Government is really doing big tobacco companies a favour

The Government, despite spouting an 'anti-tobacco' message, is really in cahoots with the big cigarette companies. And the new ban on all forms of tobacco advertising just goes to prove it.

The latest form of prohibition came into effect last week. It means that not only must cigarettes and other tobacco products be hidden from the view of customers in shops, but all logos, advertising material, and other paraphanelia must disappear too.

That's the reason why there are sheets and reams of blank paper sellotaped up behind the counter of your own local store. They're hiding the big picture of the box of fags on the machine there, for allowing it to remain visible would leave the shop owners to being pursued by the full force of the law with a vigour far in excess of that used for crooked bankers and ageing child abusers.

Supposedly, the idea is that an 'out of sight, out of mind' situation will come to apply, and people won't think of buying fags if they can't see them behind the counter. But that's a load of nonsense, as anyone – including yours truly – who has ever been a smoker will tell you. If you're gasping for a smoke, it doesn't matter whether or not you can see the display in the shop; you know they're there anyway, and you just order them as normal.

Even if you're a teenager who's just staring to hang out behind the bike shed or on street corners or waste ground to smoke, you'll still find a way to get fags anyway – again, the fact that you can't actually see the stock on the shelves will be inconsequential.

The only thing is, since you can't see the full range on offer, you'll stick with the established brands only - so it'll be quids in for the Silk Cuts and Marlboros and John Player Blues and Benson and Hedges of this world. Any new player entering the market, like Winfield did a couple of years ago with their discount brand (about a euro cheaper than other fags), won't have a hope anymore, because they can no longer advertise the fact that they're there.

So the big companies hoover up an even greater proportion of the sales, and they get to keep more of that money too, because they no longer have to spend some of it on advertising materials.

The ban is one of the best things that could happen for them; far from hurting them, it will just see their profits increase, since a certain number of people will always smoke no matter how often they're told that they shouldn't.

It's like banning the ten-box a year or two ago. Nobody gave up on account of no longer being able to buy just ten at a time; instead, they smoked even more, because they usually had more to smoke after buying twenty.

Maybe whoever dreams up these schemes has shares in some of the tobacco companies!

Campaigners target in-store tobacco goods

PEOPLE opposed to smoking are being urged to write to local retailers to persuade them to remove promotional displays of tobacco.
Anti-smoking lobby group ASH Scotland said that by supporting the measures local shoppers could more easily persuade shops to back proposed legislation.

Chief executive Sheila Duffy said the radical approach would counter the "inevitable" challenges from the tobacco industry, which wants to push its products as much as possible.

The Pride of Place? campaign was officially launched yesterday.

Ms Duffy said: "The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services Bill aims to prevent children from smoking by stopping the visibility and availability of cigarettes to young people, including removing cigarette displays at the point of sale.

"Inevitably, the tobacco industry will continue to challenge the measures outlined in the bill and do all they can to delay, dilute and damage the legislation.

"We want to take our message direct to shopkeepers and counter the misinformation from the tobacco industry."

Man shot over cigarettes

A Gainesville man has been arrested on a charge of attempted murder after police allege he shot a 78-year-old Alachua man who refused to give up his cigarettes.

James E. Davis, 56, of 3926 N.W. Sixth St., was arrested by the Alachua Police Department after an incident at the intersection of Northwest 154th Avenue and Northwest 134th Terrace at 11:02 a.m. Saturday. The victim, Dave Washington, was taken to Shands at the University of Florida for treatment of a gunshot wound to his left forearm, a wound police described as non-life threatening.

During an interview at the hospital, Washington told police Davis walked up to him and demanded that Washington hand over his cigarettes. Washington said when he refused to hand them over, David snatched them from Washington's shirt pocket.

Washington said that after he took his cigarettes back, Davis walked over to a green Ford Explorer and picked up a silver automatic pistol. According to Washington, Davis walked back over to where he was standing, fired once and then drove away in the Explorer. Washington told police he "grabbed his arm to stop the bleeding and walked to a nearby house for safety."

Davis told police he and Washington were among a group of men standing around drinking and talking. Davis claimed he he pulled out his .32-caliber handgun and fired a single shot into the air, then got into his vehicle and left the area.

Davis was pulled over and arrested a short distance from the site of the shooting. He was being held Monday at the Alachua County jail.

AGRICULTURAL POLICIES RELATED TO TOBACCO

Until 1994, a support price scheme similar to that for other crops operated for tobacco. Prices were differentiated according to grade (Grade A, Grade B, and “Kapa”, the lowest grade) and region. Lower support prices were sometimes offered in advance of the harvest, if requested by the farmers.
The General Directorate of Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Salt and Alcohol Enterprises (TEKEL) was legally obliged to buy all tobacco not sold to private buyers and to stockpile what it could not sell. This stockpile grew and by November 1993 had reached approximately 500 000 tonnes of mainly lowgrade domestic tobacco. A new support system for tobacco was in place from the 1994 crop year, linking deficiency payments to reductions in the area planted to tobacco. Producers have received “compensation payments” to mitigate their losses. TEKEL’s “support” purchases declined substantially, from 231 000 tonnes in 1993 to 44 000 tonnes in 1995, marking the application of production quotas. With the subsequent removal of the quota, production and “support” purchases started to increase, reaching 137 000 tonnes in 1999. Since 1983, the area planted to tobacco has been regulated.
From crop year 1994, new quantitative measures linked to compensatory payments were introduced to control output, targeting areas where profitable alternatives to tobacco existed. The national production quota is fixed by the Interministerial Tobacco Board.
Some of the inputs, namely fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation water, as well as introduction of new technologies, are subsidized by the state in order to promote their use in pursuit of enhanced yields. Out of an annual requirement of 50 000 tonnes/year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and TEKEL produce and provide 10 000 tonnes, the rest being met by farmers themselves from their own production. There is no subsidy per se on seed and seedlings, and the fertilizer subsidy has been progressively reduced in real terms.

Corrective Statements

As part of the remedial order, the district court ordered Defendants to disseminate “corrective statements” concerning 69 the topics about which they had previously misled consumers. The court will determine the precise content of the statements at a future date after receiving proposals from the parties, but ordered that they must address five topics:
(1) the adverse health effects of smoking;
(2) the addictiveness of smoking and nicotine;
(3) the lack of any significant health benefit from smoking light cigarettes;
(4) the manufacturers’ manipulation of cigarette design and composition to ensure optimum nicotine delivery;
and (5) the adverse health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke.

The remedial order sets out schedules for the manufacturer Defendants to follow in disseminating the corrective statements in cigarette package onserts, retail point-of-sale displays, newspapers, television, and their company websites.
Defendants object to the corrective statements as a whole on the grounds that they did not receive adequate notice of and opportunity to respond to the government’s proposed remedy and that the remedy extends beyond the court’s jurisdiction under RICO. Regarding the specific means of disseminating the statements, Defendants argue that cigarette package onserts violate the Labeling Act, that the point-of-sale displays are duplicative and impose severe burdens on retailers, and that requiring Defendants to make corrective statements in various media apart from existing advertising violates the First Amendment.

Philip Morris activity

The RICO statute requires “a pattern of racketeering activity” on the part of each defendant. “At least two acts of racketeering activity” are necessary to form a pattern. The district court found the requisite pattern committed by each Defendant, Philip Morris, and this finding is not erroneous.
A brief sampling of the 108 enumerated racketeering acts makes the point: Philip Morris, Reynolds, Brown & Williamson, Lorillard, American, and TI committed racketeering acts 24, 132, and 133 by mailing press releases containing false statements about the addictiveness and health consequences of smoking.
Philip Morris, Reynolds, Brown 29 & Williamson, Lorillard, American, Liggett, and CTR committed racketeering acts 66, 73, and 88 by mailing letters regarding funding of CTR’s “special projects” to create data supporting their fraudulent claims.
BATCo and Brown & Williamson committed racketeering acts through their mailings to each other concerning the enterprise’s position on the health effects and addictiveness of smoking as well as smoker compensation and nicotine. Altria committed racketeering in its efforts to coordinate Defendants’ public positions and fund CTR research projects to support their fraudulent claims.
As these examples demonstrate, the district court found each Defendant engaged in a “pattern of racketeering activity,” and that finding is not erroneous. See infra Parts III, IV. The 108 enumerated acts give us ample basis to review the district court’s finding. Although the district court may have concluded other racketeering acts were proven as well, we need look no further. Defendants correctly argue we must ensure the remedy imposed is tailored to “the violation found,” United States v. Microsoft, the voluminous findings detailing the contours of the scheme to defraud are more than sufficient to allow this review.
Given that a mailing or wire transmission need not itself be fraudulent, the remedy needs to be tailored to the scheme to defraud, not the specific use of the mail or wires. For similar reasons, we need not resolve Defendants’ challenges to the racketeering acts involving denials of marketing to youth. As the district court imposed no remedies specifically relating to youth marketing, our assessment whether the remedies are tailored to the violation found is unaffected by the associated racketeering acts. The remaining racketeering 30 acts are fully sufficient to support the district court’s finding of a pattern of racketeering activity as to each Defendant. Because these challenges have no impact on the outcome of this appeal, we decline to address them. The district court set forth findings sufficient to allow our review of its verdict of liability and imposition of sanction.

LM enjoyed

Comprehensive pack warnings

Warning people about the harms of tobacco use is essential and can be achieved in many ways. This initial report on the global tobacco epidemic reviews countries’ requirements for size and characteristics of health warnings on tobacco packs, which disseminate health information at no cost to government except for enforcement.
Government action to prevent deceptive and misleading terms (such as “light” and “low-tar”) was also reviewed. Future reports will assess a wider range of public education measures, including public education campaigns.
Pack warnings should cover at least half of packaging display areas and feature rotating, pictorial warnings. Widespread use of effective warning labels would provide important knowledge about tobacco’s health threat and counter false information spread by the tobacco industry.

Menthol additive makes smokers get a more pleasant and tasty sensation

According to numerous studies, menthol additive makes smokers get a more pleasant and tasty sensation during smoking and after it, but as well stores cigarette smoke with hundreds of hazardous toxins in the lungs for a longer period of time, which makes smoking even more unhealthy.

The Jerusalem attorney would appeal to the Central District Supreme Court to consider the lawsuit as a collective action lawsuit filled against Dubek Co, which is by the way the nations leading cigarette producer, and require the company to pay NIS 3 billion (approximately $1 billion) for health damages compensation. The Court representatives declared that it would take up to six months for the consideration of the case papers presented by Hausner.

Several studies implemented by cigarette manufacturers a couple of years ago in order to find the additives that enhance addiction to cigarettes demonstrated that menthol was one of the most addictive substances. Therefore, they started marketing and promoting the cigarettes with menthol.

Funny smoking pictures

1963 Marlboro Country Man

1963 Marlboro Cigarette World Globe Smoking Ad - A satisfied customer The entire world enjoys a Marlboro. For everyone knows the special quality of this fine American cigarette. Marlboro’s full-flavored blend comes from the kind that grows most of the world’s best tobaccos. People everywhere have made it the best-selling cigarette in the famous Flip-Top box. For richer taste and a fine Selectrate fiber try Marlboro. You get a lot to like, a lot to satisfy you.

1963 Marlboro Cig First in Flavor Flag Ad - Marlboro First in flavor under every flag 1963 Marlboro Cig First in Flavor Flag Ad
Marlboro First in flavor under every flag

1963 Marlboro Country Man Riding Horse Ad - Marlboro Country. There’s not another place like it. You get a bigger helping of flavor here. The tobacco in Marlboro’s famous Richmond Recipe tastes richer… smoother, too, through the exclusive Selectrate Filter. You get a lot to like: a man’s world of flavor in a filter cigarette.

1963 Marlboro Cigarette World Globe Smoking Adb
A satisfied customer The entire world enjoys a Marlboro. For everyone knows the special quality of this fine American cigarette. Marlboro’s full-flavored blend comes from the kind that grows most of the world’s best tobaccos. People everywhere have made it the best-selling cigarette in the famous Flip-Top box. For richer taste and a fine Selectrate fiber try Marlboro. You get a lot to like, a lot to satisfy you.

1963 Marlboro Country Man Riding Horse Ad
Marlboro Country. There’s not another place like it. You get a bigger helping of flavor here. The tobacco in Marlboro’s famous Richmond Recipe tastes richer… smoother, too, through the exclusive Selectrate Filter. You get a lot to like: a man’s world of flavor in a filter cigarette.

It takes time for a smoker to change his taste habits

Often smokers who say they do not like the taste of certain brands really mean that they are not accustomed to it. Few advertisers of cigarettes realize that it takes time for a smoker to change his taste habits. No matter how pleasant the taste qualities of a brand may seem to be, at first the unaccustomed taste will be disliked.
One of our respondents made the following interesting comment on this point: "I went to Bulgaria once and was forced to smoke Bulgarian cigarettes. I tried one brand after another till I had gone through five brands. Finally, the sixth brand seemed to be perfect. I discovered much later that any of the other brands might have become my preferred brand if only I had tried it in the sixth place. It just took me that long to learn to appreciate Bulgarian tobacco." How Many a Day? Despite all the millions spent on comparing the potentially harmful effects of different brands of cigarettes, our respondents seemed very little concerned about this matter. But all of them, even those who do not smoke excessively, worry about the quantities they smoke. Scientific and medical studies on the physiological effects of smoking provide a confused picture: Some conclude that smoking is harmful; others deny it. This same confusion prevails among smokers themselves. Nevertheless, all of them worry about smoking too many cigarettes, as shown by the fact that nearly everyone has tried, at one time or another, to "cut down on" smoking. "I'll tell you something I do," one smoker confided. "I give up smoking cigarettes every year for one month, and I say to myself that I'll prove to myself I can still do without them." Periodic abstemiousness of this kind indicates an underlying feeling of guilt. Such individuals really think that constant smoking is not only harmful, but also a bit immoral. Efforts to reduce the amount of smoking signify a willingness to sacrifice pleasure in order to assuage their feeling of guilt. The mind has a powerful influence on the body, and may produce symptoms of physical illness. Guilt feelings may cause harmful physical effects not at all caused by the cigarettes used, which may be extremely mild. Such guilt feelings alone may be the real cause of the injurious consequences.
The First Cigarette Much of this guilt feeling can be treated directly to one's first cigarette, which the older generation remember as a forbidden and sinful thing. Their fathers considered the habit an educational problem, whereas many parents nowadays have adopted a "modern" attitude toward smoking. Here is what one such father said: "I told my son I thought he was a little young... He is seventeen. It might not do him any harm to wait another year or two. Then I remembered my own first cigarette and what awful stuff I had to smoke in secret. In a way, my son is lucky to be able to start with a good cigarette without running the danger of ruining his health. I gave him a pack of the brand I smoke." Most of us remember vividly the first cigarette we smoked. "I certainly remember my first cigarette," said one of our respondents. "We were a bunch of boys on our way to a football game. I had trouble lighting my cigarette, and at that moment a man passed by and yelled at me: 'Throw that cigarette away, you rascal!' I was so shocked and frightened that
I obeyed his command without hesitation. But only a few minutes later, I lighted another one just to demonstrate to myself that I was not afraid. "No, Thanks, I'll Smoke My Own" This is the reply of most smokers when they are offered a brand different from their own. Brand loyalty among smokers is strong and persistent.

Cigarette tax negotiators fail to negotiate

House-Senate negotiators didn’t give in and agree Tuesday to resolve the Legislature’s three-month stalemate on how to raise the state cigarette tax and preserve the car tag discount.

But they’re not giving up a potential compromise to generate more than $100 million in much-needed revenue.

“I do think we will all agree to a bill everyone can agree on,” said Senate Finance Chairman Dean Kirby, R-Pearl, who met with his House counterpart for another of the public bargaining sessions they’ve had off and on in recent weeks.

“Everybody knows we’re going to increase the cigarette tax and we’re going to take care of the tag problem,” said House Ways and Means Chairman Percy Watson, D-Hattiesburg. “We’re going to take care of it this year — unless the Senate is insistent on 64 cents.”

That was the case Tuesday as Kirby declined again to agree on raising the state’s current 18-cent-a-pack cigarette tax above 64 cents. Watson and other House leaders are equally insistent on the new tax being 75 cents.

Anti-tax members

In turning down that amount, Kirby said there are enough staunch anti-tax members in the Senate to deny it the 60 percent majority required to pass tax bills.

“We’ve got some people who are not going to vote for any tax increase,” he said.

With Watson having earlier agreed to reduce by 25 cents the $1 tax the House originally voted for in January, he questioned why Kirby won’t equally reciprocate: increase by 25 cents the 49-cent tax the Senate originally passed.

That 75-cent median would generate a state Tax Commission-estimated $140 million a year in extra revenue — enough to replenish the state’s withering car tag reduction fund and boost spending for the deficit-plagued Medicaid program.

‘Not rocket science’

“This is not rocket science. (The public) is wondering why we can’t reach across the table and reach an agreement,” Watson told Kirby.

“People would rather see cigarette taxes go up than car tags.”

“It’s not that simple,” said Kirby, who noted he doesn’t want the cigarette levy to be so high — especially since the federal tax just rose to $1.01.

Full Flavored Cigarettes

In late 2006 both the Full Flavored and Light filtered varieties of Lucky Strike Cigarettes were discontinued in North America. However, Lucky Strike Cigarettes will continue to have marketing and distribution support in territories controlled by British American Tobacco as a global drive brand. In addition, R.J. Reynolds continues to market the original, non-filter Lucky Strikes Cigarettes in the United States.

In 2003 Habanos S.A. released the Combinacciones Selección Robustos 5s case. This case contains five robustos of the most well known Habanos brands in

In 2003 Habanos S.A. released the Combinacciones Selección Robustos 5s case. This case contains five robustos of the most well known Habanos brands including Montecristo, Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey and Partagas.Montecristo RobustosThe Romeo y Julieta and Montecristo robustos are only available in the Selección Robusto case and are not included as a standard offering. The Selección Robusto case is totally handmade with specially selected leaves from the region of Vuelta Abajo. The robusto vitola (124mm x 50 ring gauge) has been one of the most popular sizes released from Habanos and for the review we’ll look a little closer at the Montecristo Robustos.
Montecristo is by far the most popular Havana brand. With their characteristic Colorado Claro, slightly oily wrappers and delicate aroma this wide range of cigars offers a medium to full flavour spiked with a unique, tangy taste. Whilst the No 2 Torpedo size has many devotees the No 4 Petit Corona is still the largest selling havana cigar by size worldwide.In 2004 the launch of Robusto size "Edmundo" marks the first new cigar in the Montecristo range for 33 years. Rolled in the new H.Upmann factory in Havana the cigar is milder than expected with an excellent draw and very attractive price. Certain to establish itself as a favourite among those who enjoy this brand. See our News section for details of the launch of this new Cigar.

Karelia box

Karelia - the hard, flip top boxes are white in color with a floral stripe down the side of the box. The hard box is particularly favored by women because they easily fit inside a purse without the worry of them being crushed or broken. The Karelia name and “Slim” logo, as well as the flavor assortment are splashed across the front in gold lettering. These elements work together to make the packaging as inviting for a woman as buying a new pair of shoes. They are pretty and female to look at while silently conveying a sense of secret feminine power.

Sobranie - a woman oriented smoking brand

Sobranie cigarettes are a woman-oriented smoking brand. It has an exclusive taste and premium quality tobacco. It is a real women's thing.
Ladies love this cigarette mainly because they believe it can increase their sexual appeal, making them more popular to the men they wish to attract. Some men smokers find it amazing themselves, as it can add romanticism in their modern spirit of life and also adds a bit of mystery to their being, making them ever more attractive in the eyes of a woman.
Now, the producers have elaborated a large variety of Sobranie cigarettes that are different in color and, of course, in taste. Every lady can choose her favorite Sobranie cigarette and the color of cig’ pack to complete her style. This is an exclusive tobacco product that combines pleasure and beauty.

It’s important that Gallaher’s cigarettes contain additional ingredients that make the taste special, as Sobranie cigarettes are. The flavor composition of Gallaher tobacco products is a company “secret”. So, if you are looking for cigarettes that are produced especially for ladies, are slim, have the best tobacco and exclusive taste, Sobranie cigarettes are what you are looking for.
These slimmest cigarettes can be bought at the lowest price in the following variety: Sobranie Slims Pinks, Sobranie Slims Mints, Sobranie Slims Blues and Sobranie Slims Whites - every lady can choose her own taste and color.

Cigarettes GaMMaK

Parliament Funkadelic

They are referred to by teenagers in America as "Parlies" or "Parlie Lights," which refer as one might expect to the light variety. Other popular nicknames for the full flavor and lights, respectively, include "P-Funks" and "P-Lights." The former takes its name from the popular funk group P-Funk, or Parliament Funkadelic, most famous for its headliner, George Clinton. Though Parliaments represent a small share of Philip Morris's cigarette sales, they are rather popular among smokers in their 20s in the United States and Russia. Parliament cigarette brand can be even considered a kind of a phenomenon of the Russian market. The sales of Parliaments in Russia constitute almost 15%, while on American market the sale of Parliament has fallen to 3.5% from the entire Philip Morris range of products. Therefore, Parliament can be now considered the leader among premium-segment brands on the Russian market. In the mid-1970s, Parliament Cigarettes were the first to be sold outside of the US. However, Parliament Cigarettes occupied strong positions only in Japan, Argentina, Israel, Turkey, and recently in Russia. On the rest of European markets, Parliament Cigarettes are not very well-known. Nevertheless, Philip Morris decided to launch a small but focused campaign, assuming that a huge ad campaign could negatively affect the image of a premium cigarette brand.

Camel cigarette - new generation

International companyJapan Tobacco International announced the launch of Camel cigarette brand new generation. The launch of a new Camel happen in Europe as early as this month, to be followed and implemented in other markets, including Russia. This is stated in the message the company received in the PRIME-TASS.
The new range includes the Camel Filters, as well as Camel Mild, Camel Lights and Camel Super Lights.
It is at this time scheduled marketing activity to support the brand. In Russia, Camel / Camel Mild and Camel Lights. The representative of the company declined to indicate when the manufacture of a new generation of Camel will begin in Russia.
When launched, the brand will be using a new marketing concept that includes improved packaging, extended range of products, a new image and, if possible, a new advertising campaign.

Worldwide Marlboro Classics

Market participants are convinced that cigarettes are associated with the Marlboro Cigarettes brand Marlboro Classics clothing. If you hold a focus group, the majority of those polled see an billboards advertising Marlboro cigarettes. Worldwide Marlboro Classics has the image of expensive clothes for wealthy people, that is focused on the terms of consumer Marlboro Cigarettes. A similar incident - with the Davidoff cigarette brand, coupled with similar brands in coffee, alcoholic and cosmetic segments.

Market participants believe that the PM decided to use replacement advertising because of tobacco advertising restrictions forthcoming. The new law "On Advertising" and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control the World Health Organization could seriously reduce opportunities for promotion tabachnikov brands.

Besides, Marlboro Cigarettes brand is losing market share: "Therefore, they do not have time to wait restrictions." Dole brand in the segment more than $ 1 per pack of cigarettes in 2004 decreased from 18.1% to 16.6%.

Advertising agency said that advertising Marlboro Classics is not contrary to law. Since outdoor advertising of tobacco products has not yet been banned, no violations of law could not be here. Only the appearance of advertising on television Marlboro Classics, which banned tobacco promotion, will be able to draw the attention of the antitrust authorities. The campaign was well planned, because sanctions Federal Antimonopoly Service is much stronger against the operators of outdoor advertising: if improper material for placement officials fined only television, the "naruzhnikov" usually dismantle Shield.

New packaging design for Vogue cigarettes

To placate smokers, in the past year, the central office of the company in London has developed a new packaging design. Name of cigarettes moved up from the middle of the stack, and at the same time and appeared to foil inside the package. Internal Frame tutu gained trendy V-shaped notches. Owners Mark handwriting changed, "replacing" strict classics "to write on" frivolous elegance. " Enter touched the entire line of Vogue Cigarettes - Filter, Menthol, Ultra Lights. In doing so, the changes have not affected the product itself.

In August last year, the company began selling cigarettes updated. First, it faced a difficult task to invite friends Customers cigarettes, not otpugnuv them with a new packaging design. After that the new design was to attract a young audience more smoking. The company already has experience in restarting bonus Kent cigarettes. Then BAT acted revolutionary - seized from the sale of all the old packets and in a limited number of outlets selling cigarettes at the start of the new package. But at the time of restarting Kent, in the post-1999, the company had opportunities to go to such costs. Expensive cigarette smokers were then slightly, and the absence of major competitors allowed to save on advertising.

In the case of Vogue Cigarettes BAT decided to act cautiously - in the market with a large range of proposals any sudden movement could cause a negative reaction from consumers. BAT went to the trick. The first updated tutu ladies' cigarettes sold in colorful plastic packaging with the old design. Only by lifting it could see the novelty. In addition, most specifically for not smoking sharp postcard attached to tutus, soobschavshaya on changes in the look of Vogue Cigarettes.

A month after the opening of sales began advertising support "as a feather light" cigarettes. "Restarting maintained in 30 cities in Russia with the help of outdoor advertising, which was accompanied in the field of advertising sales". The company also has been used and tested channels moving - events in restaurants and cafes, PR campaigns.

Marlboro lights

Cigarette Tax by Indian retailers

Seneca Indian President Barry Snyder says he’s encouraged by a letter from New York Gov. David Paterson expressing a willingness to talk about the issue of cigarette taxes.

The governor’s December signature on a law that would tax online cigarettes sold by Indian retailers to non-Indian customers angered the western New York tribe. Snyder responded earlier this month by saying the Senecas would find a way to collect tolls on cars that use the New York State Thruway where it runs through Seneca territory.

The Senecas protested the not-yet-enforced tax plans on their Cattaraugus reservation on Sunday. At that time, Snyder relayed the message from Paterson indicating he wants to negotiate with the tribe while legal questions are pending.

Paves way for nicotine-free cigarettes

Professor Kazufumi Yazaki, a plant molecular biologist at Kyoto University's Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, has spent three year identifying the Nt-JAT1 gene as the transporter for nicotine.
He said creating cigarettes that still tastes of tobacco but does no damage to human health is his next aim.
"We will proceed now with experiments to raise tobacco plants that have no nicotine in their leaves, although there may still be some problems to overcome," he told The Daily Telegraph.
"For example, we may find that blocking the transfer leads to accumulation of the nicotine in the root cells and that could prove toxic to the plant itself," said Professor Yazaki - himself a non-smoker.
Japan has a relatively high rate of smoking cigarettes, with a study by Japan Tobacco in May 2008 showing that 39.5 per cent of men and 12.9 per cent of women smoke. According to government statistics, more than 63,000 people die of lung cancer each year in Japan, the leading cause of cancer deaths.
Professor Yazaki says his breakthrough will be of particular assistance for people who are trying to quit.
"It has been pointed out that people smoke for the nicotine, but there are a lot of people who want to quit and have tried to stop, but say they miss the sensation of having a cigarette in their mouth," he said. "There are people who will smoke regardless of whether the cigarette contains nicotine or not."
Perhaps the biggest hurdle that Professor Yazaki needs to overcome is funding to continue his research, he said, as his grant runs out at the end of the fiscal year, in March.
"This is very important to human health, so perhaps I should start talking to Japan Tobacco," he said. "Maybe they will finance my studies."

Menthol cigarettes

Menthol has been used to make some US cigarette brands more appealing to the young, say researchers.

A Harvard University team said menthol masks the harshness of cigarette smoke, meaning new smokers get more nicotine.

They said industry documents showed US firms tested menthol levels for their appeal to different ages.

A leading tobacco company denied such product targeting, while anti-smoking groups said the strategy had not yet been tried in the UK.

The study, in the American Journal of Public Health, analysed a 2006 survey of US smokers, and found that significantly more adolescent and young adult smokers preferred menthol brands.

Between the age of 12 and 17, 43.8% of smokers said they used menthol cigarettes, as did 35.6% of 18 to 24-year-olds.

Cigarettes with higher levels of menthol have been available for many years, but these tend to appeal to older, established smokers.

In the past decade, brands with lower menthol content have been released, and gained a significant following among younger adults.

'Minimised reach'

A spokesman for the Tobacco Manufacturers Association, which represents the interests of British tobacco companies, said that it could not comment directly on the findings, as they referred to US brands.

She added: "The UK has had for many years a voluntary system for the regulation of ingredients, as a result of extensive co-operation between the companies, the government and government-appointed committees.

"Under the terms of the voluntary agreement, UK tobacco companies have regularly held discussions with the Department of Health about modifications to the list of approved additives and continue to engage in these discussions."

A spokesman for Philip Morris USA, which manufactures Marlboro, one of the biggest brands mentioned in the study, said it did not accept its findings.

He said: "We disagree with the authors' conclusion that menthol levels in our products were manipulated to gain market share among adolescents - and are unable to find evidence supporting that conclusion within the study.

"The company's various brands, including our menthol brands, are designed to meet the diverse taste preferences of adults who smoke.

"We believe kids should not use tobacco and our marketing methods are designed to minimise reach to unintended audiences - such as kids."

Tobacco industry 'manipulating menthol cigarettes

Washington - A new study has found that manufacturers are deliberately manipulating menthol content in cigarettes to attract young people.

Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health found that the tobacco industry is intentionally adjusting menthol to create a milder experience for the first time smoker.

Menthol covers the harshness and irritation of cigarettes, allowing delivery of an effective dose of nicotine, the addictive chemical in cigarettes.

"For decades, the tobacco industry has carefully manipulated menthol content not only to lure youth but also to lock in lifelong adult customers," said Howard Koh, Professor and Associate Dean for Public Health Practice at HSPH and a co-author of the paper.

A team of researchers led Jennifer M. Kreslake, a research analysis from the Tobacco Control Research Program at HSPH analysed the internal tobacco industry documents on menthol product development, and conducted laboratory tests to measure menthol content in U.S. brands, examined market research reports

She also drew data from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual nationally representative survey among U.S. residents aged 12 years and older

The industry documents revealed that tobacco companies researched how controlling menthol levels could increase brand sales among specific groups.

The companies determined that products with higher menthol levels and stronger perceived menthol sensation suited long-term smokers of menthol cigarettes while milder brands with lower menthol levels appealed to younger smokers.

According to a 2006 study, 43.8 percent of current smokers aged 12 to 17 years reported that they used menthol cigarettes as did 35.6 percent of current smokers aged 18 to 24 years.

By contrast, 30.6 percent of smokers older than 35 years reported menthol use.

The authors suggest, "to protect the public health, tobacco products should be federally regulated, and additives such as menthol should be included in that regulation."

"This is another example of the cynical behavior of the tobacco industry to hook teens and African Americans to a deadly addiction. This is after the industry told the American public it had changed its marketing practices. The FDA bill provides the vehicle to end the hypocrisy and save the lives of the young and a targeted minority group," said Gregory N. Connolly, Professor of the Practice of Public Health and director of the Tobacco Control Research Program at HSPH.

The study appears in the online "First Look" section of the American Journal of Public Health.

Tobacco smoking in Holland

The ban on indoor tobacco smoking in Holland affects the country’s coffee shops where patrons have been smoking marijuana with relative freedom since the mid 1970s. Following the ban, patrons of these bars cannot smoke marijuana mixed with tobacco; they can only smoke pure unadulterated marijuana.

The nation’s 720 coffee shops sell drinks, food, rolling paper and - more important to their patrons - pre-rolled marijuana joints at about 3.50 Euros each as well as hashish for as much as 18 Euros a gram. The law permits stocks of up to 500 grams on the premises, while individuals found with less than 5 grams are not prosecuted.

The Dutch have to tolerate some cynicism and possible bemusement from people around the world who are scratching their heads to figure out what seems to be one ingredient missing elsewhere that flourishes in Dutch society. In most countries the possession of a grain of marijuana will send someone to jail. The Dutch policy on marijuana is twofold.

First, drug use, including the use of marijuana is a health matter, not a justification for convicting a fellow citizen. You don’t send an alcoholic to jail; at the very least, you introduce him to Alcoholics Anonymous or help him to overcome the addiction in some other manner.

The second aspect of this policy distinguishes soft drugs and hard drugs. Marijuana is categorised as a soft drug and little law enforcement energy is directed against it.

In addition, most Dutch policymakers seem to be convinced that the problem of drug use has proved unsolvable, and therefore the best approach is to attempt to control it rather than throw resources into measures that have produced mixed results.

In other words, if you can’t beat them, tolerate them. The interesting fact is the policies seem to be working. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Holland ranks in the middle, lower than the United States, France, and England.

This partly explains the existence of the coffee shops in the Netherlands, where although, technically, cannabis is an illegal substance the authorities choose what is called a pragmatic drug policy that concentrates on control of hard drugs such as heroin.

But whatever the motives driving Dutch policy on drug use, it still seems odd that someone in Holland can get into more trouble smoking tobacco than marijuana.

In defending the decision to ban smoking in public places Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said, “It would have been wrong to move towards a smoke-free catering industry and then make an exception for coffee shops. People would not have understood that."

The Dutch would not have understood that, but the rest of the world is desperately trying to make sense of a country that is a signatory to the 1988 United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances which requires states to criminalize drug possession, and yet in 2001 allowed the sale of cannabis worth $US1.86 billion.

Legal experts say there are enough loopholes in various conventions against illegal drugs to allow countries such as Holland some creativity in how it deals with drug possession. The conventions state that possession of drugs should be an offence under domestic criminal law. However, the conventions do not say that the law has to be enforced.

It would appear that prevailing Dutch policies, set by past and the current dministration,were geared at catering to the various needs of its citizens: in one instance allowing use of soft drugs to those who are addicted, and in another protecting the health of those who may be affected by passive tobacco smoke by imposing the smoking ban although the ban was also complying to EU regulations.

But there is fear that the current government is trying to reverse the existing relaxed attitude on drugs; when coffee shops close the government has not renewed licences.

On the other hand, the country is the second largest spender on anti-drug related programmes, after Sweden, in the European Union apportioning 75 percent of funds to law enforcement including police,army, and customs and finance guards.

If our parliament should pass legislation banning beer drinking effective today and yet continue to licence Tanzanians to operate bars, it would create considerable confusion among many except perhaps to the drinkers, the brewers, and the bar owners. I suspect similar sentiments are felt in Holland.

OFT's hefty fines for tobacco price fixing

Cigarette maker Gallaher and retailers including Asda and Somerfield have been fined over £173m following a price-fixing investigation by the Office of Fair Trading.

A large proportion - £93m - will be paid by Gallaher, whose brands include Benson & Hedge and Silk Cut.

The fines follow a five-year investigation into price setting and the passing of sensitive information in the UK tobacco industry between 2000 and 2003.

The OFT said the size of the fines would be reduced to £132.3m if the companies, which had applied to the watchdog for leniency, continued to support the investigation.

The size of Gallaher's fine, disclosed by its owner, Japan Tobacco, is based on the company benefiting from the leniency reduction.

The other retailers fined were First Quench, One Stop Stores and TM Retail. Sainsbury's, the first company to apply for leniency, has escaped without a fine.

The OFT - which expects to close its case early next year - said the investigation into Co-Op, Imperial Tobacco, Morrisons, Safeway, Shell and Tesco was continuing.

Asda said: "Everyone at Asda is very sorry about what happened... though we can't turn back the clock there are lessons to be learned and we will learn them."

New cigarette tax good for everyone

It wasn't very long ago at all - just a few short years, in fact when it was perfectly legal to light up cigarettes in just about any restaurant in Massachusetts. Not perfectly sensible, of course, but legal. While that might seem not a little odd when looked at from today's smoke-free environment, rewinding the tape just a bit more reveals pictures that can only be called astonishing:
People smoking in their offices. People smoking on busses and even on airplanes. People smoking in elevators. People smoking everywhere and at every turn.
Back to the present.
Massachusetts just increased the tax on a pack of cigarettes by $1, to $2.51. The reasons for this are twofold:
First, the state is looking to raise money to help cover the costs of its universal health insurance program. And second, the state wants to encourage more smokers to quit and to dissuade young non-smokers from ever starting.
Both of these are sensible.
In general, we are not wild about tax increases. And we have had increasing concerns about the costs associated with the state's health insurance program. That said, it makes sense to tap smokers for funds for health insurance. After all, there isn't a legal activity that's more unhealthy. As they bring ruin to themselves, they'll be helping out the health care plan with each pack of cigarettes they buy.
And, one can only hope, they'll tire of spending so much for so little and they'll quit.
The state House and Senate hurriedly passed the tax hike on Monday, and Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed the increase into law on Tuesday. It took effect immediately.
What a difference a few decades makes. We remember well when it seemed that everyone was smoking. And when cigarettes cost much less than a dollar. Now there are fewer smokers all the time and the tax alone is $2.51.

Chocolate cigarettes 'encourage children to smoke'

CONCERNS have been raised about the availability of candy-style imitation cigarettes to children in Scarborough.

The sweets, which look remarkably like a hand-rolled cigarette and packaged in replica cigarette packets are now accessible in some shops in Scarborough.

A Scarborough couple have brought it to the attention of the Evening News after witnessing, what they thought, was a child smoking.

John Palethorpe, of Maria's Court, said: "The child, was with his mother and he was about nine-years-old. She was smoking and he had one of these cigarettes pretending to smoke – emulating exactly what the mother was doing."

He said he and his wife, Sandra, realised that it was a sweet and were then alerted to the fact that this type of sweet was available in Scarborough shops.

He added: "It is an absolute disgrace. The packets look so much like an American or European cigarette packet. It is diabolical that these should be allowed to be sold to children."

North Yorkshire Trading Standards said it was not illegal to sell the products.

Derek Smith, consumer services section leader, said: "Sugar 'cigarettes' and novelty 'smokers sets' made from chocolate or liquorice, were common place at one time.

"As the public became more aware of the dangers associated with smoking tobacco, coupled with the health promotions to prevent children taking up the habit, the demand for these types of products waned.

"Recently there has been a trend for buying so-called retro candy such as aniseed balls and spangles. It's unfortunate that chocolate cigarettes have re surfaced but it's not illegal to sell them and it's really up to retailers to decide whether or not it's a product with which they wish to be associated."

Mr Palethorpe said: "This type of sweet is just encouraging children to smoke. Both myself and Sandra smoke and we believe it be the worst thing in our lives that we have ever done. We try to cut down, but it is hard. And now we both suffer from illnesses that are smoking-related."

E-cigarettes a healthy alternative

This man is smoking an E-cigarettes or electronic cigarettes. This cigarette provides satisfaction to the users without harming them in any way.

And they are now finding acceptance among people at Chennai. The product has appealed to smokers who, even after being aware of the ill effects of smoking, find it difficult to quit.

These cigarettes work on the simple principle of 'nicotine replacement therapy' and give the smokers the contentment of a conventional cigarette.

'Shock' bill given the nod

The government has approved legislation meant to shock smokers into stubbing their bad habit by placing graphic pictures of the dangers of smoking on cigarette packs.

This week the health portfolio committee approved the Tobacco Amendments Bill, tabled in parliament earlier this year to close the loopholes in the current anti-tobacco laws.

The bill, which is still to go to the National Assembly for a vote and possible debate, also raises the legal smoking age from 16 to 18.

In addition to warning messages already printed on cigarette packs, tobacco companies will now be forced to carry pictures of diseased lungs, gums and other hard-hitting images that might provoke smokers into quitting.

French wants Poland's state tobacco firm

French biotechnological company Biosyntec wants to invest in Zakłady Tytoniowe Lublin (ZTL), the last state-owned company on the tobacco market in the EU. "The first meeting concerning terms for the sale of company shares has been held," announced Agnieszka Żukowska of the Treasury Ministry, which plans to finish the privatization procedure in Q2 2008.

ZTL has been losing its share of the cigarette market over the past few years, however, it is the leading domestic producer of tobacco.

Biosyntec's capital should open ZTL to the global market. The firm has plans to produce a new type of cigarette filter that would reduce the risk of cancer cells caused by cigarette smoke by 80%.

Experts from the tobacco industry unofficially said that if the performance of the filters is confirmed, no tobacco company will be able to ignore them.

The cigarette market in Poland is worth almost zł.20 billion annually.

Nigeria: Smoking - Top Officials Defy Govt Order

Barely 48-hour after the ban on smoking in the Federal Capital Territory takes effect, some top government functionaries are yet to comply with the order.

Our correspondent who went round the capital city yesterday observed that the most his areas were the two federal secretariats located at the central district area and Area 1.

A permanent secretary and some directors (name withheld) sent their drivers to buy cigarettes fro them from a vendor near they were accosted by our correspondent.

Attempts to remind them of the ban were rebuffed as they pointedly said, "our oga is too used to cigarette that it is not possible to quit smoking."

On why the man cannot wait until he returns home, the driver laughed, "you are joking. This man takes about 3 packets daily during office hours and he is so used to it that he cannot cope without it. No smoking, no work for him," he added.

We also observed that a vendor who sells cigarettes were going about freely with their business, saying they are waiting to see if it is true that smoking has been banned.

The FCT administration under Minister Aliyu Umar Modibbo, had adopted to enforce the ban on smoking with effect from 1st June, with some penalties for defaulters.

Launching the ban last Saturday, Modibbo said the first schedule specifies prohibition of smoking in cinema, theatre halls, stadium, offices, public transportation, parks and gardens, lifts, medical establishments and schools among other places.

Relying on the Tobacco Control Act of 1990, the law states that, "no person shall as from the commencement of this act, smoke tobacco in the places specified in the first schedule."

The act provides that, "any person who smokes contrary to the provisions of this act shall be guilty of an offence under this act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than N200 and not exceeding N1000 or to imprisonment to a term of not less than one month and not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

According to Modibbo, "the enforcement of the act in Abuja is borne out of concern fro the health and safety of residents and visitors.

Countries like the USA, UK, Kenya among many others have since banned smoking in their domains.

The health implications of smoking are many, which include cancer of the lungs, pancreas, stomach and bladder, heart diseases, asthma and other respiratory ailments.

The Post editorial board on Ontario's ban of tobacco displays

It just got harder to buy cigarettes in Ontario. Thanks to a law enacted this week, Ontario now joins the ranks of Quebec, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan by banning the display of tobacco products in stores. Retailers have been forced to cover so-called "power walls" — the large displays of cigarette brands found behind the cash register at the local convenience store, gas station or supermarket — and customers must now pay for their smokes before they can legally touch them. Smokers are even prohibited from holding more than one pack of cigarettes at any given moment. This strikes us as a futile exercise.

There is no doubt that smoking is extremely detrimental to health. The links between cigarettes and a litany of diseases, many of them fatal, is unquestionable: Lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, impotence and even cataracts are all caused by smoking.

Cigarette smoke leaves a trail of collateral damage, too: Research shows that secondhand smoking can lead to the same kind of health problems as smoking. Non-smokers who live with partners who smoke inside the home have up to a 30% increased risk of developing lung cancer, and those exposed to cigarette smoke in the workplace have an increased risk of up to 20%.

But we do not believe that these real risks counsel for the absurd notion of diligently protecting customers' delicate senses from perceiving tobacco products ... until they've laid out some cash.

Ontario's government has reasoned that the new law will convince people to quit smoking, leaving fewer stroke victims and lung cancer patients taking up hospital beds. This argument fails to take into account the savings smokers create by not lingering into old age, when health care costs typically zoom into the stratosphere. But even setting the cold cost calculus aside, it is very hard to believe that keeping cigarettes behind a black curtain will do anything to dissuade people from buying them. If that were all it took to kick a nicotine habit, smokers would be flocking to drapery stores, instead of buying nicotine gum and patches.

The Ontario government has succeeded in adding a financial and practical burden to retailers. But when it comes to reducing tobacco consumption, it is just blowing smoke.

Egyptian smokers fume as cigarette tax introduced

Cairo: When rumour had it that the Egyptian Parliament was considering a proposal to levy taxes on tobacco to shore up the public budget, Hafez, a governmental employee, dashed off to nearby kiosks and shops to stock up on packs of cigarettes.
Hafez, a chain smoker for nearly 20 years, bought as much tobacco as he could lay his hands on - and as his budget could allow.
"My hunch was right. Now I have a decent stock for the hard times ahead," he grins, as his gaping mouth reveals several decayed, yellow teeth.
On the night of May 5, the People's Assembly approved a package of economic measures proposed by the government to finance a 30 per cent pay rise for public-sector employees, announced by President Hosni Mubarak in a Labour Day speech days earlier.
The increase in salaries and pensions, effective as of this month, will cost the public coffers around 12.5 billion Egyptian pounds (Dh8.5 billion), according to government officials.

Controversial steps
The controversial measures include increases in fuel and cigarettes prices, and vehicle licence fees. Rises in tobacco prices range from 10 per cent for the local brands and 33 per cent for the imported luxury brands.
Particularly contentious are the hikes in fuel, which the public and opposition MPs have said will trigger another wave of price increases in this country of 76 million where around 40 per cent of citizens are believed to be living below the poverty line.
"Smokers will suffer as well," says Mustafa Hamed, a Cairo taxi driver. "I have been smoking two packs a day for more than 15 years now." According to the latest rise in prices of tobacco, local cigarettes have increased by 25 piastres per pack. For me, this means an extra 15 Egyptian pounds per month," Hamed, a father of five, fumes.
"I cannot kick this habit now. It soothes my nerves when customers haggle over fares - and this happens often now that the petrol prices have gone up too," Hamed told Gulf News.
Egypt has 13 million smokers consuming around 85 billion cigarettes, or some 613 tonnes of tobacco annually, according to a UN report released at a recent anti-smoking seminar in Cairo.
To Fadl Sabri, a clerk, the time has come for him to stop smoking once and for all. "I have just made this decision for health and financial reasons," says Sabri, who has been smoking for around 15 years.
"Doctors have repeatedly warned me against smoking because I have heart trouble. But now with cigarettes becoming so expensive, this decision [quitting smoking] is unavoidable anyway."

Tobacco sellers briefed on new order

As many as 40 people from the small provision shops and supermarkets in the Belait District attended the Tobacco Order Briefing held at the multipurpose hall of the Health Office yesterday.
The briefing was presented by Senior Medical Officer of the Tobacco Control Unit, Hj Rozaimi Hj Tengah.
The briefing was mainly aimed at enhancing participants' understanding in protecting public health as well as to gain their cooperation with regard to the Tobacco Order to be implemented come June 1.
Business owners were also briefed on cigarettes sales, licences and rules and regulations governing such business.
Under Section 2 of the Controlling of Local Products Act, it is prohibited to sell cigarettes to those under 18 years of age (Chapter 9), by which any form of identification will be asked before purchase. Those who breach the rule will face a fine of up to B$5,000.
If any of the said conditions under the Tobacco Order 2005 and its regulations 2007 go unheeded, business owners' licences will be revoked or suspended.

Tobacco industry stands firm on DDT

Major players in the tobacco industry in the country have stressed that the re-introduction of Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (DDT) by the health sector to curb malaria would threaten sales of tobacco on the global market.
During a media briefing in Salima on Sunday Executive Director for Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (Aret) Ibrahim Phiri said chances for DDT contamination to tobacco remain very high in rural areas where tobacco is mostly grown.
“As an industry we have been consulted on the use of DDT especially in rural areas where malaria is wrecking havoc but there is a conflict here as health officials are trying to protect us from this killer disease while we are looking at protecting the country’s major forex earner from being shunned on the international market,” said Phiri.
He added that Malawi’s tobacco may be threatened if the country accepts DDT re-introduction as there would be scepticism on whether the leaf is pure.
However General Manager for Tobacco Control Commission (TCC) Godfrey Chapola said despite the wide consultations government has not made a decision on whether to use the chemical or not.
International health organizations say the banning of DDT domestic use led to its diminished production in the United States and less availability of DDT for the developing world which culminated to deaths of at least 2 million people from malaria each year.
This, the say, is especially tragic since there was hope of eradicating the disease altogether when DDT was first introduced and its potential was recognized 30 years ago.

Safe Cigarettes Could Be Hitting Shelves Soon

A safe cigarettes has been designed and are close to hitting shelves in Oklahoma. KTEN's Whitney Allen has the story.
It is a fire safe cigarettes meaning, the cigarettes are made with paper designed to stop burning, if a smoker does not inhale. Legislation that would require retailers to sell only fire safe cigarettes in Oklahoma, is now waiting for Governor, Brad Henry's signature. The Coalition for Fire Safe Cigarettes says, "Cigarettes are the leading cause of home fire fatalities, in the United States, killing 700 to 900 people per year."
Lisa Jackson, the Durant Fire Marshall says, "I think the fire safe cigarette will cut down on structure fires, grass fires, and fatalities, that are started by cigarettes."
In 2003, there were more than 25 thousand structure fires caused by cigarettes.