Tobacco News

A multi-agency fraud investigation resulted in arrests at two Daytona Beach shops on Tuesday, where authorities say clerks allowed customers to buy alcohol and cigarettes with food stamps.

Investigators say the fraud involved the improper use of plastic EBT cards issued as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. The cards are supposed to be used for food and non-alcoholic beverages, but when authorities sent an informant into two Daytona Beach convenience stores, they were able to buy other goods. Ream more »

Both students and adults from the tri-county region support restrictions on tobacco sales to protect children from aggressive marketing efforts.

The Adirondack Tobacco Free Network, a grass-roots coalition focusing on reducing the number of adult and adolescent tobacco users in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties, recently released statistics from a Summer Community Survey that addressed several tobacco issues. Ream more »

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue has put roll-your-own cigarette businesses – including one in Mauston – on notice that they are manufacturers and distributors and must pay appropriate excise taxes.
Paying those taxes, and meeting a requirement that they sell at least half the cigarettes they produce to other vendors, would obliterate the business model of RYO stores operating in Mauston, Reedsburg, Portage, Baraboo and Wisconsin Dells.
RYO stores – the department estimates there are 50 to 100 in Wisconsin – operate on the rationale that they are not selling manufactured cigarettes, but rather are selling components such as tobacco and tubes and then renting time on jukebox-sized machines that put all the pieces together to create “smokes.” Ream more »

Do you feel the more exposure your children have to tobacco the more it might negatively impact them? Or do you feel it’s the parent’s responsibility to teach children about the risks of tobacco and the stores should be treated like any other business?
How do you feel about tobacco stores in Northfield? Do you feel the more exposure your children have to tobacco the more it might negatively impact them? Ream more »

In order to make sure that local retailers that sell tobacco products are not selling to minors and are in compliance with federal laws, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with state regulators in conducting check inspections of those who sell the products.
Many may question the importance in doing this, but according to reports, retailers do play a very important role in the health protection of America’s youth. Ream more »

Another Murfreesboro tobacco store was robbed Tuesday and police say they now have a description of the robbers’ getaway vehicle. The Quick Stop Discount Tobacco and Beer store on South Rutherford Boulevard was robbed around 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Murfreesboro Police major. Murfreesboro Police Major Clyde Adkison told The Daily News Journal that two men entered the store around 3 p.m. and fled the scene with cash moments later. More exact details of the robbery were not available Tuesday afternoon. Ream more »

Location. In the world of business, it can make or break you.
Allen and Carolyn Hampton considered Bristol, Kingsport and Greeneville before finally settling on Erwin for the latest location in their growing chain of discount tobacco stores.

Judging by Tri-City Wholesale Tobacco’s initial success in Erwin, the Hamptons apparently made the right decision.

“We feel like we have already met and gone above our goals in opening up the store here,” Allen said. “We’re two or three months ahead of where we needed to be in terms of success.”
Ream more »