Is the Obama Administration serious about enforcing our gun laws? It is now beyond doubt that the Administration is determined to say as little as possible about the plague of gun violence that inflicts death and injury on 300 Americans every day. When forced to comment on proposals to strengthen our anemic federal gun laws, the President and his representatives typically fall back on the gun lobby’s canard, “We don’t need new ... Jump to full article >>

Commercial broadcasters are set to benefit from paid-for product placement in television programmes under rules proposed by Ofcom, the communications industries regulator. Product placement will be allowed in films, TV series, entertainment shows and sports programmes, but not in children’s and news programmes, UK-produced current affairs, consumer affairs and religious programmes. There will be a ban on the product placement of tobacco, ... Jump to full article >>

Alcohol and tobacco duties will not rise and the proposed cider duty increase is to be scrapped, cheering drinkers, smokers and publicans. However, the increase in VAT will hit the cost of drinking and smoking significantly, with the Campaign for Real Ale estimating many pubs will be forced to close when the increase comes into force next year. Duty on the average priced pint of lager, at £2.95, will remain at 49p according to the British Beer ... Jump to full article >>

As I sit down to write this article, I’m about to pour myself a drink. After all, it’s 7pm, I’ve had a long day and a chilled glass of white wine would perk me up. Had I not become suddenly and acutely aware of the irony of knocking back a unit or two while writing about middle-class alcoholism, I’d probably have opened the bottle. I resisted, but there is no doubt that I, a middle-class, middle-aged, professional, workin ... Jump to full article >>

The Department of Finance (DoF) said that it expects up to P51.41 billion in revenue to be generated from the proposed reform for the excise tax on tobacco and alcohol products. In a document from the DoF, the finance department believes it necessary to push for the passage of the reformed excise tax on alcohol and tobacco products to correct the weaknesses of the Republic act 9334. Estimates released by the DoF showed that adopting a unitary an ... Jump to full article >>

Cigar smokers visiting Alcorn Cigars, 8984 Watson Road, may now enjoy an alcoholic beverage along with their smokes in the shop. The Crestwood Board of Aldermen on April 27 approved a conditional use permit for Alcorn Cigars Inc. to add a cigar bar where customers may purchase beer, wine and liquor by the drink. “I’m trying to increase my cash flow a little bit,” said Harold Alcorn, who opened the shop in Creston Center last Ju ... Jump to full article >>

Tobacco and alcohol harm men, women and children physically, mentally, socially and economically. In Sri Lanka the bulk of the social harm traceable to tobacco and alcohol is inflicted on and borne by women. On International Women’s Day, it is salutary to focus attention on the load of silent suffering women have to endure because of addictive substance abuse by men. Much can be done and should be done to reduce this avoidable suffering. C ... Jump to full article >>

Four code-enforcement department trucks are burned in the parking lot of City Hall. Investigators suspect gangs are behind the recent campaign of violence against a gang task force. Four code-enforcement trucks were torched in the Hemet City Hall parking lot Tuesday, in a brazen attack that police believe is part of a shadowy but relentless campaign of violence against them. “We are assuming, because of the timing, that this is related to ... Jump to full article >>

THE legal ban on cigarette smoking in public places seems to be influencing public perceptions. For the smell of cigarette smoke has been identified as “Top of the Pongs” in a new survey. Tobacco was closely followed by stale alcohol suggesting that the smoking ban may have resulted in increased smoking and drinking at home, survey organisers Space Air Solutions said. Cheap perfume came in third place, cooking smells came fourth and ... Jump to full article >>

Using open, always-on network connections, Customs officers would be able to inspect the stock-administration of alcohol and cigarette producers at any time, Bulgarian-language daily Standart said. According to the daily, amendments to Customs ordinances that were currently being discussed would allow Customs officers to verify if accounted production amounts of excise goods and taxes paid coincided with a company’s stock-accounting. The ... Jump to full article >>