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Cigarettes are getting the brush off yet again. For the last three decades there has been a push to get people to understand the correlation between cancer and the adverse affects of tobacco with all the chemical additives. Unfortunately, the message is still not clear enough, people are still smoking, but now society is beginning to ask smokers to 'butt out'.

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Cigarettes, bad for your breath, for your popularity and your health; if those factors don't deter you from smoking perhaps the changing laws will.

In 1997 the Canadian Federal government passed The Tobacco Act as a means of protecting the health and wellness of Canadians. The introduction of this program was based upon a need to ensure that protective measures were in place and could be enforced through legal venue when necessary.

Health Canada has launched a website dedicated to the topic of tobacco and related ill effects experienced by smokers and non-smokers as a result of being exposed to second hand smoke.

A direct quote from the site provides a chilling look at the reality of smoking and exposure to risks of second hand smoke.

More than 45,000 people will die prematurely this year in Canada due to tobacco use -- at least 1000 of them will be non-smokers. Tobacco. We can live without it. (Canada Health's Go Smoke Free Site)

In April of 2001, the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy was introduced as a means of achieving a set of goals within a 10 year period.

• a reduction by 5% (from 25% to 20% of the population) in the number of people who smoke
• a decrease by 30% in the number of cigarettes sold
• an increase from 69% to 80% in retailer compliance with tobacco-sales-to-youth laws
• a reduction in the number of people involuntarily exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in enclosed public spaces
• a determination as to how to mandate modified tobacco products in order to reduce hazards to health.

  (Canada Health's Federal Tobacco Control Strategy)

Cigarettes have become a very large health issue for Canada, the United States, Britain and other industrialised countries. It is a result of studies and corresponding health statistics that it has become clear that law makers need to address this ever-increasing public health danger.

 

Recent studies have quantified the dangers of second hand smoke in causing respiratory problems and cancer. It is the overwhelming evidence of studies that has increased the call for civic, state and national agencies to address the concerns.

Debates and proposals for laws regarding the right of smokers versus the right of non-smokers have run rampant. Yet the overwhelming consensus is that smoking is harmful and that the innocent need to be protected. With smoking being a question of individual rights, it makes no sense to try to outlaw the companies through marketing ploys. Releases of memos that prove cigarette companies are not only aware of the health risks caused by smoking, but that these individuals have known about the risks for many years.

The anti-smoking movement is not restricted to any one city, province, state or nation; it is a message of universal importance. Legislative bodies are moving towards enacting laws that will protect people from exposure to smoke. Public Service Announcements are being aired on television; one series of ads targets the manipulation of the public by cigarette companies through marketing ploys. Releases of memos that prove cigarette companies are not only aware of the health risks caused by smoking, but that these individuals have known about the risks for many years.

The list of countries targeting decreased advertisements for tobacco, banning of smoking in certain public venues and other measures enacted at the civic level, are all being enacted to protect the future of all citizens. The unfortunate issue is that banning advertisements, smoking in public places or making it illegal to sell tobacco products to children will not be able to prevent people from continuing to smoke, starting to smoke or making it more attractive to the 'risk takers' in the underage categories.

Britain

Many countries have banned advertising for cigarettes and Britain has just added the long list of countries banning advertisements for tobacco products. The legislation took five years to pass; an all inclusive ban on advertising, sponsorship and direct marketing. Cigarette companies in Britain will have to try to keep their sales strong by marketing at point of sale establishments.

It took five years, but Britain finally succeeded in passing legislation that targets the advertisements of cigarette products to its citizenry. It is the goal of the government in Britain to decrease the overall percentage of the population that smokes from 28% to 24% by the year 2010.

The advertising expenditures for the cigarette industry in Britain last year was $75 million Canadian and now with the banning of all advertisements the messages will not be visible by the population on a general basis. All the billboards have been torn down, some revealing an anti-smoking message.

Canada

In Canada, it has been a number of years since cigarette ads were allowed to grace the screen for the purpose of promoting smoking. Now public service announcements and support groups are gracing the screen trying to target the long term smokers as well as those who are just beginning to pick up the habit.

Recent studies have quantified the dangers of second hand smoke in causing respiratory problems and cancer. It is the overwhelming evidence of studies that has increased the call for civic, state and national agencies to address the concerns.

Debates and proposals for laws regarding the right of smokers versus the right of non-smokers have run rampant. Yet the overwhelming consensus is that smoking is harmful and that the innocent need to be protected. With smoking being a question of individual rights, it makes no sense to try to outlaw the habit; but there is a way for the legislators to provide a more healthful environment by passing laws that limit an individual's exposure to smoke.

Calgary AB

In Calgary the anti-smoking message has taken a turn towards banning smoking from a considerable number of public venues, especially those that are frequented by children, young adults and families. The laws are being passed as a result of the desire to protect non-smokers from potentially deadly exposure to second hand smoke.

Calgary has decided to take a stab at making it illegal to smoke in public areas by the YEAR. This announcement met with the combined cheers and jeers; outcry from smokers who feel persecuted by the impending law and those who toast the law makers for stepping up to the plate.

The current laws already limit the smoking areas in public Cigarettes, bad for your breath, for your popularity and your health. If those factors don't deter you from smoking perhaps the changing laws will.

In Calgary the anti-smoking message has taken a turn towards banning smoking from a considerable number of public venues, especially those that are frequented by children, young adults and families. The laws are being passed as a result of the desire to protect non-smokers from potentially deadly exposure to second hand smoke.

Calgary has decided to take a stab at making it illegal to smoke in public areas by the YEAR. This announcement met with the combined cheers and jeers; outcry from smokers who feel persecuted by the impending law and those who toast the law makers for stepping up to the plate.

The current laws already limit the smoking areas in public areas including hospitals, bus stops, the C-Train, within restaurants where minors are served and within shopping centres. Children are not allowed in establishments where smoking is permitted; restaurants clearly display non-smoking signs indicating safe havens for families and non-smokers.

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