US ban on flavoured cigs takes effect

       The new federal ban on flavoured cigarettes took effect on Tuesday, marking one of the first visible signs of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s new authority to regulate tobacco.
       The ban on manufacturing, importing, marketing and distribution includes candy-, fruit- and cloveflavoured cigarettes, which health and federal authorities say are more appealing to youth. It does not include a ban on menthol or other flavoured tobacco products like cigars - issues that the FDA is studying.
       "Candy- and fruit-flavoured cigarettes are a gateway for many children and young adults to become regular tobacco users," said Dr Lawrence R. Deyton,director of the FDA's Centre for Tobacco Products.
       Citing research studies, Dr Deyton said that 17-year-old smokers are three times as likely to use flavoured cigarettes as smokers over the age of 25.FDA officials also said that almost 90% of adult smokers start smoking as teenagers and the ban will help stop more than 3,600 young Americans who start smoking daily.
       The FDA sent a letter to the industry last week discussing the ban, its plans for enforcement, including the definition of a cigarette under the ban.Officials are encouraging consumers to notify authorities of any potential violations of the ban.
       Executives from leading health groups urged the FDA last month to take a closer look at attempt to sidestep the ban by making superficial changes that turn a cigarette into a small cigar in order to keep selling flavoured products.
       The move came after word that the nation's top distributor of clove cigarettes - California-based Kretek International Inc - began offering small filtered spice-flavoured cigars that are close to the size of a cigarette but are wrapped in tobacco rather than paper.
       In June, President Barack Obama signed the law that allows the FDA to regulate the industry. Its authority includes the ability to ban certain products,reduce nicotine in tobacco products and block labels such as "low tar" and "light". Tobacco companies also will be required to cover their cartons with large, graphic warnings.
       The law won't let the FDA ban nicotine or tobacco outright, but the agency will be able to regulate what goes into tobacco products, make public the ingredients and prohibit marketing campaigns,especially those geared towards children.
       Richmond, Virginia-based Altria Group Inc, owner of market-leading Philip Morris USA, supported the legislation, while its chief rivals - No 2 Reynolds American Inc and No 3 Lorillard Inc, both based in North Carolina - opposed it.

SANTIKA INFERNO PROBE READY FOR PROSECUTOR

       The Metropolitan Police are ready to submit to the public prosecutor details of the Santika Pub's New Year Eve inferno, in which 66 people died and over 200 were injured.
       The prosecution is expected to take action against a number of accused, including the pub's major shareholder Wisuk Setsawat and Burn band's lead singer Saravuth Ariya.
       After the investigating team met for the final time yesterday, Metropolitan Police deputy chief Pol Maj General Likhit Klinouan said investigators' had now completed their findings on the suspects and their alleged offences.
       Among the people initially charged were Wisuk, Suriya Ritrabeu managing director of White and Brothers Co which ran the club, and the singer Saravuth. He said Suriya, who remains on the run, was a nominee of Wisuk.
       Likhit said that fireworks and special effects experts joined the meeting to examine the security camera footage on the night before the tragic incident. "The visual details the investigators had were in line with the camera footage on the day obtained from Justice Ministry's Forensic Science Institute chief Porntip Rojanasunan.
       "The investigators also considered whether Saravuth started the fire as accused, studying evidence backing their claims to ensure justice for the suspects and those who died in the fire," he said.
       Likhit said the case investigation and evidence gathering was nearly 100 per cent complete and police had strong evidence that could be explained transparently so they could take legal action against the accused.

DELICIOUS BEACH DANCE PARTY

       Are you ready to "roy "? In southern Thai language,roy means enjoy, fun and delicious - all of which is to be expected at the first "RoyFest Phuket Music Festival" which will take place on Karon Beach, Phuket, on Sept 25-26 from 6pm.Organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the island province,it aims to be the biggest beach dance party in Southeast Asia.
       Setthaphan Buddhani, TAT Phuket director said:"Phuket's natural beauty draws tourists from far and wide. We now hope that music power will bring in even more visitors to give them a good time and happy memories. All in all, this music festival will boost tourism and the local economy."
       Karon Beach, with its fine white sand is 40 metres wide and 3.5 km long,which, according to Setthaphan, makes for an excellent location for a music festival."It's a charming spot, with the beautiful sea as a backdrop," he said."And we expect thousands of people - tourists and music fans - will join in the fun."
       Vudtinun Bhirombhakdi, Boon Rawd Trading's manager for Music and Event Marketing, noted that Karon Beach, unlike bustling Patong, has never been a venue for a big international event. The RoyFest will, however, put Karon on the map as a music festival destination.
       The line-up includes popular Thai bands Thaitanium,T-Bone,Ta-mone, OhDoobadoo, Silly Fools, Smile Buffalo and South Side Phuket. Famed DJs spinning out the music include Thailand's DJ Seed and DJ Dragon, Japan's DJ Ken Ishii, The UK's Adsorb and Lord Warddd from the US.
       "The festival will get people dancing to reggae, ska, jazz, hip-hop. We didn't want it to offer only one certain type of music, but more of a variety. Silly Fools and Smile Buffalo will also bring Silly Fools.in some rock music to get the party rolling," said Vudtinun.
       Smile Buffalo broke up 10 years ago but they are making a comeback on the same stage with Silly Fools for a not-to-be-missed Silly Buffalo act.
       Promoting the Thai travel Thai campaign, Vudtinun hopes that Thais from across the country will gather at the two-day music festival to dance the night away.
       Admission is free of charge. For more information and special
       Hip-hop band Thaitanium.packages, visit www.royfest.com.

ONE for ALL

       Vodka is a curious drink: colorless, odorless, and almost tasteless. From the basic description, it should be rolling at the bottom of the drinks list. And yet, it's the most popular spirit on the planet-1 out of 4 drinks in the world is vodka or contains vodka. And it's exactly this neutral aspect that makes vodka a favorite amongst bartenders,allowing them to mix up infinite styles of concoctijons to mesmerize the customers.
       As we got a bit mature, and wiser, we started to appreciate the different pleasures in life. And getting to know our drinks is one of them. Out of a sea of vodka-based drinks, a few cut through the clutter and rise to the top of the drinks list. One of which is Ketel One.
       Hailed from the "Capital of Spirits"-Schiedam, Holland-ketel One has a rich history that propelled the name to its current-day recognition. Back in the day, due to its location, climate and water quality, Schiedam was the home of Genever, the granddaddy of Gin. In 1691,Joannes Nolet settled in Schiedam and established the Nolet Distillery, where today became Holland's distilling center. Generation after generation, the Nolet's recipes have been passed down the line. It endured multiple government prohibitions and two world wars. It not only prevailed, but also was refined and rooted firmly in quality. And, in 1979, as Carl Nolet Sr. (10th generation) became the Nolet Distillery's chairman, he revived his ancestors' recipes and techniques and thus, a new spirit was born: Ketel One Vodka.
       Some like it pot
       While most vodka is made from potatoes, rye, or mixed grain,Ketel One uses 100% wheat,which conjures up more flavor and body in the content. When it comes to producing vodka, two methods are at hand here. First, and what most brands use, is column stills (sometimes also called continuous stills). It's an automated, high-volume, stainless steel distiller that pours out large quantities of vodka to a desired strength, and then it'sbottled and ready for happy hour. Ketel One doesn't stop there. it continues on to a second stage-pot stills. This method creates a range of liquid differentiation that gives the vodka a particular character. Post still is a time-consuming and stringent process that also requires more personal involvement-constant monitoring by a master distiller. It is then always purified through a slow filtration system to kick out any unwanted toxins, and further refined to a crisp and sophisticaed profile.
       Usually, the front and back end of every batch is discarded,due to too much or little share of alcohol content and cubstance. Only themiddle protion is bottled, resulting in an ultra-premium vodka that not only has character, but also personality.
       Today, Ketel One attracts and converts more and more fans around the world and especilly in the U.S. Top bartenders, restaurateurs, and connisseurs are brought forward to taste-test Ketel One, allowing it to be risen to high ranks without bias or misconception. Over the last 10 years, Ketel One has achieved record-breaking sales and honored with a multitude of recognitions. Its demand continues to grow everywhere,enticing new palates every day. So, should you next time call out for a cocktail or a shot with friends, throw the bartender a question that'll surely give you a nod of acknowledgment:

       "Have you got Ketel One back there?"

Kirin gets nod to buy Lion Nathan

       Shareholders in Australian beverages giant Lion Nathan voted overwhelmingly in favour of a 3.3-billion-Australian-dollar (Bt97 billion) takeover offer from Japan's Kirin yesterday.
       Kirin,Japan's biggest brewer by revenue, already owns 46.13 per cent of Lion Nathan, and shareholders voted 98.75 per cent in favour of handing over the remaining 53.87 per cent.
       "In doing so, shareholders followed the unanimous recommendation of Lion Nathan's independent directors," Sydney-based Lion said in a statement to the market.
       Final approval for the deal will be sought in the Federal court of Australia on October 7, it added.
       Lion Nathan is Australia's second-largest brewer and owns beer brands such as Tooheys, XXXX, Heineken and Hahn.
       Kirin, which also owns Dairy Farmers and National Foods in Australia, first bought into Lion Nathan in 1998. It received Australian regulatory approval for a complete takeover of the firm in June.
       Kirin remains in merger talks with smaller Japanese rival Suntory Comnined, the companies have annual sales of about 3.8 trillion yen (Bt1.5 trillion), well ahead of the world's top brewer AB InBev.

BREWER MAKING THE MOST OF WATER

       Producing one litre of beer results in anywhere from three to 10 litres of waste water. Every day thousands of cubic metres of waste water are are returned back into the natural environment - be it into our front-door canal or holiday ocean.
       Like other industries that create waste water, Thai Asia Pacific Brewery Co (TAPB) has long adopted water treatment technology to reduce its environmental impact.
       However, the 1,500 cubic metres a day of treated water that flow out of the brewery, while harmless, still has a light yellow colour which the company fears may repulse local people, said Panya Pongtanya, TAPB's general manager.
       "Our system can normally keep the water quality within the required level,but we want to make the water absolutely clear," Mr Panya said."We've taken interest in the Laem Phak Bia Royal Project which takes a nature-by-nature approach to treat waste water to add into our existing water treatment system."
       TAPB last month launched the Water for Life project in partnership with the Laem Phak Bia Environmental Research and Development Project and Kasetsart University's College of Environmental Studies.
       The project aims to increase the efficiency of the brewery's wastewater treatment by using the same system as Laem Phak Bia.
       The Laem Phak Bia project adopted His Majesty's Royal Guidance on getting nature to help nature in treating wastewater in Phetchaburi province in 1990.
       Kasem Chunkao, director of the Laem Phak Bia project and dean of Kasetsart University's College of Environmental Studies, is head of the research team responsible for the project.
       The nature-by-nature approach relies on the co-functioning of plants and micro-organisms in the soil to treat effluent, said Prof Dr Kasem.
       "The key is to use water plants to add oxygen to the water to better assist bacteria in breaking down organic matter in the water," he said."Now we're conducting research whether what kind of plants would be best for the project."
       Environmental experts from the Laem Phak Bia project and Kasetsart have been advising TAPB on the best treatment systems and have recommended either constructing a wetland or using a plant and grass filtration system.
       In a constructed wetland system, pretreated water is continuously channelled into the wetland where it is stored for one day and treated. After one day, the treated wastewater is released into natural water sources.
       In a plant and grass filtration system,pre-treated water is funneled into the treatment plot and kept for five days.After five days, the treated wastewater is released, and the plot is then left to dry for two days before the next batch of wastewater is channelled into the system.
       In recent months a five-rai plot at the TAPB brewery has been used to test the research. The area has been divided into five cultivation plots to grow three common local plants - Typha, Canna and pasture grass.
       "The simple and cost-effective technology would also help us save electricity costs as such a system does not require power," said Mr Panya.
       TAPB's current water treatment system is electricity intensive. About 30%of its water treatment system uses aerobic treatment, adding air to help bacteria break down organic matter.
       "We hope the new system could replace that," said Mr Panya.
       The brewery's neighbouring community can also benefit from the Water for Life project, he said, as every 45 to 90 days the company will hire local people to harvest new plants needed for the treatment system.
       "Community members are able to use the harvested grass as animal feed and the harvested plants for weaving into local handicrafts that can be sold to generate extra income," Mr Panya said.
       Prof Dr Kasem said the technology could be applied to all industries and the project is expected to serve as a learning centre for all interested parties.
       Do you know of an interesting or well-received CSR programme that deserves recognition?Contact pornnalatp@bangkokpost.co.th

IT'S NOT ALL SMOKE

       For years, the cigarette, arguably the most dangerous legal product in America, was also one of the least regulated, subject to less government oversight than dental floss. That has finally changed - but now a group of tobacco companies has challenged in court parts of the law that gives the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products.
       First, the good news. The plaintiffs aren't challenging the FDA's authority to regulate tobacco; that battle appears to be won. The FDA has the power to order the alteration of ingredients or nicotine yields, minimising the health effects of tobacco use. The law explicitly bans most flavoured tobacco products, such as cigarettes with clove or cinnamonn flavouring, which should combat underage smoking. The law does ban not menthol - the most popular flavouring - but the FDA should do so once it gets its regulatory frame-work in place.
       However, tobacco companies cite the First Amendment to challenge a slew of restrictions on the marketing and advertising of their products, Although commercial speech enjoys less protection than other expression, the plaintiffs argue that the new rules aren't narrowly enough tailored to the goal of keeping minors from lighting up. The law, the companies argue, unduly cuts off communication between them and their adult customers.
       For the most past, their argument isn't convincing. The law, to take one provision to which the plaintiffs object, requires an increase in the size and severity of warning labels on cigarette packs. The new labels would replace the tame, outdated and small cautionary notes that have appeared on cigarette packaging for decades, appropriately warning consumers - and, more important, potential consumers - of the risks of using a uniquely harmful product. It's reasonable to insist that the warnings be made more prominent.
       But one aspect of the law sems more problematic, especially given that courts have expanded protections for commercial speech in the past decade or so. The law bars tobacco companies from claiming that one product is less harmful than another unless the FDA determines it's true. So far, so good: Just as the FDA regulates what can be said about the safety and efficacy of prescription drugs, it should have the authority to assess the scientific basis for claims about tobacco products.
       But the law then goes one step further, specifying that the FDA can't sign off on such claims unless doing so would benefit the health of the population as a whole. Even true speeech, in other words, might be banned.
       The government, which has yet to submit its defence to the lawsuit, will have to make clear why such a stiff restriction on commercial speech is justified and necessaary to achieve its goals.