|
|
|
|
Writing in The Guardian, Romesh Ranganatha, a stand-up comedian explains how he quit smoking with the help of a Rubik’s Cube.
“I used to be a habitual vaper. I started buying e-cigs with the intention of weaning myself off nicotine altogether, but then I made the mistake of looking at the range of products on offer. Before I knew it, I had several different batteries and tanks and was mixing my own liquids. My wife and I would sit down to watch TV, and she would tell me it was like sitting next to Thomas The Tank Engine, as plumes of raspberry-flavoured steam filled the living room.
“One evening, as I was rearranging a coil in one of my tanks, she pointed out that it was an incredibly male trait to get into a weird hobby that requires tinkering and obsessiveness. Up to that point, I had assumed that I was being an individual who was trying not to smoke by having 36 different flavours of vape fluid, but as soon as she held that mirror up to me, I knew I had to quit. I reckon my vaping habit had by then cost me the best part of a grand.
“I no longer vape, but I am now obsessed with the Rubik’s Cube...“I cannot even begin to convey the look of utter despair on my wife’s face when I opened the package to reveal what I had bought. I think she believes I am wilfully searching out hobbies and interests that push her to leave me. The vapour that used to hang about me like a fog has been replaced by the incessant click-clacking of a man trying to find purpose in his life. And that purpose, it turns out, is a Rubik’s Cube solve time better than five hours.”
Source: The Guardian, 12 June 2020
|
|
Philip Morris has been blocked from introducing its heated tobacco product to Australia by an interim decision from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
On Wednesday (10 June) the TGA rejected a request by the company to reschedule nicotine under a law that would have helped get its heated tobacco products (HTPs) onto Australian shelves.
Heated tobacco products are marketed as less harmful alternatives to smoking because the tobacco is not ignited. Still, health experts say not enough is known to declare them safe to use. In Australia, the only forms of nicotine that can be sold legally are those licensed as medicines, or combustible nicotine products like cigarettes and cigars.
The decision was met with cautious optimism by one health expert, but the company vowed to continue the public debate around smoking alternatives.
Source: ABC News, 11 June 2020
|
|
The government has maintained in court that Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, acted legally and rationally in banning the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products under the nationwide lockdown.
The case, brought by the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA), was argued before three judges in the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday morning. FITA is challenging the cigarette ban saying the minister overstepped her authority in declaring the ban, and that it in any case been unsuccessful in significantly reducing the sales of cigarettes or in getting smokers to quit.
The state, represented by Marumo Moerane SC, told the court that the cigarette ban was both legal and rational, and denied that Minister Dlamini-Zuma had acted against the wishes of President Cyril Ramaphosa or the National Coronavirus Command Council. Moerane said that under the Disaster Management Act, the minister did not have to have "absolute certainty" that unless she instituted a smoking ban the country's health system will collapse. Rather, he said the test should be whether the regulations are "reasonably required."
Moerane said: " […...] In light of statements by the World Health Organization (WHO) – which has said a review of studies by public health experts found that smokers "are more likely to develop severe disease with COVID-19, compared to non-smokers and others", the minister had passed this test. He added that if the minister were to wait for "definitive proof" of links between more severe COVID-19 infections and smoking, she would be in breach of her obligations.
Judgement has been reserved.
Source: News 24, 10 June 2020
|
|
Levi Montgomery, a young Perth mum who featured in Make Smoking History’s 2017 From Every Quitter campaign, is urging the community to support other smokers who want to quit during these challenging times, after saving more than $32,000 in the three years since the advertisements went to air.
Ms Montgomery said: "I had been smoking for 18 years before I quit, I had two young children, but we would never have any money for day trips as I would need to keep the money for cigarettes. One day my four-year-old daughter said to me, stop smoking mummy or you will die, and that was enough for me."
"I responded to a call out from the Make Smoking History team who were looking for real smokers who wanted to take part in their campaign…. "I quit after the filming, before the ads went to air and have not had another cigarette since."
Ms Montgomery has since gone on to have another baby, "Those new-born cuddles are so much better when you are smokefree, I urge people to use the support and help from Cancer Council WA and Make Smoking History to quit smoking, particularly during these challenging times " she added.
Cancer Council WA, Make Smoking History Manager, Libby Jardine, said the 2017 From Every Quitter would be re-aired after some editing to include messaging about helping each other quit during COVID-19.
Ms Jardine said: "There is evidence that if you have other health conditions like cardiovascular disease and cancer, you are more likely to experience severe complications of COVID-19, and smoking can increase the risk of many of these conditions."
Quitting smoking has the potential to be life-changing, now more than ever. If you smoke, we urge you to use this time as an incentive to stop once and for all."
Source: Mirage News, 15 June 2020
|
|
Have you been forwarded this email? Subscribe to ASH Daily News here.
For more information call 020 7404 0242, email [email protected] or visit www.ash.org.uk
ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
