AlterNet reports
The second largest tobacco producer in the United States, Reynolds American said Thursday it will ban smoking in all indoor office spaces, bowing to smoke-free social norms.
The manufacturer of Pall Mall and Camel cigarettes said starting from January 1, 2015 smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes in conference rooms and elevators will be prohibited.
Designated smoking rooms will be opened by 2016 at the company's headquarters in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and at its two other offices in Tennessee and New Mexico.
[...]E-cigarettes and chewing tobacco are still permitted. Smoking is already banned in the company's production factories, cafeterias and fitness centers, and the move to extend the no-smoking zone was in line with the public standards, according to [Reynolds American spokesman David] Howard.
[...]Smoking is banned in most public spaces in North Carolina, including bars and restaurants, but Reynolds America's offices are exempt from the law, Reynolds said.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 02 2015, @07:50PM
That is a significant story. My guess is it had to do with the company's rising health care costs for its employees, rather than concerns about politics or legislation.
Decades ago when I used to play a lot of chess, a magazine called "Chess Life" carried notices for impending tournaments across the US. Along with "Open" tournaments for just about every state, there was the "Smoker's Open" in North Carolina - with the organizer's additional rule that "every player must smoke a cigar or cigarette during every game". Haha, that was a good one.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 02 2015, @09:11PM
This item reminded me of a klein flask. [archdezart.com]
-- gewg_
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Saturday January 03 2015, @04:43AM
RJ Reynolds just bought the company that makes Blu Ecigs, and wadda ya know suddenly they are changing their tune! As I said on other forums once big tobacco had decent stakes in the Ecig suddenly all the FUD being pushed by big media about Ecigs would switch and we'd get some feel good stories...wanna guess what the biggest Ecig story was the day RJ Reynolds bought Blu? Penn State publishing a study saying Ecigs are safer and less chance of becoming addicted when compared to regular cigs!
Wow, what a coincidence, wanna bet we'l start seeing positive stories on GMA and other MSM venues?
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Saturday January 03 2015, @07:05AM
I read some research that showed that e-cigarettes are 10x times as bad as the classical ones.
I think the conclusion ought to be, if it's combusted, it's bad.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 03 2015, @08:21AM
combusted
Water isn't combusted, yet it vaporizes.
My impression is that the vapes will heat the fluid until it becomes vapor (a change of physical state) but it does not *burn* it such that there is a chemical change in the substance.
10x times as bad
Can you be more specific?
-- gewg_
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Saturday January 03 2015, @01:23PM
10x carcinogenic substances in the vapor.
techtimes.com: What Safe? E-Cigarettes Found to Contain 10 Times More Carcinogens than Regular Cigarettes [techtimes.com]
In the beginning I thought e-ciggs perhaps was a solution to cigarettes and nicotine dependency. But now it's obvious it's just crap and even worse. Regulation is likely to follow soon.
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Saturday January 03 2015, @08:39AM
It was FUD. The "researcher" that published those "findings" was asked what SHOULD have been simple questions, such as 1.-What brands were tested? 2.- What nicotine strength? 3.- What was the wattage/voltage tested at (because if you run ANYTHING at higher volts/watts that its designed for you are gonna cook it), 4.- Was it the "gas station" style disposables or the kind you fill up? 5.- Was it solid or liquid vaping material? What was the composition of the liquid you tested? 6.- Was it premade (and possibly out of date) or fresh? 7.- Where did it come from?
Do you know what the reply was? If you said "nothing but the sound of chirping crickets" you are correct good sir! I can claim that chili farts are the cause of global warming but if I show ZERO evidence other than the previous sentence? Its worth about as much as the chili farts I supposedly tested. Remember that big tobacco is a multibillion dollar business so don't buy any "research" where they can't even answer what should be obvious questions about the findings.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 03 2015, @10:53AM
Buy ecig company that makes inferior crap products with a high nicotine level only that doesn't really work well to get people to quit. (they did this)
Flood media with storys about how dangerous ecigs are. (they are doing this now)
Lobby govt to ban any 'open' systems that do not use prefilled cartridges that last for no time and are expensive. (they are doing this now)
Lobby govt to ban any flavors other than tobacco and menthol. (they are doing this now)
Lobby FDA to class ecigs as a tobacco product. (they are doing this now)
Lobby various states/cities to ban ecigs. And/or make them equal to tobacco for regulation purposes. (they are doing this RIGHT now.)
Work with the FDA to require any ecig product get FDA approval.
Application for approval costs a couple hundred thousand and applies to each individual ecig product. (this will happen soon)
Bam. They're now the only ones with enough funds to navigate the FDA. And the only ones selling the 'allowed' ecig types.
That do not work to help people get off smoking. Due to being crap and more expensive than cigs. They are designed to fail. As the last player standing.
They're NOT going to give up 35 billion a year in profit on ~200 billion in revenue every single year.
And thats just what the tobacco companys makes. In the usa. Worldwide it's huge.
And then there's pharma. They also hate ecigs. Their NRT systems do not work and are expensive. Repeat customers!
The anti-smoking people. They also hate ecigs. If smoking vanishes they have no purpose.
The healthcare industry. Smoking makes them a ton of money.
States. They already spent all the tobacco settlement money they were going to get far into the future. No smokers = No money to pay those bonds.
FDA. We're in charge of another product! We need more money, more people, more control.
It's a fine plan. You may know it under it's old name altho it has been expanded and enhanced.
Embrace, Extend, Extinguish.
And it's going to work. Because the money stacked against ecigs is MASSIVE. All the big players are on the other side and want you to keep smoking.
And will stop just short of telling you to go smoke.
And on the ecig side... We have a bunch of china mfgs. Some cigalike companys all owned or puppet run by big tobacco.
And a whole lot of people who are glad they finally quit smoking.
And we're going to lose. :|
If you're a smoker. Pickup an ecig today. Find a site and learn. Quit! Before it's not an option.
It's so easy to quit with ecigs it's crazy.
And that's why it will be stamped out.
Oh i'm crazy? conspiracy nut?
yup. whatever. watch and see how it plays out over the next 2-6 years.
Just watch. And weep for humanity run by the dollar.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 03 2015, @10:58AM
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Saturday January 03 2015, @01:37PM
What kind of e-ciggs is the best to make people quit smoking?
The e-cigg design is likely simple enough to make an unofficial market viable. Perhaps even the fluids could be done outside official channels.
(Score: 3, Informative) by black6host on Saturday January 03 2015, @07:16PM
There are all types of e-cigs. Many folks start with the prefilled cig-alike style found in many convenience store. IMO, they're not a great option. Ideally you want to use something that you put the e-juice of your choice into. The e-cig itself may contain a non-removable, rechargeable battery. Or it may use an externally recharged battery such as an 18650.
I use a device called a "Reo" designed and made by a small company in Maine, USA. Very high quality, virtually indestructible and as easy to use as any. Much better taste than anything else I've tried (and I've tried quite a few), low maintenance (pop out the battery and you can wash it in the kitchen sink). I put in a fresh battery and fill with e-juice in the morning and I'm set until the following day. I rebuild the coil (what heats up the wick which is saturated with e-juice) when needed. That might take 15 minutes and doesn't have to be done that often (I'll go a month or longer on a coil.) I re-wick with cotton about every other day. 10 minute job. The point is, with this particular type, and others, you have control and are not limited by a sealed cartridge that is expensive and lasts about as long as 7 cigarettes (just guessing here, I really couldn't stand them and gave those up quickly.)
I was smoking 2.5 packs a day and had smoked for over 40 years. I quit last year and in less than a week I'll hit my one year anniversary. Something is working here!
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Saturday January 03 2015, @09:44PM
Haven't you just replaced your cigarettes containing nicotine with e-juice containing nicotine. Just changed method not getting rid of the nicotine supply?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by black6host on Saturday January 03 2015, @11:35PM
No, it doesn't quite work that way. First off, nicotine is hardly the worst thing in a cigarette. It's all the other chemicals they throw into the mix. Including ones that make nicotine more addictive.
Second, nicotine uptake is different between e-cigs and cigarettes. Cigs deliver x amount of nicotine per cig (depending on how it's smoked.) E-juice has x number of mgs of nicotine per ml. But how do you compare inhaling a vapor versus smoke? So it's not been easy yet to really map cigs to e-juice as far as nicotine uptake. It is commonly accepted that it's harder to get nicotine from vapor than smoke. I believe the nicotine in vapor is absorbed in the mouth, cigs deep down in your lungs.
Ok, no citations there and I know it. We just don't know enough. I did read a research paper comparing allowable limits, according to OSHA, of the allowed intake of chemicals found in e-juice and cigs through a work day. I can't find the link. Bottom line was there were a few things in e-juice that exceeded the daily allowable limit as determined by OSHA. However, the amounts involved were by far less that what the cigs were putting out. They also determined there was no risk of second hand vapor. The one study that is very critical of e-cigs has been discussed, and debunked, in above threads.
Ok, that's all my informed opinion. Let me give you some anecdotal info. Before, when I smoked, I had a lighter and smoke in my hand before my feet hit the floor. Now, I get up, make my coffee, then sit down and vape a bit while I have my coffee. No strong feelings to get that nicotine fix.
If I used to leave the house, just to run to the store, cigs and lighter always went with me. Lit one first thing once I got in the car. Now, I don't even bother bringing my e-cig. I can go a good while before I feel the need to vape. So, to me, my body is not nearly as dependent.
Bottom line for me is: I believe it is better for me than smoking. Certainly much less expensive. And it's not offensive to others. I couldn't have quit smoking with e-cigs so if my options are e-cigs or regular cigs I think I've made the right choice. Even if they're just as bad for you. Which is not what people are seeing. My Dr. is glad to have seen me make the switch.
And if I had a choice between breathing the air heavily polluted areas and e-cigs... Well, I'd take the e-cigs anytime. A nice lungful of bus exhaust is pretty damned disgusting.
Finally, I would never suggest that someone who doesn't smoke try e-cigs. Not smoking or vaping at all is the best route.
(Score: 1) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday January 03 2015, @09:59AM
I'm not that great a chess player, but I'd play for bets.
I'd have the rule though that before each move, each player must eat a hot pepper.
I like hot peppers, I have only met one person that can eat hotter food than I can.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 3, Insightful) by joekiser on Friday January 02 2015, @09:37PM
Small world. I have a few friends who work at Reynolds IT department in Winston. They always took it as a source of pride that they were still allowed to smoke in their offices, since the rest of the state has banned smoking indoors since 2009 (sidenote about priorities: it was the first bill the Democratic party passed when the state was suffering a deep recession and double-digit unemployment).
The justification was that Reynolds threatened to move out of NC if they were required to comply with the law. Given that most of the global corporations in that area had already pulled out, the state/city folded.
Personally, I think this was done as a recruiting incentive. My generation has seen cigarette use go from 1 in 4 to less than 10%. You get two job offers, and one requires you to be around a cloud of cigarette smoke, which job are you going to take?
Debt is the currency of slaves.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 02 2015, @09:45PM
The justification was that Reynolds threatened to move out of NC if they were required to comply with the law. Given that most of the global corporations in that area had already pulled out, the state/city folded.
Sounds like an empty threat to me. NC is probably the most tobacco friendly state in the union, just how many other states would have given them an exemption?
(Score: 2) by frojack on Friday January 02 2015, @10:02PM
Has the state exemptions for Reynolds expired?
I was wondering whether this change was due to actual altruism or laws finally kicking in.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Saturday January 03 2015, @08:12AM
Around? Does this mean I'm forbidden to contribute to that cloud? If true, the other one, but I'd take a job payng 5% less if they allow me to smoke inside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Saturday January 03 2015, @01:46PM
Is a gas mask deductible? :P
Requirement to communicate verbally? ;)
And of course a written statement that any occurrence of any cancer is to be payed by the company. In the case of bankruptcy the management becomes personally responsible.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Gaaark_1000 on Friday January 02 2015, @10:45PM
Sooooo....... at one time you COULD smoke in the fitness center?
Did someone actually object to this, by gum??? Harumph, harumph, it's my god given right to get healthy lungs while smoking, dad-gummit!
Only in America? Pity!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 03 2015, @11:03AM
I kind of assume those fitness centers have saunas/steam rooms. Nothing strange about smokig in them. Well, at least not as strange as finnish smoke saunas.