Wilson Farms is cutting jobs and scaling back store investment, blaming economic fallout from a sharp increase in cigarette taxes imposed over the summer. The convenience store chain, with corporate offices in Amherst, is eliminating 20 administrative jobs, reducing store labor hours by 10 percent, and curbing capital spending it had planned for 2011, said Paul Nanula, the president and chief executive officer. The $1.60-per-pack state tax hike ... Jump to full article >>

While the preferred mode of implementing long-gestation projects under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) agreements will be carried out under the build-operate-transfer scheme (BOT), the BOT program has been ruled out in current plans to reform the excise-tax system, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said on Wednesday. In a telephone interview, BIR chief Kim Henares said BOT schemes—as those proposed by a Swiss company for cigarette manu ... Jump to full article >>

It’s easy to guess what would happen if a pharmaceutical company asked the Food and Drug Administration to approve a new product with the following characteristics: no proven health benefits. Major known side effects: greatly increased risk of emphysema, heart attacks, stroke and cancer, including lung, cervical, mouth, stomach and bladder. The product also lowers bone density in older women and causes higher rates of serious health proble ... Jump to full article >>

The law firm Searcy Denney put a dramatic end to Tobacco’s eight-case winning streak today by reeling in an $80 million verdict in Webb v. R.J. Reynolds, in Bronson, Florida. Although Tobacco has won eight of the last nine cases, on average during that period they now have lost approximately $8M per trial. I was there trying the case with my partner, David Sales. Here are some of my thoughts from “inside” the trial of a tobacco case. T ... Jump to full article >>

Manila has lauded a World Trade Organization (WTO) report citing how Thailand continues to violate WTO rules in valuing Philippine cigarettes for customs purposes. The WTO panel directed the government of Thailand to “bring its inconsistent measures into conformity with its WTO obligations,” Philippine permanent representative to the WTO Manuel Teehankee said in his report to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday. “The Pane ... Jump to full article >>

The government has decided not to discuss a hike in cigarette prices this year due to opposition from lawmakers. The Ministry of Health and Welfare is not seeking to raise cigarette prices or revise the related law, an official said Tuesday. “We have to revise the law to increase cigarette prices. However, the mood at the National Assembly is negative about the price increase. Further discussions would not be made within the year,” the offic ... Jump to full article >>

Bandar Seri Begawan – Brunei has raised taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products with effect from today. According to a Ministry of Finance press release, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented amendments to excise duties for cigarettes, tobacco and tobacco products through the Customs Import Duties (Amendment) Order 2010 and Excise Duties (Amendment) Order 2010. Under the new amendments, cigare ... Jump to full article >>

East Rochester, N.Y. — A 40-year-old East Rochester man has been charged with third degree burglary, third degree criminal mischief and fourth degree grand larceny, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Robert T. Lee Jr., 40, of Magnolia Avenue, was charged recently after a burglary of Di Prima’s Mobil on Fairport Road in Perinton. Lee is a suspect in 19 cigarette burglaries that spanned Monroe, Wayne and Ontario countie ... Jump to full article >>

The tobacco industry over the years has employed some interesting tactics in an effort to inveigle prospects into using its products, preferably a particular brand. Cigarette companies have counted largely on image advertising to draw people into their web. The Marlboro Man was created to appeal to men’s macho aspirations, Joe Camel was designed to lure young smokers, and women were the targets of the Virginia Slims “You’ve com ... Jump to full article >>

Every Native American tribe in New York State now has at least temporary protection from state taxation of cigarette sales to non-Indians. U. S. District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn, based in Albany, ruled Thursday that the state cannot tax cigarette sales by any tribe until at least Oct. 1. Kahn’s ruling came after the St. Regis Mohawks filed an action in his court similar to one filed in Buffalo by the Senecas and Cayugas. In Buffalo, District Ju ... Jump to full article >>