Regional Updates

Airline passengers to be fined more for smoking Airline passengers will be fined up to VND5 million (US$292) for smoking onboard, according to the latest draft decree announced by the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam. If passed, the new legislation would reflect a fine increase of five times the current figure. At present, passengers are …

Airline passengers to be fined more for smoking, Than Nien News-08/16/09 Read More »

Spending almost all day sitting on his motorcycle Iwan, 30, an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver at Slipi intersection, West Jakarta, thinks nothing is more relaxing than drinking a glass of hot, black coffee and smoking a pack of cigarettes amid the scorching heat and choking haze from passing vehicles. Working from 6 a.m. to 5 …

How much did you earn today? How much for your cigarettes?, The Jakarta Post-08/13/09 Read More »

SMUGGLERS are adapting their methods to elude the border authorities. From hiding contraband in broken-down buses being towed across the Causeway to concealing cigarette cartons within concrete slabs, smugglers these days are a different breed from those of old who simply stowed the stash in makeshift vehicle compartments, for example. The observation on their modus …

More ‘deceptive’ smugglers, But record 23,800 cases foiled this year Read More »

Since its establishment in 2001, the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation has done an extraordinary job of discouraging smoking in the Kingdom. Warning labels featuring graphic images of the possible consequences of smoking have been placed on cigarette packages. Though Canada lays claim to being the first country in the world to adopt such …

Street Wise: Smokers have reason to be worried sick Read More »

Indonesia, where cigarette prices are the cheapest in the world, has signed a convention on tobacco control along with 175 other countries as a sign of commitment to limiting the impact of tobacco and cigarettes on the population, particularly on minors. However, a bill on tobacco control, which if passed will automatically ratify the convention, …

Special Report: Who’s trying to kill the tobacco bill? Read More »

 Posted: 02 August 2009 2157 hrs SINGAPORE: Underage smokers who get caught lighting up could soon face fines of up to S$500. This is one of several proposed changes to the Smoking Act, aimed at reversing the rising trend of smoking in young adults aged 18-29 years. Other proposed amendments include lowering tar and nicotine …

Health officials seek public views on proposed amendments to Smoking Act Read More »

2009/07/30 THE health minister and the Ma-laysian Oncological Society president’s recent statements that there were only 50 oncologists in the country has me worried (“Travelling far for cancer treatment” — NST, July 24). However, their solution to the problem, that is training 50 more oncologists, left me wondering whether 100 will be enough. While the …

DISEASE: Focus on cancer prevention Read More »

    CONCERT organisers are hearing confusing annotations on sponsorship by liquor and tobacco companies. They say regulations pertaining to sponsorship of concerts by liquor and tobacco companies continue to stupefy them. Consider this: Beer makers had sponsored several major recent concerts and despite the wide publicity the authorities did not take any action to …

Conflicting rules for concert organisers Read More »

        SAY NO: (L-R) Haniki, Shaari, Syed, Koris, Abu Bakar and Foong posing with their leaflets THE Malaysia Council for Tobacco (MCTC) welcomed the initiative by the National Sports Institute (NSI) to introduce nicotine tests in sports schools. Their president, K. Koris Atan, however, stressed that the parties concerned should emphasise on the educational …

MCTC laud effort to introduce nicotine tests in sports schools Read More »

MPs approve increase in tobacco tax Published: 18/05/2009 at 03:47 PM The cost of local cigarettes will rise following the House of Representatives’ approval of an increase in the excise tax on tobacco products on Monday. The  hike follows a large rise in the excise tax on alcoholic beverages, which is aleady hurting drinkers’ wallets, …

MPs approve increase in tobacco tax Read More »