) is measured using only one question. The
researchers indicate, "In order to iden...
NOT PEER REVIEWED To the Editors,
In the article entitled, "Weight control belief and its impact on the
effectiveness of tobacco control policies on quit attempts: findings from
the ITC 4 Country Project" I noticed a problem regarding the measurement
of weight control beliefs. This variable (weight control beliefs
associated with tobacco use) is measured using only one question. The
researchers indicate, "In order to identify weight concerns related to
smoking, we exploit a question that measures smokers' level of agreement
with the following statement using a 5-point scale (strongly agree, agree,
neither agree nor disagree, disagree and strongly disagree): Smoking helps
weight control" (Shang et. al, p.2, 2015). This statement illustrates the
limited manner in which the aforementioned variable was measured. While
the limitation of weight control beliefs being analyzed using self-
reporting was addressed, the limitation of using only one question to
measure this variable was not. In the study entitled, "Smoking
Expectancies, Weight Concerns, and Dietary Behaviors in Adolescence" the
authors noted that they used the appetite control factor of the Smoking
Consequences Questionnaire (SCQ) to determine weight control beliefs. The
author of "Smoking Expectancies, Weight Concerns, and Dietary Behaviors in
Adolescence indicates, "Participants who endorsed smoking were given 5
possible consequences of smoking and were asked to rate the likelihood of
each consequence on a 10-point scale from 'completely unlikely' to
'completely likely.' The statements included, 'Smoking controls my
appetite,' 'Smoking keeps my weight down,' 'Cigarettes keep me from
overeating,' 'Cigarettes keep me from eating more than I should,' and,
'Smoking helps me control my weight.' Scores were an average across all
items" (Cavallo et. al., p. 68, 2010). This multifaceted approach to
measuring a variable is a more thorough and a more accurate measure of the
weight control variable. This more detailed measure, as indicted by the
author, has been measured by three different criteria: internal
consistence, degree of factor loading, and coefficient significance (.72
to .97). This measure starkly compares to the measure used in the article,
"Weight control belief and its impact on the effectiveness of tobacco
control policies on quit attempts: findings from the ITC 4 Country
Project", which was only measured in its degree of sensitivity.
References
Cavallo, D. A., Smith, A. E., Schepis, T. S., Desai, R., Potenza, M.
N., & Krishnan-Sarin, S.
(2010). Smoking expectancies, weight concerns, and dietary behaviors in
adolescence. Pediatrics, 126(1), e66-e72.
Shang, C., Chaloupka, F. J., Fong, G. T., Thompson, M., Siahpush, M.,
& Ridgeway, W. (2015). Weight control belief and its impact on the
effectiveness of tobacco control policies on quit attempts: findings from
the ITC 4 Country Project. Tobacco control. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-
2014-051886
Beyond the plea to divest from funding tobacco companies,
shareholders need to consider the adverse impact of investing in
industries and resource extraction that worsen eco-degradation.
At a group level, the impetus for environmentally accountable
investing by colleges and universities can be better maintained by
teaching every student the practical ways to minimize th...
Beyond the plea to divest from funding tobacco companies,
shareholders need to consider the adverse impact of investing in
industries and resource extraction that worsen eco-degradation.
At a group level, the impetus for environmentally accountable
investing by colleges and universities can be better maintained by
teaching every student the practical ways to minimize their community's
ecological footprint. Mandatory ecology courses delivered to young minds
could incite a life-long pledge to heightened civic responsibility. It
holds potential to cultivate future leaders that will cogitate for not
just sustainable investment in centres of higher learning but become
strong advocates for environmentally friendly policy and industry in the
wider world. Students' concerted demands for sustainable investment on
campus are a positive, but only a first step.
The long-term commitment to lessening ecological degradation through
informed protest, "maintaining the rage," policy debate and green
innovation comprise better imprinted values that can be passed on to
children and grandchildren. The latter is best achieved through formal
education on humanity's impact on the natural world.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
Cavazos-Rehg et al. compared the results of Google Trends relative
search volume (RSV) data for non-cigarette tobacco use with data from
state- and national-level youth surveys.[1] Given the authors' findings of
positive correlations with Google Trends and survey data, we agree with
the conclusion that Google Trends may be a potential tool to provide real-
time monitoring for non-cigarette tobacco use. T...
NOT PEER REVIEWED
Cavazos-Rehg et al. compared the results of Google Trends relative
search volume (RSV) data for non-cigarette tobacco use with data from
state- and national-level youth surveys.[1] Given the authors' findings of
positive correlations with Google Trends and survey data, we agree with
the conclusion that Google Trends may be a potential tool to provide real-
time monitoring for non-cigarette tobacco use. The 2014 National Youth
Tobacco Survey indicates that electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS)
use has tripled by middle and high school students from 2013-2014.[2] We
have conducted a preliminary review of Google Trends RSV data for ENDS to
detect if there were trends that may mirror acquisition patterns of ENDS
within and outside of the US.
The methods we used were similar to Ayers et al., who conducted a
data analysis from Google search engines from January 2008 through
September 2010.[3] We compiled a list of search terms in singular and
plural forms that reflected the most commonly used search terms for ENDS
including "e cig," "e cigarette," "electronic cigarette," and popular name
brands. To continue building the list, we added popular "related terms" as
indicated by Google Trends searches. When search terms exceeded the 30-
word limit, we compared RSV for individual terms and removed those with
the lowest RSV. Irrelevant (non-ENDS) results were excluded.[1] Results
were limited to October 2011 to May 2015 and included all countries.
Search queries range from 0-100 in volume, with the highest RSV assigned a
100.[4]
Similar to prior work,[3] ENDS emerged in all markets and RSV trends
have slowly increased since 2011, peaking in January each year. This
suggests that interest in information on ENDS is growing, and that there
has been a recent shift in interest by country compared to prior
findings.[3] The greatest RSV of ENDS is in the United Kingdom (100),
followed by the United States (84), Ireland (63), Cyprus (46), Malta (42),
Canada (41), Trinidad and Tobago (35), Australia (33), Philippines (29),
and New Zealand (29).
Web search data can help fill gaps by providing a timely
understanding of real-world activity and good temporal and spatial
resolution.[5] It is unclear how these search patterns reflect use
patterns in youth. Future investigations with comparisons to youth
surveillance datasets and population-level efforts using real-time
monitoring of youth interest,[6] and tracking of use patterns may help to
inform timely prevention programs and policies for ENDS, other non-
tobacco, and tobacco products.
References
1. Cavazos-Rehg PA, Krauss MJ, Spitznagel EL, et al. Monitoring of
non-cigarette tobacco use using Google trends. Tob Control. 2015;24(3):249
-255.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. E-cigarette use
triples among middle and high school students in just one year. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention Newsroom. 2015.
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2015/p0416-e-cigarette-use.html
(accessed 01 Jun 2015).
3. Ayers JW, Ribisl KM, Brownstein JS. Tracking the rise in
popularity of electronic nicotine delivery systems (electronic cigarettes)
using search query surveillance. Am J Prev Med. 2011;40(4):448-453.
4. Google Trends. About Google Trends. Google. 2015.
https://support.google.com/trends/answer/4355164?hl=en&ref_topic=4365531
(accessed 05 Jun 2015).
5. Mohebbi M, Dan Vanderkam JK, Kodysh J, et al. Google correlate
whitepaper. Google. 2011:1-6.
https://www.google.com/trends/correlate/whitepaper.pdf (accessed 01 Jun
2015).
6. Goel S, Hofman JM, Lahaie S, et al. Predicting consumer behavior
with web search. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010;107(41):17486-17490.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
I read the research paper (other authors Ashvin, Emmanuel, Frank and
Prabhat) with interest.
Quite a few new points have been brought out. One of the important
political reasons for resistance is that hand made ones are done in rural
areas where alternate means of employment are hard to come by. This
results in the local political representative arguing against tax.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
I read the research paper (other authors Ashvin, Emmanuel, Frank and
Prabhat) with interest.
Quite a few new points have been brought out. One of the important
political reasons for resistance is that hand made ones are done in rural
areas where alternate means of employment are hard to come by. This
results in the local political representative arguing against tax.
Alternatives such as Agarbathi (insense stick) manufacturing, Coir
weaving or other rural handicrafts - must be suggested to make the
argument for higher taxation on Bidi. In all these cases the raw material
supply and picking up the finished products remains the responsibility of
the manufacturer (similar to the operation of making Bidi, but with no ill
effects on society).
Also, the higher probability of cancer in cigarette smoking must be
countered with the argument that larger number of Bidis are smoked per
person per day (since it is considerably cheaper).
Without such specific suggestions - this will remain a research paper
of analysis but not directive. Without a clear directive, no government
(much less the local politician) can act to change the situation. Also,
advertising of tobacco products is banned in India. So, that channel is
not an option.
How could the top manufacturer "Mangalore Ganesha Bidi" regain market
share in a matter of 1-2 years? They continue to supply 3.5 million small
packets every day (25 bidi in each packet). They have been the biggest
manufacturer for over five decades now. Their industry was
built on the fact that it is all hand made and provides employment in
rural areas.
Therefore, alternatives that provide credible means of livelihood in the
rural area, are essential in order to make any progress.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
We explicitly did not do a systematic review, which would have
included things such as assessing articles for quality and assessing for
presence of publication bias. Instead we opted for a narrative review.
This decision was made given the limited time available for the authors to
complete the supplement prior to the World Conference on Tobacco or Health
and the small number of available articles after ou...
NOT PEER REVIEWED
We explicitly did not do a systematic review, which would have
included things such as assessing articles for quality and assessing for
presence of publication bias. Instead we opted for a narrative review.
This decision was made given the limited time available for the authors to
complete the supplement prior to the World Conference on Tobacco or Health
and the small number of available articles after our literature search.
Our exclusion and inclusion criteria were also stated (see Figure 1).
Lastly, our search was up until September 9, 2014, therefore any articles
published afterwards were not included in the publication. We believe that
this paper represents a significant contribution concerning a newly
emerging threat to the health of the public.
NOT PEER REVIEWED "The GC temperature programme for all analyses was: 35C hold for 5???min; 10C/min to 300C; then hold for 3.5???min at 300C."
Water is not dangerous. Yet, if I submerge a human test subject in a container of water for 3.5 minutes, then this water becomes quite lethal. No vaping device is intended to run continuously for longer than a few seconds.
Furthermore, 300C is far too high a temperature for any vaping de...
NOT PEER REVIEWED "The GC temperature programme for all analyses was: 35C hold for 5???min; 10C/min to 300C; then hold for 3.5???min at 300C."
Water is not dangerous. Yet, if I submerge a human test subject in a container of water for 3.5 minutes, then this water becomes quite lethal. No vaping device is intended to run continuously for longer than a few seconds.
Furthermore, 300C is far too high a temperature for any vaping device. If I force a human test subject to drink a large cup of coffee heated to 300C, they will suffer severe injuries, possibly fatal. This does not make coffee consumed at an appropriate temperature and at an appropriate pace dangerous.
It is enormously helpful when researchers consider new, not-yet-tried tobacco control interventions (such as this study's consideration of warning messages on cigarette sticks), especially when researchers figure out effective ways to evaluate the not-yet-tried interventions.
Some additional possibilities related to new warnings or pack changes that might be considered:
(1) Put instructions for use in...
NOT PEER REVIEWED The recent endgame review by McDaniel et al1 demonstrates a major flaw in thinking within the tobacco control community. The industry is seen as dominated by the "big tobacco" cigarette companies. The real life industry is intensely competitive and highly fragmented. There are, within the industry, many who could effectively partner with the public health community, if given the opportunity to do so. Bec...
To the Editor,
Despite the seemingly decline in tobacco use, the habit is picked up by youths on a daily basis. According to the CDC fact sheet, tobacco use is established primarily during adolescence where 9 out of 10 cigarette smokers first initiate smoking by age 18. In the United States, more than 3,800 youths aged 18 years or younger try their first cigarette every day [1]. If the trend continues, about 5....
NOT PEER REVIEWED To the Editors, In the article entitled, "Weight control belief and its impact on the effectiveness of tobacco control policies on quit attempts: findings from the ITC 4 Country Project" I noticed a problem regarding the measurement of weight control beliefs. This variable (weight control beliefs associated with tobacco use) is measured using only one question. The researchers indicate, "In order to iden...
NOT PEER REVIEWED To the Editor:
Beyond the plea to divest from funding tobacco companies, shareholders need to consider the adverse impact of investing in industries and resource extraction that worsen eco-degradation.
At a group level, the impetus for environmentally accountable investing by colleges and universities can be better maintained by teaching every student the practical ways to minimize th...
NOT PEER REVIEWED Cavazos-Rehg et al. compared the results of Google Trends relative search volume (RSV) data for non-cigarette tobacco use with data from state- and national-level youth surveys.[1] Given the authors' findings of positive correlations with Google Trends and survey data, we agree with the conclusion that Google Trends may be a potential tool to provide real- time monitoring for non-cigarette tobacco use. T...
NOT PEER REVIEWED I read the research paper (other authors Ashvin, Emmanuel, Frank and Prabhat) with interest.
Quite a few new points have been brought out. One of the important political reasons for resistance is that hand made ones are done in rural areas where alternate means of employment are hard to come by. This results in the local political representative arguing against tax.
Alternatives such...
NOT PEER REVIEWED We explicitly did not do a systematic review, which would have included things such as assessing articles for quality and assessing for presence of publication bias. Instead we opted for a narrative review. This decision was made given the limited time available for the authors to complete the supplement prior to the World Conference on Tobacco or Health and the small number of available articles after ou...
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