A major tobacco-industry funded advertising blitz has backfired, with new research revealing the “It won’t work, so why do it” campaign persuaded more people to support the plain packaging of cigarettes than oppose it. The Cancer Council Victoria survey of 2,101 Victorians who recalled the ad campaign found has found that more than eight out of ten (86.2%) respondents said the ad didn’t affect their view of plain packagin ... Jump to full article >>

Citizens for a Smoke-Free Cape on Monday reported total contributions of nearly $83,000, almost all of which came from the American Cancer Society, to persuade voters to pass a citywide smoking ban next week. That figure left leaders of the opposition, which reported a relatively meager $3,070, aghast. Meanwhile, Smoke-Free Cape contends the opposition rhetoric is meant to put a smoke-screen over the health hazards of secondhand smoke. “Th ... Jump to full article >>

A Senate subcommittee has asked for amendments that would restore Measure 3 and its stipulation that settlement dollars be spent on tobacco prevention. When the state Health Department’s budget came before the House, it was amended to allow tobacco settlement money, which in part goes to the Community Health Trust Fund, to be spent on programs outside of tobacco prevention and cessation. That vote overturned Measure 3, which was approved b ... Jump to full article >>

School districts should broaden bans on tobacco products to include electronic cigarettes. Young people shouldn’t smoke cigarettes or battery-operated nicotine-soaked cartridges. MOUNTING public dialogue about the safety of electronic cigarettes appropriately spurs school districts to broaden bans on tobacco products to prohibit them. The battery-operated devices the size of pens use nicotine-soaked replaceable cartridges to simulate smoki ... Jump to full article >>

Several Kentucky farmers have filed a class-action lawsuit claiming that a prominent tobacco merchant failed to honor contracts to purchase their burley tobacco. The lawsuit was filed against Universal Leaf North America last week in Harrison Circuit Court. The suit claims hundreds of farmers lost what amounted to millions from the 2010 crop year, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. The plaintiffs, including Jerry Feagan of Berry, Steve La ... Jump to full article >>

In the battle over the proposed Springfield smoking ban, much of the sparring has centered on the potential costs to businesses, charities and residents. Citing published studies in cities with existing bans, supporters argue smoking restrictions have no overall negative impact on local economies, with nonsmokers replacing any smoking customers who are lost. “The revenue tends to stay flat,” said Clean Air Springfield spokeswoman Car ... Jump to full article >>

Changes to the duty applied to alcoholic drinks and tobacco were announced in the 2011 Budget. Alcohol Alcohol duty Alcohol duty rates will increase by 2 per cent above the Retail Price Index (RPI) on 28 March 2011. This will add 4 pence to the price of a pint of beer, 15 pence to the price of a bottle of wine, and 54 pence to the price of a bottle of spirits. Higher duty on stronger beers From 1 October 2011, the government will introduce a ne ... Jump to full article >>

A federal panel ruled on Friday that the removal of menthol cigarettes from sale would be beneficial to United States public health, but fell short of recommending such action. The chairman of the panel, Dr. Jonathan Samet, professor of medicine at the University of Southern California, said there was a scientific basic to support the proposition that menthol cigarettes were more deleterious than regular ones. The risk, the panel said, was not t ... Jump to full article >>

OMAHA, Neb. — Police arrested four men who they said believe robbed two convenience stores within the same hour Sunday morning. Investigators were called to the Kun and Go at 154th and Pacific streets at 2:21 a.m. A witness told police that two men entered the store wearing face masks, hooded sweatshirts and gloves. The witness said one man showed a gun and demanded money. Authorities said the robbers left with cash and tobacco products. P ... Jump to full article >>

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Although people younger than 18 can purchase electronic cigarettes, they are now prohibited from using them at some Washington schools. The Columbian newspaper reports school boards in Battle Ground, Camas and Ridgefield all recently revised their tobacco policies to ban the use of electronic cigarettes at school. Vancouver Public Schools has prohibited tobacco and “tobacco lookalikes” since at least 1998. B ... Jump to full article >>