So, the move to cigarette plain packaging will do nothing to reduce the rate of smoking, but it will be a pain in the proverbial for shopkeepers. I’m told this at least once an hour on talk radio, so it must be true. But things aren’t always what they appear to be. I know this as a reformed tobacco executive. I was employed by Rothmans of Pall Mall from 1994 to 1998 in Queensland, NSW and Victoria in charge of about $250 million in a ... Jump to full article >>

A group of 17 demonstrators staged a rally Tuesday in front of Reynolds American Inc.’s downtown headquarters to call attention to tobacco-farm workers, who the protesters said are often underpaid and forced to live in poor conditions. Gail Phares of Raleigh, an organizer and advocate for immigrants’ rights, said that the U.S. must reform its immigration policies. “It’s time for us to recognize the labor of farm workers a ... Jump to full article >>

The rapid growth of middle classes in China, India and other countries over the past few years has opened up new markets for Southeastern tobacco. Health problems associated with tobacco use are well circulated worldwide and making tobacco safer is an ongoing challenge for the tobacco industry. China is the world leader in tobacco production and a good example of how the tobacco market is likely to go in the near future. As is the case for all ... Jump to full article >>

Slow government response to repeated complaints of illegal tobacco sales has cost the state and legitimate distributors millions of dollars, according to longtime Oklahoma City tobacco wholesaler Alan Beck. Slow government response to repeated complaints of illegal tobacco sales has cost the state and legitimate distributors millions of dollars, according to longtime Oklahoma City tobacco wholesaler Alan Beck. For six years, Beck has complained ... Jump to full article >>

The New Hampshire Supreme Court is weighing the question, “What is a cigarette?” Retailer North of the Border Tobacco drew the attention of state investigators in 2009, when it installed machines that can roll 200 cigarettes in 10 minutes. Customers buy loose tobacco and rolling tubes from the retailer’s store and then pay to use the machines. State lawyers argue customers leave with cigarettes that didn’t exist when the ... Jump to full article >>

Worcester is close to becoming the ninth city in the state to ban the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in pharmacies and drug stores. After weeks of debate, Tuesday city council members voted to give initial approval on some controversial changes. One would ban the sale of so called ‘blunt wrappers’ in the city. Another would prohibit tobacco advertising in any store window that is in public view. The other amendments w ... Jump to full article >>

SYDNEY (MarketWatch) — Australia’s push to become the first country to mandate cigarette packaging with almost no branding and huge, graphic health-warning labels has inflamed the tempers of tobacco companies, which are vowing to protect shareholder interests by taking their fight to the courts. The proposed laws would mark the latest blow to tobacco firms, already battling volume contraction, swelling illegal trade and global anti-smoking c ... Jump to full article >>

Ever-rising state and federal taxes on cigarettes, designed to discourage use but also generate government revenue, have made a pack of smokes very, very expensive. A pack of cigarettes can cost anywhere from over $6 to over $11, depending on the state. That leaves smokers three alternatives; pay the price, quit, or find a cheaper way to feed their habit. Increasingly, smokers are buying machines to roll their own cigarettes, much to the conste ... Jump to full article >>

Talks that legislation enforcing plain packaging for tobacco products would bring about a black market are absolute nonsense, says a leading health expert who is welcoming the proposed changes. Professor Mike Daube, deputy chair of the National Preventative Health Taskforce said it is possible to gauge the positive impact of the proposed legislation by the commotion the tobacco industry kicks up. Tobacco giants – as well as the Australian ... Jump to full article >>

British American Tobacco Plc (BATS), the maker of Lucky Strikes cigarettes, created a unit that will seek to develop nicotine products for people wanting an alternative to cigarettes as governments aim to reduce smoking. Nicoventures Ltd. plans to develop tobacco-free nicotine products, Kate Matrunola, a spokeswoman for London-based BAT, said today. The unit employs four people and will discuss with regulators what sort of products might work, s ... Jump to full article >>