Tobacco dealers have begun stocking up on cigarettes in fear of a possible tobacco tax rise that could cause a spike in cigarette prices, the Shandong Business Daily reported Monday. Hu Xianming, director of the consumption division at the goods and services taxation department of the State Administration of Taxation (SAT), said in December that the government would raise the tobacco tax in 2011 to rein in tobacco consumption, but details of the ... Jump to full article >>

This is one thing that India can take a leaf out of Pakistan’s book. Pakistan has introduced gory pictorial warnings on all tobacco packs from August 30 in a bid to deter consumers from smoking or chewing tobacco. On the contrary, India, where 2,500 people die daily due to use of tobacco, has put off the introduction of strong and gory pictorial warnings till December 1. Pakistan has made it mandatory for 40% of all tobacco packs — o ... Jump to full article >>

Wichita bar owner Larry Doss wasn’t interested in dense academic studies on tobacco consumption, anecdotal accounts of fatalities tied to cigarettes or declarative statements by high-paid lobbyists or bureaucrats. Doss appeared at the House Health and Human Services hearing Wednesday to denounce municipal smoking bans authorized by government interlopers in private affairs. He is the owner of Walt’s Great American Sports Bar and Gril ... Jump to full article >>

“Investors should Philip Morris International to light up your returns and cash in on the growth of the global tobacco market,” says Gregory Dorsey. In Leeb’s Performance Income Letter, he explains, “The stock, a new addition to our Growth & Income portfolio, is well positioned to provide solid results over the long haul.” “Philip Morris International owns the international tobacco operations of its forme ... Jump to full article >>