Search

INTRODUCTION Georgia made steps forward in 2017 and adopted new amendments to its tobacco control legislation, which mostly correspond to the FCTC requirements. Among other changes in the regulations is a ban on smoking in public buildings and public transport, with a few exemptions (casinos, big slot clubs, performances in theatres, taxis). The regulation entered into force on 1 May 2018. METHODS The aim of the study is to assess the outcomes of the comprehensive smoke-free legislation in Georgia. We used a logical model for data collection and analysis. Our evaluation focuses on smoking prevalence related survey data, SHS exposure, monitoring results on compliance of new tobacco control regulations, Quitline data, and air quality measurement results. RESULTS The indoor air quality improved by 91% in the hospitality sector (from 1408 to 126 µg/m³ in 2018 and 117 µg/m³ in 2019), by 80% in public settings (from 531 to 112 µg/m³ in 2018 and 98 µg/m³ in 2019) and sufficiently in healthcare facilities (from 219 to 97-98 µg/m³ in 2018-2019). Demand for Quitline services increased by 30%. New cases of AMI declined by 32% during 2017-2019. CONCLUSIONS A comprehensive smoke-free policy with a high level of compliance (=95%) had a positive impact on the decline of SHS exposure and tremendous improvement of indoor air quality in public places and promotes a decrease in illnesses related to the cardiovascular system in Georgia. Also, demand increased for smoking-cessation services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies why some countries have more stringent policies for tobacco control than others. Three cases were studied that confirm two hypotheses of the advocacy coalition framework (acf). First, in all cases the policies intensified, to great extent, due to external perturbations of a normative type (epn). Second, only in Uruguay did the policies intensify due to external perturbations by changes in government (epcg). For the epn we find that the factors that enabled the change in policies were the durability and internal coordination within the minority coalition. And for the epcg were the position of the new ruling coalition and its ability to change the policy on its own. Also, the epn were more important for Spain while the epgc were more relevant for Mexico and Uruguay. This should be further investigated to determine if there is a relation between external perturbations and the context of each country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though most African states have signed and ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a global treaty to limit tobacco use, African states have been slow to pass and implement tobacco control policies like regulations on sales, smoke-free environments and taxes. This article examines how the ineffectiveness of local tobacco-control advocacy contributes to this suboptimal outcome. It asserts that the disconnect between the global tobacco-control advocacy network and local advocates shapes this ineffectiveness. With funding and direction predominately from the Bloomberg Initiative, local advocates emulate the funders' goal of achieving quick, measurable policy results. Their reliance on the network drives African advocates to strive to pass legislation, even in difficult political climates, and to remake their agendas when funders change their priorities. They also emulate the network's focus on evidence-based arguments that stress epidemiological data and biomedical interventions, even when this issue frame does not resonate with policy-makers. Financial dependence can draw local advocates into expectations about patronage politics, undermine their ability to make principled arguments, and lead them to downplay the ways that their home country's socioeconomic and cultural contexts affect tobacco use and control. Based on key informant interviews with African advocates, media analysis and the case-studies of Ghana and Tanzania, the article broadens the study of philanthropy in global health, it adds an African perspective to the literature on global health advocacy, and it deepens knowledge on power dynamics between external funders and local actors in the realms of health and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smoking is the largest preventable cause of death in the world, killing nearly 6 million people annually. This article is an investigation of measures implemented laws in the Iran to study the proposed strategy of control and reduce tobacco use based on the monitor, protect, offer, warn, enforce and raise (MPOWER) policy. Methods: All laws approved by the Parliament along with the instructions on tobacco control prepared by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade were collected and studied. Moreover, practical steps of Ministry of Health and other organizations were examined in this regard. Findings: Iranian Parliament after the adoption of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) acts to create a comprehensive and systematic program for tobacco control legislation as a first step towards comprehensive national tobacco control and combat. In this law and its implementing guidelines and based on the strategy of MPOWER, specific implement is done to monitor tobacco use and prevention policies, protect people from tobacco smoke, offer help to quit tobacco use, warn about the dangers of tobacco, enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and raise taxes on tobacco. However, the full objectives of the legislation have not achieved yet. Conclusion: According to Iran's membership in the FCTC and executive producer of tobacco control laws and regulations, necessary infrastructure is ready for a serious fight with tobacco use. In Iran, in comparison with developed countries, there is a huge gap between ratified laws and performing of laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report analyses the outcome of the latest meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. In this context, it concentrates on the adopted amendments to the partial guidelines for implementation of Articles 9 and 10 of the Framework Convention, recommendations on the regulation of e-cigarettes, and discussion on the interactions between international trade/investment obligations and implementation of the obligations of the Convention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study identifies the specific product characteristics driving mass-merchandise cigar sales in the context of the changing regulatory environment. Methods: Cigar sales data in US convenience stores during 2008-2015 were purchased from Nielsen's Convenience Track system. Descriptive statistics highlight changes in the cigar market over time. Results: Sales of flavored cigars increased by nearly 50% since 2008 and now make up over half of the cigar market. Fruit remains the most popular flavor group, but the sale of non-descript flavors such as "Jazz" and "Green" has grown substantially. Inexpensive 2-and 3-packs made up less than 1% of cigar sales in 2008, but by 2015 this packaging style held 40% of the market share. Black & Mild and Swisher Sweets dominate the convenience store channel and together are responsible for nearly 60% of total mass-merchandise cigar sales. Conclusions: Cigar companies take advantage of features recently banned for cigarettes, such as flavorings and small pack sizes to maintain strong sales. Given the appeal of mass-merchandise cigars to youth and young adults, the FDA and other governing bodies should regulate the manufacturing and promotion of cigars in the same way they have regulated cigarettes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online networks can serve as a platform to diffuse policy innovations and enhance global health governance. This study focuses on how shifts in global health governance may influence related online networks. We compare social network metrics (average degree centrality [AVGD], density [D] and clustering coefficient [CC]) of Globalink, an online network of tobacco control advocates, across three eras in global tobacco control governance; pre-Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) policy transfer (1992-1998), global regime formation through the FCTC negotiations (1999- 2005), and philanthropic funding through the Bloomberg Initiative (2006-2012). Prior to 1999, Globalink was driven by a handful of high-income countries (AVGD=1.908 D=0.030, CC=0.215). The FCTC negotiations (1999-2005) corresponded with a rapid uptick in the number of countries represented within Globalink and new members were most often brought into the network through relationships with regional neighbors (AVGD=2.824, D=0.021, CC=0.253). Between 2006 and 2012, the centrality of the US in the network increases significantly (AVGD=3.414, D=0.023, CC=0.310). The findings suggest that global institutionalization through WHO, as with the FCTC, can lead to the rapid growth of decentralized online networks. Alternatively, private initiatives, such as the Bloomberg Initiative, can lead to clustering in which a single source of information gains increasing influence over an online network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examined the effectiveness of an institutional intervention aimed at decreasing prevalence of tobacco use over a 4-year period. Methods: Participants were undergraduate students (N = 2,293) enrolled at a large Midwestern university between 2007 and 2010. In 2008, tobacco use was banned on campus. Additionally, campus-wide tobacco cessation services and information were provided to all students. A self-report measure assessing demographics and tobacco use prevalence was administered at baseline and at 3 timepoints over the following 3 years. Results: Results indicated that smokeless tobacco use decreased significantly after the ban. Members of fraternities (a high-risk group) reported significant decreases in smokeless tobacco use for the first 2 years following the ban; however, this trend did not persist during the 3rd year of assessment. Off-campus residents displayed similar trends as fraternities. Conclusions: It appears that a campus-wide tobacco ban is an effective prevention method for decreasing smokeless tobacco use. However, initial decreases in smokeless tobacco use may not persist for some at risk groups, namely members of fraternities and students living off-campus. Future studies should examine prevalence of use over longer periods of time with a particular focus on at risk groups. Overall, this study lends considerable support for efforts toward tobacco-free campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors state that tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. and the goal of comprehensive tobacco control is to reduce its harm to the society. The authors further mention that it has now become important to prevent young people from the very first use of cigarette and reflect on the New York City's policy to increase the legal age of sale for tobacco products from 18 to 21 years.

The article focuses on the control of tobacco in the South-East Asia Region of the World Health Organization (WHO). It mentions the efforts of the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia (SEARO) to help member states implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of the WHO. It discusses the legislative and administrative measures adopted by member states for tobacco control, the need to train health professionals, and challenges to tobacco control in the region.