The BMA: modern-day prohibitionists

In the past, attempts by the state to prevent the consumption of alcohol were known as prohibition. Now they’re called ‘promoting public health’. The ultimate goal is the same though: the diminution of our rights in the name of ‘the public good’.

Fresh from browsing George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four for tips on good government, the British Medical Association (BMA) last week issued a series of demands following its annual conference. These included the introduction by the government of restricted licensing hours, a ban on alcohol advertisements, and a minimum price per unit of alcohol.

Tobacco haters, kick your filthy habit

by Nathalie Rothschild 
Seven years have passed since Massachusetts became the sixth US state to introduce a state-wide indoor smoking ban. But officials there still haven’t kicked the habit of lifestyle engineering. Now they are going after electronic cigarettes, devices that smokers have so far been able to use in places where real cigarettes are prohibited, or even as an aide to quitting tobacco.

Motorcycle made in Marlboro cigarettes is a killer on road

One man’s trash is another's treasure. It nowhere better suited than to this man who has created motorcycle out of Marlborough cigarette packs. And in order to make a bike like this, one needs to collect, of course, a lot of empty Marlborough cigarette packs, but not to smoke all of them for that matter. Other than a herculean task of many hours to fit in well all those Marlborough cigarette packs, one needs skillful hands, and above all a good imagination.  Great motorcycle made out of Marlboro cigarettes.

Why Marlboro are the Most Popular Cigarettes in the World?

For a moment put Marlboro, Winston or any top selling cigarettes in the back burner and think why is any photo copying machine in the world known and called as Xerox as if Xerox is the machine's generic name? Fine, why only Marlboro does always strike to both smokers and non smokers at the mention of cigarettes? Simple, and there can be only one answer to this set of questions. Marlboro is the best selling cigarette of this world and it is so ever since. If you aren't in agreement with me, spare a moment and search for the simple keyword ‘cheap cigarettes' in ‘video.google.com' for instance and I am sure you will see images of cheap Marlboro cigarettes prominently displayed. I would like to think that this is a kind of unsolicited acknowledgement for the brand, perhaps unintentional also, by a world renowned open knowledge source project. 

Tobacco producers excluded from the Government Pension Fund Global

The decision is based on a recommendation from the Council on Ethics for the Fund.

The Council on Ethics gave this recommendation to the Ministry of Finance on 24th January 2013. Schweitzer-Mauduit International Inc. and Huabao International Holdings are involved in the production of reconstituted tobacco leaf (RTL).

According to the guidelines for observation and exclusion of companies from the Pension Fund Global, Section 2 (1) b), “The assets in the Fund shall not be invested in companies which themselves or through entities they control: [...] produce tobacco”. As the Council on Ethics points out in its recommendation, the Ministry of Finance gave a further definition of this in the National Budget for 2010, section 5.4.4, stating that producers of products that contain tobacco shall be excluded from the GPFG. The Council underlines that RTL primarily is made from the tobacco plant and therefore must be regarded as a tobacco product. The two companies concerned state in their annual reports and investor presentations that they produce RTL. The Council on Ethics has based its recommendation on this information.

The Ministry of Finance has decided to exclude Schweitzer-Mauduit International Inc. and Huabao International Holdings Limited based on the recommendation from the Council on Ethics. In accordance with the guidelines, the decision to exclude is made public once the shares are sold.

Winston classic cigarettes

Production began in Winston 1954 RJReynolds Tobacco Company packages their cigarettes differently. Unlike some other brands Winston, does not contain any additional components. Winston cigarettes on the 6th of the 10 best-selling cigarettes in the United States. For over 50 years, this brand cheap but high quality cigarettes is one of the best selling ones that are not only in the U.S. but in Europe and Latin America.

Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee Purpose

The Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) advises the Commissioner or designee in discharging responsibilities as they relate to the regulation of tobacco products.
The Committee reviews and evaluates safety, dependence, and health issues relating to tobacco products and provides appropriate advice, information and recommendations to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
Specifically, the Committee will submit reports or recommendations on tobacco-related topics, including:

• The impact of the use of menthol in cigarettes on the public health, including such use among children, African Americans, Hispanics and other racial and ethnic minorities
• The nature and impact of the use of dissolvable tobacco products on the public health, including such use on children
• The effects of the alteration of nicotine yields from tobacco products and whether there is a threshold level below which nicotine yields do not produce dependence on the tobacco product involved
• Any application submitted by a manufacturer for a modified risk tobacco product

The Committee may provide recommendations to the Secretary regarding any regulations to be promulgated under the act and may review any applications for new tobacco products or petitions for exemption under Section 906(e) of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.  The Committee may consider and provide recommendations on any other matter as provided in the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

Committee Membership

The Committee shall consist of 12 members including the Chair.  Members and the Chair are selected by the Commissioner or designee from among individuals knowledgeable in the fields of medicine, medical ethics, science, or technology involving the manufacture, evaluation, or use of tobacco products.  Members will be invited to serve for overlapping terms of up to fours years.  Almost all non-Federal members of this committee serve as Special Government Employees.  The Committee shall include nine technically qualified voting members, selected by the Commissioner or designee.  The nine voting members shall be physicians, dentists, scientists, or health care professionals practicing in the area of oncology, pulmonology, cardiology, toxicology, pharmacology, addiction, or any other relevant specialty.  One member shall be an officer or employee of a state or local government or of the Federal Government.  The final voting member shall be a representative of the general public.  In addition to the voting members, the Committee shall include 3 non-voting members who are identified with industry interests.  These members shall include one representative of the tobacco manufacturing industry, one representative of the interests of tobacco growers, and one representative of the interests of the small business tobacco manufacturing industry.  This final position can be filled on a rotating, sequential basis by representatives of different small business tobacco manufacturers based on areas of expertise relevant to the topics being considered by the committee.