Postcard from Myanmar: tea houses and tobacco promotion

  Guest post by Peter Worland The ubiquitous Myanmar tea house. You can hear the buzz of Burmese conversation emanating from such meeting places day and night. Old people on their daily catch up with neighbours meet here. Young people hang out and compare their new mobile phones here. New mums show off their beautiful […]

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#DortmundKills campaign: the legal, moral and ethical case against Inter-tabac Asia

As reported in News Analysis in the January edition of Tobacco Control, the Dortmund city-owned company Westfalenhallen Dortmund GmbH (Germany) is organising Inter-tabac Asia, a trade fair for the tobacco industry, to be held on the Indonesian island of Bali on 27 & 28 February. An international campaign against the event has attracted support from around the world, and […]

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E-cigarettes and the marketing push that surprised everyone

The e-cigarette debate rages on over at the BMJ… Martin McKee writes  how ” the more attention policy makers give to the aggressive marketing of e-cigarettes in their own countries, the more they conclude that the downsides far exceed any benefits.” Naturally, for such a hot topic, opposing views are quick to materialise. Clive Bates […]

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China’s investment in Africa: consequences for tobacco control?

    Sue Lawrence, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Recently, China’s economic growth recently may have fallen below its expected 6% rate, but it is more of dip than an indication of decline. Its pursuit of new markets is likely to continue undeterred (1) and this may have spillover effects for tobacco control. […]

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New WHO report: more tobacco advertising bans, smoke free spaces save millions of lives

  The World Health Organisation Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2013 was launched in Panama City on 10 July. Panama was selected as the venue for this high level, global event in recognition of the country’s leadership in tobacco control. The report shows the number of people worldwide covered by at least one life-saving […]

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World No Tobacco Day: a wrap up of reports and pictures from around the world

  World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is held every year on 31 May. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners everywhere highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. In 2013, the theme was ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. A comprehensive ban of all tobacco […]

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World No Tobacco Day India: rallies, art, skits, walls of shame and policy progress

    National: Government and NGOs join hands to completely ban Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) Credit: Nikunj Sharma, HRIDAY A national level multi-stakeholder consultation was held in New Delhi, at which the government and NGOs resolved in favour of a complete ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) of tobacco products. The health […]

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Cigarette pack warnings: a new way to talk directly to smokers?

  The tussle between tobacco companies and public health over the valuable advertising real estate that is the cigarette pack could be about to escalate to a whole new level. Researchers at Stirling University in Scotland have created cigarette packs that play recorded health warnings when opened. Funded by Cancer Research UK, the study is inspired by […]

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World No Tobacco Day in the Western Pacific

  Report credit: Annabel Lyman, FCA Pacific Island Countries Coordinator Every year, WHO recognizes individuals or organisations in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. There were 6 awardees in the Western Pacific region this year including the Cook Islands Ministry of Health. The Cook Islands ratified […]

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