Tobacco News

University of Arizona Medical Center has made its own New Year’s Resolution: banning smoking anywhere near the building. Hallelujah! Smoking should be banned at all hospitals. It’s great one so close to home made this rule. If you work in the medical field, wouldn’t you, of all people, be aware of what smoking does to you? Or, if you were visiting someone in the hospital, why would you go outside and kill yourself a little more by having a cigarette? So now we not only say good bye to the “butt-huts” — which were the designated smoking areas at the hospital — but also to smoking in the parking lot, or in a car on the property.
Ream more »

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, the world’s fourth-largest tobacco company, has appointed Kevin Freudenthal as region director–Americas and president and CEO of Commonwealth–Altadis Inc. He will assume his new position on Jan. 30, 2012, succeeding Graham Bolt who has retired from the company.

Freudenthal brings a wealth of experience in the tobacco industry and a successful track record stretching back to 1986. Prior to joining Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, Freudenthal served as vice president for category management for Altria Group and had a long and distinguished sales and marketing career in executive positions at U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. from 1986 to 2008 when the company was acquired.
Ream more »

The Department of Taxation was authorized Tuesday to hire three investigators to ensure small tobacco companies are paying 2 cents per cigarette to the state.

Taxation Director William Chisel told the state Board of Examiners that the employees must make sure that the funds are being received, or the state could lose a portion of the $40 million a year paid by all tobacco companies as part of a nationwide settlement.
Ream more »

Japan Tobacco is to launch redesigned versions of seven of its popular Pianissimo brand of cigarettes in mid-January.
Pianissimo is the top-selling brand in Japan’s 100mm slim menthol category and has proven particularly popular among female smokers for what Japan’s largest tobacco company says is a “smooth, unassertive and refreshing menthol flavour and aroma.”

Smoking rates are declining in Japan, although they remain higher for both men and women than in Europe and North America. Ream more »

Two Democratic state lawmakers have filed proposals to raise Alabama’s cigarette taxes, one by 32.5 cents per pack and one by $1 per pack, in a bid to fill what could be a $400 million shortfall in the state General Fund next fiscal year, reported the Birmingham News.

State representative Patricia Todd filed a bill that would raise the state cigarette tax from 42.5 cents to 75 cents per pack, which would raise roughly an estimated $75 million a year for the General Fund.
Ream more »

Contraband cigarettes worth a staggering RM46mil were seized from 10 containers bound for Egypt in one of the biggest seizures in the country.

The success by the Selangor Customs Department also saw the arrest of a local man, in his 30s, who is said to be in charge of the shipment transaction.

State Customs director Datuk Azis Yacub said the seizure was made in the wee hours of Monday following a tip-off. Ream more »

In the past two years, only four sales were made to minors during 83 tobacco law compliance checks.

That gives Clallam County retailers a success rate of 95 percent during 2010 and 2011 combined, said Jill Dole, prevention specialist with Clallam County Health & Human Services.

“Thanks to Clallam County tobacco retailers for helping to break the chain of tobacco addiction by asking for proper ID and refusing to sell to minors,” Dole said in a statement.
Ream more »

Orland is a few steps closer to passing a ban on smoking in certain outdoor public areas, but the issue will continue into January.

Following lengthy discussions Monday night, the City Council opted to put an alternate anti-smoking ordinance up for review next month that will allow for designated smoking areas in or near city parks.

This came as a concession to smokers outraged at earlier meetings about the prospect of not being able to smoke while visiting public parks.
Ream more »

The Legislative Assembly (AL) unanimously passed the new tobacco tax yesterday but several lawmakers urged the government to introduce stricter rules for duty-free cigarettes, similar to those enforced in Hong Kong.
Others said the MOP 6 tax increase is not enough and that Macau still lags behind other regions, while some lawmakers expressed concerns about the risk of tobacco smuggling.
The tobacco tax will increase by MOP 0.5 for each cigarette, in order to be in line with the ban on smoking in public places that comes into effect from January 1. Tobacco packs will increase by at least MOP 6. Ream more »

AN ALLEGED tax fraudster has appeared in court after more than 600,000 illicit cigarettes were seized from a container in Market Deeping.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers made the discovery after a visit to a storage premises in the town on Monday.

Packets apparently of the Chinese Jin Ling brand containing 607,000 cigarettes were seized during the operation, with the value of duty evaded on the goods claimed to be £120,000.
Ream more »