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 >>

Two Georgia-based associations of premium tobacco retailers have warned the Macon City Council that the ordinance it is considering to restrict smoking in most indoor public places would be putting local jobs and small businesses at risk for no reason. Two Georgia-based associations of premium tobacco retailers have warned the Macon City Council that the ordinance it is considering to restrict smoking in most indoor public places would be putt ... Jump to full article >>

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act) was enacted in June of 2009 and granted the FDA the authority to regulate cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco products. Under this law, the FDA has been issuing and implementing various tobacco regulations. This year, there are several major regulations under consideration by the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. The Tobacco Control Act does no ... Jump to full article >>

Santa Clara County supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved the final piece in a package of tobacco laws aimed at snuffing out teenage smoking. The board approved an ordinance requiring tobacco retailers in unincorporated areas of the county to pay $425 for a year for a permit. They also must abide by restrictions on advertising tobacco products and not allow underaged employees to sell them. The law also requires a one-time $340 permit applicat ... Jump to full article >>

Wellington, Nov 5 NZPA – Tobacco retailers are up in arms over the Government’s latest moves to curb smoking, saying it will cost $50 million to change their shops and hide cigarettes. Tobacco displays are going to be banned when law changes are passed and there could be more moves when the Government reacts in February to a select committee report, released on Wednesday, recommending strict measures aimed at halving smoking by 2015 ... Jump to full article >>

Cayuga and Seneca counties were expected to file a request yesterday with the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their cigarette tax dispute case with the Cayuga Indian Nation, Syracuse.com reports. Philip Spellane, lawyer for the counties, promised to meet Monday’s filing deadline seeking a hearing from the nation’s top court to hear their appeal. In June, the counties promised an appeal of a May decision by New York’s top court rulin ... Jump to full article >>

I lost my dear dad to lung cancer due to cigarettes. He became addicted at age 12. It breaks my heart to know that in 2010, there are stores in my city that are making cigarettes and other tobacco products readily available for youth. Earlier this year our coalition, the Azusa Youth Against Smoking, targeted 48 tobacco retailers in Azusa to identify how many were willing to sell to minors without asking for proper identification. Guess what? Tw ... Jump to full article >>

Illegal sales of tobacco to minors increased in some areas of Santa Barbara County in 2009, but the number decreased significantly in the city of Santa Barbara, according to data released Tuesday by the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. Guadalupe was the only city in the county that didn’t sell any tobacco to a minor during undercover buy operations last year. Illegal sales increased in Goleta, Buellton, Lompoc, Solvang and uninco ... Jump to full article >>

The state Supreme Court has issued a ruling that would allow the state to collect higher taxes on cigarettes sold by Osage Nation tobacco stores. However, the Oklahoma Tax Commission said Monday that it already has a new deal with the Osage Nation requiring it to pay a tax of 66 cents per pack. The state tax on cigarettes is $1.03, but tribal stores pay lower rates, ranging from 6 cents per pack for those along Oklahoma’s borders to 86 cents p ... Jump to full article >>