A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the British Medical Journal Tobacco Control shows that of the top 100 universities as ranked by U.S. News and World Report, 11 allow tobacco sales and 13 allow e cigarette sales on “campus cash” debit cards that are commonly prepaid by parents.

“Parents put money on these debit cards and kids spend the money. What parents don’t realize is that tobacco may be purchased with some of these college debit cards,” says Robert P. Dellavalle, MD, PhD, MSPH, investigator at the CU Cancer Center, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and the study’s senior author.

Many colleges offer prepaid debit cards linked to students’ campus ID cards, that can be used either at on campus vending areas like bookstores and cafeterias, and/or at off campus vendors that act like preferred providers. Providers generally pay a premium to be included in these campus linked networks. The current study examined online lists of on and off campus vendors (with phone and email follow up as needed) to discover universities whose policies allow the sale of tobacco and e cigarettes within the campus debit card network.

In all, 94 of the 100 surveyed universities included an ID linked debit card program, with a total enrollment of 1,452,048 students. Previous research shows that of university students who smoke, 42 percent had used campus debit cards to purchase cigarettes.

“Cracking down on this ‘campus cash’ is a major opportunity for these colleges to take a step toward preventing tobacco use on their campuses,” says Lindsay Boyers, Georgetown University medical student working in the Dellavalle Laboratory, and the paper’s first author.

In addition to the direct health effects of tobacco and e cigarette products, the researchers point out that what is sold on campuses and within the networks of campus approved vendors can reflect what is deemed socially acceptable behavior.

“Universities shouldn’t be taking debit card fees from in network vendors selling tobacco products to their students,” Dellavalle says.

The paper suggests that, “As an organization dedicated to university health, the American College Health Association can take a stand on this issue by banning universities from selling tobacco products on campus and prohibiting debit card purchase of off campus tobacco products.”

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Opening hours of tobacco shops selling cigarettes on las ramblas?

Cigarettes online Blog Archive E smoking 101: electronic cigarette reviews and beginner guide

A The La Rambla is one of the most famous places for tourists in Barcelona to visit. That means that it is one of the places where you will find most shops open. In general, the opening hours for shops in Barcelona may vary a little. They typically open at 09 00 or 10 00 and close at 20 30 or 21 00. Tobacco shops follow the same rules as normal shops.

However for kiosks on Las Ramblas, the opening hours vary more than for shops in other areas of the city. In general, many of the newspaper kiosks that also sell cigarettes at the Ramblas open almost every day of the year. Some even open 24 hours a day every day. Though, this depends on the general situation, as several of the kiosk owners told me. They may change their opening hours during the months when there are fewer tourists visiting the city. The hours mentioned are valid for the kiosks and also for many of the souvenirs shops.

In general, during the peak season the newspaper kiosks actually on La Rambla usually open until late and even on Sundays. Other shops also on La Rambla follow the same rules e.g. you will find pharmacies that open 24 hours a day or a book shop that opens on Sundays during the morning from 08 00 14 00.

If you are looking to buy cigarettes in bulk then it is recommended you buy them from a specialist Tabac shop as opposed to a newspaper kiosk because the prices are likely to be much more competitive.