The second complacency factor working against us is
a strong, natural desire to want to believe that we have been fully cured, that we can now
handle “just one,” “just once.” But just one puff, dip or chew and it’s do not pass go, do
not collect $200. Go directly to the addict’s prison and surrender our freedom for good.
It isn’t that we don’t believe the Law but probably more a matter of growing to believe
that we’re the exception to it. We convince ourselves that we’re stronger, smarter or
wiser than all addicts who came before us. We amend the law. We put ourselves above
it. “Just once, it’ll be ok, I can handle it.” “I'm stronger than them.” “A little reward, it's
been a while, I’ve earned it.”
Such thoughts can infect the mind and feed on themselves. Unless interrupted by reason
and truth, our period of healing and freedom may be nearing an end. If allowed to fester,
all our dreams and hard work risk being flushed like a toilet.
Instead of pretending we can handle“ just one” such encounters demand truth. Before
reaching the point of throwing it all away we need to be honest about what’s about to
happen. If this moment should ever arrive, try telling yourself this before bringing
nicotine back into your body:
“My freedom will now end!” “I’m going back.” “I can handle all of them, give
them all back to me, my entire addiction, all the trips to the store, the buys, the
money, and the empties.” “I want it all back.” “Go ahead, slowly harden my
arteries and eat my brain.” If a smoker, “Fill my world with ash, cover me in that
old familiar stench, and let morning again be for coughing.” If an oral user, “Take
The Journey Home 225
my hair, destroy my teeth, and put sores back into my mouth.”397 “Put me back
behind bars, make me an outcast, throw away the key and let me die with my
master still circulating in my veins.” “I accept my fate” “I’m ready to surrender!”
It’s far easier for the junkie mind to create a one puff, one dip, one chew exception to the
“law” than admit the truth. Instead of picturing just one or once, picture all of them, at
least a full year’s supply. Picture fitting them into your mouth all at once because day
after day, month after month, year after year after year that's exactly where they'll be
going. “To thine own self be true.” You deserve it - you paid the price - you earned it!
If you find yourself attempting to rewrite the law of addiction, stop, think, remember,
reflect, read, revisit, revive and give to others, but most important, be honest with you!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Quit -rewards is not punishment
Try to reverse your mind-set. Recovery is about rewards not punishment. Your
chemically enslaved survival instincts teacher, your limbic mind with its dopamine
“aaah”s and insula driven anxieties, was fooled. It did its job. Now it’s time for a
mind schooled in nicotine dependency and recovery to save the day and arrest an
established dependency.
Extinguishing each conditioned nicotine use cue rewards us with the return of another
aspect of life. Why fear being able to finish work, a meal, exit a store or drive without
experiencing an urge or crave commanding nicotine replenishment? When a crave
hits, try to reflect upon the prize at the end, another slice of life about to be freed.
Crave episodes reflect both evidence of where we’ve been and the aspect of life now
being reclaimed. Moments of subconscious healing are good not bad. Soon, you will
have reclaimed so many aspects of life that, like putting together a puzzle, it will
reflect a life reclaimed.
chemically enslaved survival instincts teacher, your limbic mind with its dopamine
“aaah”s and insula driven anxieties, was fooled. It did its job. Now it’s time for a
mind schooled in nicotine dependency and recovery to save the day and arrest an
established dependency.
Extinguishing each conditioned nicotine use cue rewards us with the return of another
aspect of life. Why fear being able to finish work, a meal, exit a store or drive without
experiencing an urge or crave commanding nicotine replenishment? When a crave
hits, try to reflect upon the prize at the end, another slice of life about to be freed.
Crave episodes reflect both evidence of where we’ve been and the aspect of life now
being reclaimed. Moments of subconscious healing are good not bad. Soon, you will
have reclaimed so many aspects of life that, like putting together a puzzle, it will
reflect a life reclaimed.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Hospital’s tobacco ban serves as test run for main campus
If the 1,515 violations of the tobacco ban at UK Hospital are an indication of what will happen when the initiative hits the main campus, then UK can bet on some trouble.
With the culture of our state and its regard to smoking, many individuals might assume it is OK to smoke in public places like UK hospital. The hospital becomes the backdrop to an ironic scene: people go to the hospital to seek medical treatment, while at the same continuing an addictive, unhealthy habit at the hospital.
Even though the majority of the violations came from hospital visitors and patients, employees have contributed to the problem, with one employee terminated for refusal to comply with the policy. It speaks greatly to the effectiveness of the policy as there is a clear defiance to the ban, when employees continue to receive reprimands for breaking the policy.
The main problem for UK Hospital’s enforcement is that there is nowhere to smoke. It is not as if the people who line up on South Limestone want to be out there smoking on the curb, yet there just isn’t any other alternative. With the medical campus tobacco free, off-campus and sidewalks have become the de facto designated smoking area.
Those who are working at the hospital or visiting a patient need to stay close to the hospital. But those individuals need for proximity provides South Limestone with the image of smokers lining the streets thus doing a number on the image of a “smoke-free” campus.
The tobacco ban seems to be a work in progress on the medical campus. The high number of violations probably don’t even begin to represent the real figure of unreported non-compliance.
Smoking cessation isn’t just a forced policy; there are ways to help quit, if an individual so desires. UK is offering services to help students, faculty and staff stop using tobacco. so those who want to quit have a resource to help kick the habit.
If UK’s goal is to provide a tobacco free campus for the health of Kentuckians, then the idea is right. However, when employees continue to receive reprimands for breaking the ban nearly a year after its implementation, it is clear some employees are reacting defiantly to the policy,
UK can use the hospital ban as a measuring stick for its own impending ban, proactively finding solutions to problems that have arisen on the medical center campus.
So far UK Hospital is having struggles getting the message across and enforcing the ban. The last thing campus needs is a similar problem.
With the culture of our state and its regard to smoking, many individuals might assume it is OK to smoke in public places like UK hospital. The hospital becomes the backdrop to an ironic scene: people go to the hospital to seek medical treatment, while at the same continuing an addictive, unhealthy habit at the hospital.
Even though the majority of the violations came from hospital visitors and patients, employees have contributed to the problem, with one employee terminated for refusal to comply with the policy. It speaks greatly to the effectiveness of the policy as there is a clear defiance to the ban, when employees continue to receive reprimands for breaking the policy.
The main problem for UK Hospital’s enforcement is that there is nowhere to smoke. It is not as if the people who line up on South Limestone want to be out there smoking on the curb, yet there just isn’t any other alternative. With the medical campus tobacco free, off-campus and sidewalks have become the de facto designated smoking area.
Those who are working at the hospital or visiting a patient need to stay close to the hospital. But those individuals need for proximity provides South Limestone with the image of smokers lining the streets thus doing a number on the image of a “smoke-free” campus.
The tobacco ban seems to be a work in progress on the medical campus. The high number of violations probably don’t even begin to represent the real figure of unreported non-compliance.
Smoking cessation isn’t just a forced policy; there are ways to help quit, if an individual so desires. UK is offering services to help students, faculty and staff stop using tobacco. so those who want to quit have a resource to help kick the habit.
If UK’s goal is to provide a tobacco free campus for the health of Kentuckians, then the idea is right. However, when employees continue to receive reprimands for breaking the ban nearly a year after its implementation, it is clear some employees are reacting defiantly to the policy,
UK can use the hospital ban as a measuring stick for its own impending ban, proactively finding solutions to problems that have arisen on the medical center campus.
So far UK Hospital is having struggles getting the message across and enforcing the ban. The last thing campus needs is a similar problem.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Ban on tobacco sales in pharmacies
A federal appeals court Wednesday rejected a Philip Morris USA Inc. challenge to the city of San Francisco's ban on tobacco sales in pharmacies.
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously turned down the cigarette maker's claim the law violated its right to free speech by curtailing its advertising.
Chief Judge Alex Kozinski wrote in a brief four-paragraph ruling that the city law only "limits where cigarettes may be sold; it doesn't prevent plaintiff from advertising."
Kozinski wrote that while advertising is a form of free speech, "Selling cigarettes isn't."
The San Francisco law, the first of its kind in the nation, went into effect last year.
Virginia-based Philip Morris, the nation's largest tobacco company, argued that while the measure didn't directly prohibit advertising in pharmacies, it had "the purpose and effect" of doing so.
The appeals court affirmed a decision in which U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken of Oakland upheld the law last year.
The ruling could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Philip Morris spokesman Jack Marshall said Wednesday evening, "We're reviewing our options."
Marshall said, "While we're disappointed with today's ruling, we continue to believe that the purpose and effect of the law is to suppress communications directed to adults in violation of our constitutional rights." A separate challenge to the law was filed in the state court system by Walgreen Co., which claims the law is unfair because it applies to pharmacies but not to grocery stores and so-called "big box" stores that contain pharmacies.
Walgreen lost its case before a San Francisco Superior Court judge and is now appealing to a state appeals court.
The rationale for the law, according to Board of Supervisors' findings incorporated into the ordinance, is that tobacco is dangerous to health and that pharmacies, which most customers visit for health services, give "tacit approval" to tobacco if they sell it.
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously turned down the cigarette maker's claim the law violated its right to free speech by curtailing its advertising.
Chief Judge Alex Kozinski wrote in a brief four-paragraph ruling that the city law only "limits where cigarettes may be sold; it doesn't prevent plaintiff from advertising."
Kozinski wrote that while advertising is a form of free speech, "Selling cigarettes isn't."
The San Francisco law, the first of its kind in the nation, went into effect last year.
Virginia-based Philip Morris, the nation's largest tobacco company, argued that while the measure didn't directly prohibit advertising in pharmacies, it had "the purpose and effect" of doing so.
The appeals court affirmed a decision in which U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken of Oakland upheld the law last year.
The ruling could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Philip Morris spokesman Jack Marshall said Wednesday evening, "We're reviewing our options."
Marshall said, "While we're disappointed with today's ruling, we continue to believe that the purpose and effect of the law is to suppress communications directed to adults in violation of our constitutional rights." A separate challenge to the law was filed in the state court system by Walgreen Co., which claims the law is unfair because it applies to pharmacies but not to grocery stores and so-called "big box" stores that contain pharmacies.
Walgreen lost its case before a San Francisco Superior Court judge and is now appealing to a state appeals court.
The rationale for the law, according to Board of Supervisors' findings incorporated into the ordinance, is that tobacco is dangerous to health and that pharmacies, which most customers visit for health services, give "tacit approval" to tobacco if they sell it.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Tobacco Monthly Exports Improve
A TOTAL of 4 539 tonnes of tobacco worth US$18,8 million was exported to different countries last month.
The tonnage exported was an improvement from the 1 500 tonnes achieved the previous month. The seasonal exports as at August 31 2009 were 28 264 tonnes, 59 percent below 2008 volumes. Cumulative annual exports in 2008 were 61 337 tonnes.
In the corresponding period last year US$136 million was earned. The seasonal average export price of US$4.39 per kg remains firmer than that of the previous season of US$3.02 per kg in a similar period.
Monthly earnings for August increased seasonal earnings for the year to US$124 million. Of the total, 1 522 tonnes were exported to EU countries, mainly the UK, Belgium and Ireland which are the top three countries in the region, which contributed more than 70 percent of the seasonal exports of 10 477 tonnes.
Exports to the rest of the European countries including Germany, France and other major importers have dropped significantly causing this year's exports to remain below 2008 volumes by 20 percent. Russia continued to be the leading importer with a cumulative intake of 1 538 tonnes.
China and Vietnam were the only countries, which imported a total of 188.7 tonnes in August. Seasonal exports to the region at 7 945.1 tonnes have remained below 2008 levels by 64 percent.
China the tobacco consuming powerhouse of the region had a cumulative intake of 7 281 tonnes since the beginning of the year. The Middle East imported 1 157, 3 tonnes of tobacco in August, with Dubai being the only country which imported outstanding tobacco volumes in the region.
In Africa, Mozambique and South Africa are the only countries in the region, which imported 991 tonnes in August bringing total exports to 4 694 tonnes during the period January to August 2009.
Other importing countries include Botswana, Sudan and Egypt. Exports to the region have dropped by 36 percent in comparison to 2008 levels in a similar period.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri said higher average prices this year were attributed to higher demand of the local crop on the international market.
"It is interesting to note that the average green purchase price of US$3.21 for 2008 was much higher than the export price of $3.02/kg, perhaps an indication that merchant profits were marginalised last year under the depressed economy.
He added that using an average decline rate of 35 percent, 2009 exports were likely to go down to approximately 40 000 tonnes by the end of the year. "Stock volumes will likely close around 50 000 tonnes for the local crop excluding imports," he said.
Stocks on hand as at the end of August 2009 increased slightly to 86 896 tonnes from 81 700 tonnes last month. During the same period last season stocks were 52 203 tonnes and in 2007 they were 85 306 tonnes.
As the curtain comes down on the 2009 selling season the high export trend is expected to continue, as the majority of merchants will now concentrate on processing rather than purchasing.
The tonnage exported was an improvement from the 1 500 tonnes achieved the previous month. The seasonal exports as at August 31 2009 were 28 264 tonnes, 59 percent below 2008 volumes. Cumulative annual exports in 2008 were 61 337 tonnes.
In the corresponding period last year US$136 million was earned. The seasonal average export price of US$4.39 per kg remains firmer than that of the previous season of US$3.02 per kg in a similar period.
Monthly earnings for August increased seasonal earnings for the year to US$124 million. Of the total, 1 522 tonnes were exported to EU countries, mainly the UK, Belgium and Ireland which are the top three countries in the region, which contributed more than 70 percent of the seasonal exports of 10 477 tonnes.
Exports to the rest of the European countries including Germany, France and other major importers have dropped significantly causing this year's exports to remain below 2008 volumes by 20 percent. Russia continued to be the leading importer with a cumulative intake of 1 538 tonnes.
China and Vietnam were the only countries, which imported a total of 188.7 tonnes in August. Seasonal exports to the region at 7 945.1 tonnes have remained below 2008 levels by 64 percent.
China the tobacco consuming powerhouse of the region had a cumulative intake of 7 281 tonnes since the beginning of the year. The Middle East imported 1 157, 3 tonnes of tobacco in August, with Dubai being the only country which imported outstanding tobacco volumes in the region.
In Africa, Mozambique and South Africa are the only countries in the region, which imported 991 tonnes in August bringing total exports to 4 694 tonnes during the period January to August 2009.
Other importing countries include Botswana, Sudan and Egypt. Exports to the region have dropped by 36 percent in comparison to 2008 levels in a similar period.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri said higher average prices this year were attributed to higher demand of the local crop on the international market.
"It is interesting to note that the average green purchase price of US$3.21 for 2008 was much higher than the export price of $3.02/kg, perhaps an indication that merchant profits were marginalised last year under the depressed economy.
He added that using an average decline rate of 35 percent, 2009 exports were likely to go down to approximately 40 000 tonnes by the end of the year. "Stock volumes will likely close around 50 000 tonnes for the local crop excluding imports," he said.
Stocks on hand as at the end of August 2009 increased slightly to 86 896 tonnes from 81 700 tonnes last month. During the same period last season stocks were 52 203 tonnes and in 2007 they were 85 306 tonnes.
As the curtain comes down on the 2009 selling season the high export trend is expected to continue, as the majority of merchants will now concentrate on processing rather than purchasing.
Monday, August 31, 2009
New York Wins Round in Fight Against Indian Tobacco Vendors
A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that a group of tobacco vendors on an Indian reservation on Long Island cannot sell tax-free cigarettes to the general public until a court rules in a closely watched legal battle between the reservation and New York City.
A temporary injunction issued by Judge Carol B. Amon of Federal District Court in Brooklyn gave the city at least a temporary victory in its efforts to collect hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue.
“The city will go after every dollar that is owed to city taxpayers,” Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said in a statement on Wednesday. Under Judge Amon’s ruling, a group of cigarette businesses on the Poospatuck Indian Reservation near Mastic can sell tax-free cigarettes only to tribe members, for personal use, until a verdict is reached in a federal lawsuit the city filed in September.
The judge stayed the ruling for 30 days to give the vendors time to appeal.
“The judge’s ruling is completely wrong,” said Harry Wallace, a lawyer and the chief of the Unkechaug Indian Nation, which is on the Poospatuck reservation, adding that it ignored the Indian nation’s sovereignty.
The city says the reservation businesses are illegally selling large amounts of cheap cigarettes to people outside of the tribes, including bootleggers who bring cartons upon cartons into the city for resale. City officials estimated that the sales deprived the city of $420 million from 2004 to 2008.
The loss of tax income to tribal tobacco businesses has taken on greater urgency for many officials amid state and municipal budget cuts. A state court ruled in July that the Cayuga Indian Nation could not be prosecuted for failing to collect cigarette taxes, and the application of that decision is at issue in Mr. Bloomberg’s federal suit, which could have nationwide implications.
A temporary injunction issued by Judge Carol B. Amon of Federal District Court in Brooklyn gave the city at least a temporary victory in its efforts to collect hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue.
“The city will go after every dollar that is owed to city taxpayers,” Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said in a statement on Wednesday. Under Judge Amon’s ruling, a group of cigarette businesses on the Poospatuck Indian Reservation near Mastic can sell tax-free cigarettes only to tribe members, for personal use, until a verdict is reached in a federal lawsuit the city filed in September.
The judge stayed the ruling for 30 days to give the vendors time to appeal.
“The judge’s ruling is completely wrong,” said Harry Wallace, a lawyer and the chief of the Unkechaug Indian Nation, which is on the Poospatuck reservation, adding that it ignored the Indian nation’s sovereignty.
The city says the reservation businesses are illegally selling large amounts of cheap cigarettes to people outside of the tribes, including bootleggers who bring cartons upon cartons into the city for resale. City officials estimated that the sales deprived the city of $420 million from 2004 to 2008.
The loss of tax income to tribal tobacco businesses has taken on greater urgency for many officials amid state and municipal budget cuts. A state court ruled in July that the Cayuga Indian Nation could not be prosecuted for failing to collect cigarette taxes, and the application of that decision is at issue in Mr. Bloomberg’s federal suit, which could have nationwide implications.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
New sportswear company coming to Danville
An assist from the state’s Tobacco Commission helped Danville score a new business. Batolii Sports is moving its administrative offices and design divisions from Highpoint, N.C., to the city’s Professional Building.
While the sports apparel company will relocate some staff, it expects to hire 30 employees within three years. The Tobacco Commission agreed to provide a $70,000 revitalization grant to the international company which, in addition to the jobs, plans a capital investment of $1.5 million, according to the city’s Office of Economic Development.
Liz Sater, economic development projects coordinator, said the city’s skilled work force in the apparel industry, the historic charm of the downtown tobacco warehouse district and the economic incentives of an enterprise zone location all helped to attract Batolii.
The company is a division of Batolii Holding LLC. The holding company oversees various operations of its sportswear and active-clothing lines, including assembly, warehousing and distribution. Batolii serves a global market, including the continent of Africa (primarily Ghana and Liberia) where soccer is growing in popularity.
Currently, Batolii’s operations are scattered over various locations in North Carolina, Georgia and Texas. “We hope to get everything under one roof at some point,” said Sater.
While the sports apparel company will relocate some staff, it expects to hire 30 employees within three years. The Tobacco Commission agreed to provide a $70,000 revitalization grant to the international company which, in addition to the jobs, plans a capital investment of $1.5 million, according to the city’s Office of Economic Development.
Liz Sater, economic development projects coordinator, said the city’s skilled work force in the apparel industry, the historic charm of the downtown tobacco warehouse district and the economic incentives of an enterprise zone location all helped to attract Batolii.
The company is a division of Batolii Holding LLC. The holding company oversees various operations of its sportswear and active-clothing lines, including assembly, warehousing and distribution. Batolii serves a global market, including the continent of Africa (primarily Ghana and Liberia) where soccer is growing in popularity.
Currently, Batolii’s operations are scattered over various locations in North Carolina, Georgia and Texas. “We hope to get everything under one roof at some point,” said Sater.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Study Shows Tobacco Tax Could Hurt State
A proposed tax hike isn't only bad news for smokers, but a new study suggests it could be bad news for the state of Michigan as well.
The proposed 25- cent hike would be on top of the already two dollar a pack state cigarette tax.
Studies conducted by the Michigan Petroleum Association and the Michigan Association of Convenience Stores were released at a meeting Tuesday.
The results show the hike could likely lead the state to increased crime, loss of sales for retailers, and target low-income residents.
"Now is exactly the wrong time to raise taxes in Michigan. Quite simply, job providers, citizens can't afford to send any more money to Lansing to pay for state bureaucracy," Says Jim Holcomb, V.P of Business Advocacy.
A similar hike has already occured in New Jersy, and the study shows it lost the state millions of dollars in revenue.
The proposed 25- cent hike would be on top of the already two dollar a pack state cigarette tax.
Studies conducted by the Michigan Petroleum Association and the Michigan Association of Convenience Stores were released at a meeting Tuesday.
The results show the hike could likely lead the state to increased crime, loss of sales for retailers, and target low-income residents.
"Now is exactly the wrong time to raise taxes in Michigan. Quite simply, job providers, citizens can't afford to send any more money to Lansing to pay for state bureaucracy," Says Jim Holcomb, V.P of Business Advocacy.
A similar hike has already occured in New Jersy, and the study shows it lost the state millions of dollars in revenue.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Tobacco snuffed out at Ocean Springs parks
City parks and athletic fields in Ocean Springs are now smoke-free zones after aldermen unanimously passed a new ordinance banning the use of all tobacco products within park boundaries.
The Ocean Springs Parks and Leisure Services Department will begin posting the "Tobacco Free" signs in about 30 days. The move to make the parks smoke free was spearheaded by 17-year-old Hallie Darphin, a member of the Mayor's Youth Council.
As the chair of the Smoke Free Ocean Springs Committee, Darphin appeared before aldermen in April, asking them to ban tobacco products at all city parks and athletic facilities.
Violating the ordinance is a misdemeanor.
The Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen approved the ordinance last week.
The Ocean Springs Parks and Leisure Services Department will begin posting the "Tobacco Free" signs in about 30 days. The move to make the parks smoke free was spearheaded by 17-year-old Hallie Darphin, a member of the Mayor's Youth Council.
As the chair of the Smoke Free Ocean Springs Committee, Darphin appeared before aldermen in April, asking them to ban tobacco products at all city parks and athletic facilities.
Violating the ordinance is a misdemeanor.
The Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen approved the ordinance last week.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tobacco auction returns to Wilson
Starting today, tobacco will once again be sold at auction at the former Liberty Warehouse in Wilson.
Prospective tobacco buyers will walk among the bales holding this year's crop. But the auctioneer's chant won't be heard. Instead, the auction will be silent.
Here's how it will work: Growers will first set a minimum price. Buyers will then come in one at a time and will have a sheet of paper with all of the lots and descriptions of the tobacco. The buyers will submit sealed, written bids for the leaf that they want to buy.
At the sale's conclusion, the bids will be opened and the grower presented with the highest offered price.
Growers will then have to decide if they want to accept the offer.
"It's a different spin on the old ways," said Marty Owen of Harnett County.
This new sales system is Owen's brainchild. For now, Wilson is the only place known to have this type of organized sales option available. Owen chose to open his business in Wilson because Wilson is world famous for flue-cured tobacco. Owen will get a 3 cents a pound commission on the tobacco sold.
"If anybody in the world wants to come look at flue-cured tobacco, they come to Wilson," Owen said. "Wilson is the tobacco capital of the world. There is nowhere else you can go and have this many prospective buyers and this high quality of tobacco."
Owen said he hopes to handle between 5 million and 10 million pounds of tobacco this season because this year's crop is considered good. If the idea catches on, Owen said, he'll consider adding a sale on Mondays. Owen, 43, is promoting his business mainly by word-of-mouth. He started working on the project in March. Owen said he grew up in the tobacco-warehouse business, and he's following in his father and grandfather's footsteps.
"This thing is a new idea, but it's got a lot of merit to it," Owen said. "This will actually let growers put their tobacco in front of different prospective buyers, and it more or less puts a little competition back into it. Anytime you have two people bidding on something, it's better than one person bidding on it."
Owen said he sees the need for this way of selling tobacco because growers might produce more tobacco than the company that they have contracted with needs to buy. A company might not want the grade, quality or style of tobacco that a grower has produced, or a grower might not want to accept the price offered by the company with which they have a purchase agreement.
There are several scenarios that can occur leading growers to look for a sales option like the one that Owen is offering. Owen said there's a saying in the farming community that farmers can't ever grow the crop the companies want because companies want different tobacco each year.
Prospective tobacco buyers will walk among the bales holding this year's crop. But the auctioneer's chant won't be heard. Instead, the auction will be silent.
Here's how it will work: Growers will first set a minimum price. Buyers will then come in one at a time and will have a sheet of paper with all of the lots and descriptions of the tobacco. The buyers will submit sealed, written bids for the leaf that they want to buy.
At the sale's conclusion, the bids will be opened and the grower presented with the highest offered price.
Growers will then have to decide if they want to accept the offer.
"It's a different spin on the old ways," said Marty Owen of Harnett County.
This new sales system is Owen's brainchild. For now, Wilson is the only place known to have this type of organized sales option available. Owen chose to open his business in Wilson because Wilson is world famous for flue-cured tobacco. Owen will get a 3 cents a pound commission on the tobacco sold.
"If anybody in the world wants to come look at flue-cured tobacco, they come to Wilson," Owen said. "Wilson is the tobacco capital of the world. There is nowhere else you can go and have this many prospective buyers and this high quality of tobacco."
Owen said he hopes to handle between 5 million and 10 million pounds of tobacco this season because this year's crop is considered good. If the idea catches on, Owen said, he'll consider adding a sale on Mondays. Owen, 43, is promoting his business mainly by word-of-mouth. He started working on the project in March. Owen said he grew up in the tobacco-warehouse business, and he's following in his father and grandfather's footsteps.
"This thing is a new idea, but it's got a lot of merit to it," Owen said. "This will actually let growers put their tobacco in front of different prospective buyers, and it more or less puts a little competition back into it. Anytime you have two people bidding on something, it's better than one person bidding on it."
Owen said he sees the need for this way of selling tobacco because growers might produce more tobacco than the company that they have contracted with needs to buy. A company might not want the grade, quality or style of tobacco that a grower has produced, or a grower might not want to accept the price offered by the company with which they have a purchase agreement.
There are several scenarios that can occur leading growers to look for a sales option like the one that Owen is offering. Owen said there's a saying in the farming community that farmers can't ever grow the crop the companies want because companies want different tobacco each year.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tobacco Sector Maintains Resilience In Global Downturn
Results from a number of the world's tobacco companies this week demonstrate the resilience of the industry, with developing markets continuing to drive volumes, while price rises offset volume declines in more mature markets.
The long-term trends in the cigarette industry of declining volumes, but rising revenue in the developed world and rising volumes and premiumization in developing markets seem little affected by the global downturn.
Updates from Altria Inc (MO), Philip Morris International Inc (PM), Reynolds American Inc (RAI) and Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (IMT.LN) in the last few days suggest that currency fluctuations rather than a global recession present the biggest headache in predicting earnings this year.
Looking further ahead, Japan Tobacco Inc (2914.TO) has moved to secure a stable sources of supplies of tobacco leaf.
Both Reynolds and PMI raised their full-year profit guidance Thursday after posting higher-than expected quarterly earnings, on the back of price increases and a change in currency expectations.
PMI benefited from a strong performance in emerging markets, with Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe all driving an 8.8% rise in underlying revenue, It even managed a 3.4% rise in sales in the European Union, as price hikes offset falling demand.
The strong dollar however resulted in an 8.6% fall in its sales once revenue was converted from local currency into dollars. PMI reports its results in dollars, despite having no operations in the U.S.
Philip Morris was spun off from Altria in March 2008.
Excise tax increases by developed markets in 2009 have allowed cigarette firms to push through their own price rises. As long as the rises in tobacco duty and shop prices aren't too dramatic, then they have limited impact on the long-term decline in consumption in those markets while providing a strong boost to revenue and earnings.
London-listed Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (IMT.LN) said Thursday its third-quarter performance was strong, despite volume falls in its main markets of Western Europe. Imperial said it was continuing to benefit from the growth of its value cigarette and fine cut tobacco brands in mature markets as prices rose.
These rising prices have not had a hugely negative effect on volumes in Europe. In the U.K., the cigarette market declined by just 1%. The decline has been far steeper in the last two years, after a ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants took effect in 2007.
In France, cigarette market volumes actually rose 2%, Imperial said as cross-border flows slowed and the impact of a similar smoking ban eased.
In the U.S. however, higher excise duties have hit volumes much harder, with the Federal government boosting cigarette tax to $1.01 per pack in April.
The country's largest cigarette-maker Altria saw its volumes fall 6.8% in the second quarter as a result, while its market share dropped 1.5 percentage points to 49.5% as competitors' increased promotions.
Imperial said the Federal tax increase had led to 10% drop in market volumes, though Imperial has only a 4.2% share of the U.S. market.
Price rises however meant this tax hike wasn't as painful for the country's tobacco sellers as it looked.
Reynolds' tobacco volumes may have dropped 6%, but earnings still rose 3.4%, with price increases and cost cutting more than offsetting the lower volumes.
Fears of even steeper tax hikes in Japan following recent elections have seen Japan Tobacco (2914.TO) shares losing ground in Tokyo this week. The fears offset the positive news that JT has bought two Brazilian leaf tobacco suppliers in order to secure long term leaf supplies outside Japan.
Emerging markets have represented an even safer haven for tobacco groups. Unlike the mature Western European and US markets, tobacco volumes are not declining in developing countries.
PMI grew its revenue before the impact of currency by 6.7% in Asia and by 8.7% in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Imperial said it had maintained its growth momentum in Africa and the Middle East, while value brands continued to increase share in Eastern Europe. It added that it is still managing to grow its mainstream and even its premium cigarette brands in these emerging markets.
"Despite the challenges of the wider operating environment, we anticipate another successful year," Chief Executive Gareth Davis in a statement.
The long-term trends in the cigarette industry of declining volumes, but rising revenue in the developed world and rising volumes and premiumization in developing markets seem little affected by the global downturn.
Updates from Altria Inc (MO), Philip Morris International Inc (PM), Reynolds American Inc (RAI) and Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (IMT.LN) in the last few days suggest that currency fluctuations rather than a global recession present the biggest headache in predicting earnings this year.
Looking further ahead, Japan Tobacco Inc (2914.TO) has moved to secure a stable sources of supplies of tobacco leaf.
Both Reynolds and PMI raised their full-year profit guidance Thursday after posting higher-than expected quarterly earnings, on the back of price increases and a change in currency expectations.
PMI benefited from a strong performance in emerging markets, with Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe all driving an 8.8% rise in underlying revenue, It even managed a 3.4% rise in sales in the European Union, as price hikes offset falling demand.
The strong dollar however resulted in an 8.6% fall in its sales once revenue was converted from local currency into dollars. PMI reports its results in dollars, despite having no operations in the U.S.
Philip Morris was spun off from Altria in March 2008.
Excise tax increases by developed markets in 2009 have allowed cigarette firms to push through their own price rises. As long as the rises in tobacco duty and shop prices aren't too dramatic, then they have limited impact on the long-term decline in consumption in those markets while providing a strong boost to revenue and earnings.
London-listed Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (IMT.LN) said Thursday its third-quarter performance was strong, despite volume falls in its main markets of Western Europe. Imperial said it was continuing to benefit from the growth of its value cigarette and fine cut tobacco brands in mature markets as prices rose.
These rising prices have not had a hugely negative effect on volumes in Europe. In the U.K., the cigarette market declined by just 1%. The decline has been far steeper in the last two years, after a ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants took effect in 2007.
In France, cigarette market volumes actually rose 2%, Imperial said as cross-border flows slowed and the impact of a similar smoking ban eased.
In the U.S. however, higher excise duties have hit volumes much harder, with the Federal government boosting cigarette tax to $1.01 per pack in April.
The country's largest cigarette-maker Altria saw its volumes fall 6.8% in the second quarter as a result, while its market share dropped 1.5 percentage points to 49.5% as competitors' increased promotions.
Imperial said the Federal tax increase had led to 10% drop in market volumes, though Imperial has only a 4.2% share of the U.S. market.
Price rises however meant this tax hike wasn't as painful for the country's tobacco sellers as it looked.
Reynolds' tobacco volumes may have dropped 6%, but earnings still rose 3.4%, with price increases and cost cutting more than offsetting the lower volumes.
Fears of even steeper tax hikes in Japan following recent elections have seen Japan Tobacco (2914.TO) shares losing ground in Tokyo this week. The fears offset the positive news that JT has bought two Brazilian leaf tobacco suppliers in order to secure long term leaf supplies outside Japan.
Emerging markets have represented an even safer haven for tobacco groups. Unlike the mature Western European and US markets, tobacco volumes are not declining in developing countries.
PMI grew its revenue before the impact of currency by 6.7% in Asia and by 8.7% in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Imperial said it had maintained its growth momentum in Africa and the Middle East, while value brands continued to increase share in Eastern Europe. It added that it is still managing to grow its mainstream and even its premium cigarette brands in these emerging markets.
"Despite the challenges of the wider operating environment, we anticipate another successful year," Chief Executive Gareth Davis in a statement.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tobacco is up – for cigars only
TOBACCO prices have been readjusted – but only the price of cigars and cigarillos has gone up, by 4% on average.
The price of cigarettes has remained stable and some brands of rolling tobacco have even dropped theirs slightly, between 1 - 3%.
Cigarettes have not had a price rise for two years and consumption in France has increased this year. The government therefore favours a price hike next year. If the tobacco industry does not do it voluntarily then it is expected tax on cigarettes will rise.
Recently the Académie Nationale de Médecine called for a “massive and reiterated” increase in price, considering that it would be the best way to get people to smoke less.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Needham board votes to ban tobacco sales in pharmacies
Starting this October, Needham’s pharmacies will no longer be selling cigarettes and other tobacco paraphernalia to local residents.
It is the third Massachusetts community to do so. Boston voted to ban sales last year, followed by Uxbridge, according to a local anti-tobacco activist. State legislation has also been filed.
"We certainly are supportive of it," said Russet Breslau, executive director of Tobacco Free Mass. referring to the ban passed in Needham. "We think there's a contradiction for pharmacies profiting from tobacco sales."
For those who would argue that such restrictions won't prevent people from smoking, she said, "It's a step in the right direction."
The Needham Board of Health voted 2-0 Tuesday to ban cigarette sales in local health-care institutions, saying that the sale of tobacco products conflicts with their mission to promote health and well-being, said Board of Health Chairman Dr. Stephen Epstein.
“It’s a comprehensive tobacco control regulation,” he said in a phone interview. “We’re not just regulating sale of cigarettes but all tobacco products in town.”
The ban primarily affects the three pharmacies in Needham, though these stores were not singled out in the new regulations, he said.
The new rules are consistent with state regulations allowing pharmacies with in-store clinics to be considered health-care institutions, and are modeled after initiatives to ban cigarette sales in Boston and San Francisco, he said. The rules are in addition to local regulations that prohibit the sale of tobacco products to people under the age of 21, he said.
“We looked at the regulations and were concerned with the marketing of new tobacco based products containing nicotine to minors, blunt papers in particular,” Epstein said. “Many of many of these products are flavored, packaged attractively and don’t taste like tobacco.”
The Needham vote comes after several months of public hearings and deliberations, he said. The Board’s third member, Dr. Peter Connolly, was absent from the meeting and did not vote, though he has expressed support for the regulations in the past, Epstein said.
“I’m reasonably confident he’s in support of this measure,” he said.
The new Needham regulations take effect on October 1st.
Meanwhile, legislation for a statewide restriction on the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies has a “very favorable outlook,” according to Don Siriani, Sen. Susan C. Fargo’s chief of staff.
Fargo, D-Lincoln, and Rep. Sean Garballey, D-Arlington, support identical bills filed in January titled, “An Act Restricting The Sale Of Tobacco Products At Locations Where Health Professionals Are Employed.”
“The bill has a lot of support in the House and the Senate,” said Garballey.
Fargo hopes the bill, which is currently in committee, will reach the Senate floor by the upcoming fall, though “it’s impossible to say,” when the bill could reach the governor’s desk for final approval, Siriani said.
According to the legislation, “The Act shall take effect on October 1, 2010,” if approved.
“The concept here is that people go to a pharmacy to maintain or increase their health … there are no other products in pharmacies that have a detrimental impact to a person’s health the way tobacco does,” said Siriani.
“It’s a unique bill in terms of restricting where a product can be sold,” he added. “[But], it’s not meant to stop people from smoking.”
The legislation is also supported by the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), which testified in favor of the bill on June 16 before the Joint Committee on Public Health.
“The Society said it recognizes that this legislation would not end the sale of tobacco products, but it said it ‘would send an important health message to our patients and be another step in saving lives and in reducing illness and the cost of health care in the Commonwealth,’ according to a statement from MMS.
The bills are Senate Bill 813 and House Bill 2054.
The Uxbridge Board of Health passed Article XXVI, "Board of Health Regulation Restricting the Sale of Tobacco Products in any Educational or Health Care Institution" on May 7, which went into effect on July 7. Pharmacies are included under "health care institution."
It is the third Massachusetts community to do so. Boston voted to ban sales last year, followed by Uxbridge, according to a local anti-tobacco activist. State legislation has also been filed.
"We certainly are supportive of it," said Russet Breslau, executive director of Tobacco Free Mass. referring to the ban passed in Needham. "We think there's a contradiction for pharmacies profiting from tobacco sales."
For those who would argue that such restrictions won't prevent people from smoking, she said, "It's a step in the right direction."
The Needham Board of Health voted 2-0 Tuesday to ban cigarette sales in local health-care institutions, saying that the sale of tobacco products conflicts with their mission to promote health and well-being, said Board of Health Chairman Dr. Stephen Epstein.
“It’s a comprehensive tobacco control regulation,” he said in a phone interview. “We’re not just regulating sale of cigarettes but all tobacco products in town.”
The ban primarily affects the three pharmacies in Needham, though these stores were not singled out in the new regulations, he said.
The new rules are consistent with state regulations allowing pharmacies with in-store clinics to be considered health-care institutions, and are modeled after initiatives to ban cigarette sales in Boston and San Francisco, he said. The rules are in addition to local regulations that prohibit the sale of tobacco products to people under the age of 21, he said.
“We looked at the regulations and were concerned with the marketing of new tobacco based products containing nicotine to minors, blunt papers in particular,” Epstein said. “Many of many of these products are flavored, packaged attractively and don’t taste like tobacco.”
The Needham vote comes after several months of public hearings and deliberations, he said. The Board’s third member, Dr. Peter Connolly, was absent from the meeting and did not vote, though he has expressed support for the regulations in the past, Epstein said.
“I’m reasonably confident he’s in support of this measure,” he said.
The new Needham regulations take effect on October 1st.
Meanwhile, legislation for a statewide restriction on the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies has a “very favorable outlook,” according to Don Siriani, Sen. Susan C. Fargo’s chief of staff.
Fargo, D-Lincoln, and Rep. Sean Garballey, D-Arlington, support identical bills filed in January titled, “An Act Restricting The Sale Of Tobacco Products At Locations Where Health Professionals Are Employed.”
“The bill has a lot of support in the House and the Senate,” said Garballey.
Fargo hopes the bill, which is currently in committee, will reach the Senate floor by the upcoming fall, though “it’s impossible to say,” when the bill could reach the governor’s desk for final approval, Siriani said.
According to the legislation, “The Act shall take effect on October 1, 2010,” if approved.
“The concept here is that people go to a pharmacy to maintain or increase their health … there are no other products in pharmacies that have a detrimental impact to a person’s health the way tobacco does,” said Siriani.
“It’s a unique bill in terms of restricting where a product can be sold,” he added. “[But], it’s not meant to stop people from smoking.”
The legislation is also supported by the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), which testified in favor of the bill on June 16 before the Joint Committee on Public Health.
“The Society said it recognizes that this legislation would not end the sale of tobacco products, but it said it ‘would send an important health message to our patients and be another step in saving lives and in reducing illness and the cost of health care in the Commonwealth,’ according to a statement from MMS.
The bills are Senate Bill 813 and House Bill 2054.
The Uxbridge Board of Health passed Article XXVI, "Board of Health Regulation Restricting the Sale of Tobacco Products in any Educational or Health Care Institution" on May 7, which went into effect on July 7. Pharmacies are included under "health care institution."
Friday, July 17, 2009
Court Smokes Out Tobacco Company's Cartoon Ad
An advertisement in a 2007 issue of Rolling Stone magazine violated a tobacco company's agreement with 46 states not to use cartoons in tobacco ads, the Washington Court of Appeals ruled.
Tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds took out a four-page ad in the Nov. 15, 2007 issue of Rolling Stone to promote its "Camel Farm" campaign, aimed at rock music fans. The collage-style ad featured images of livestock, crops and a tractor juxtaposed with stereo equipment and televisions. Above the images were the Camel logo and the title "The Farm Free Range Music, Committed to Supporting & Promoting Independent Record Labels." The pages folded out to reveal drawings of indie artists and bands, with illustrations such as an anthropomorphized planet, a guitar-playing robot and a rocket-powered audio speaker.
Eight states sued over the ad, claiming it violated the tobacco company's 1998 master settlement agreement with 46 states, including Washington. That agreement barred settling tobacco companies from using cartoons in their ads to target children.
Courts in Ohio and Maine said the Rolling Stones ad didn't constitute a cartoon.
R.J. Reynolds claimed it didn't know that the ad would contain cartoon images, because it wasn't responsible for the editorial content.
The trial judge in Washington ruled for the company, and the state appealed.
The appellate court agreed that the tobacco company isn't liable, but reversed on the ground that the ad violated the master settlement agreement.
Because the ad "depends entirely upon suspension of the laws of nature," Judge Anne Ellington wrote, it falls under the definition of a cartoon.
"Under a blue sky in a pastoral Eden, roosters hitch rides on floating tractors, speakers grow out of the ground and radios fly," Ellington wrote. "This is in a world where the natural laws do not obtain, where cancer and serious health problems can cease to exist."
The appellate court reversed and remanded to determine the appropriate course of action against the company.
Tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds took out a four-page ad in the Nov. 15, 2007 issue of Rolling Stone to promote its "Camel Farm" campaign, aimed at rock music fans. The collage-style ad featured images of livestock, crops and a tractor juxtaposed with stereo equipment and televisions. Above the images were the Camel logo and the title "The Farm Free Range Music, Committed to Supporting & Promoting Independent Record Labels." The pages folded out to reveal drawings of indie artists and bands, with illustrations such as an anthropomorphized planet, a guitar-playing robot and a rocket-powered audio speaker.
Eight states sued over the ad, claiming it violated the tobacco company's 1998 master settlement agreement with 46 states, including Washington. That agreement barred settling tobacco companies from using cartoons in their ads to target children.
Courts in Ohio and Maine said the Rolling Stones ad didn't constitute a cartoon.
R.J. Reynolds claimed it didn't know that the ad would contain cartoon images, because it wasn't responsible for the editorial content.
The trial judge in Washington ruled for the company, and the state appealed.
The appellate court agreed that the tobacco company isn't liable, but reversed on the ground that the ad violated the master settlement agreement.
Because the ad "depends entirely upon suspension of the laws of nature," Judge Anne Ellington wrote, it falls under the definition of a cartoon.
"Under a blue sky in a pastoral Eden, roosters hitch rides on floating tractors, speakers grow out of the ground and radios fly," Ellington wrote. "This is in a world where the natural laws do not obtain, where cancer and serious health problems can cease to exist."
The appellate court reversed and remanded to determine the appropriate course of action against the company.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Accenture wins British American Tobacco deal
Consulting and outsourcing services provider Accenture has won a five-year contract from British American Tobacco to improve the design, development, and implementation of IT applications supporting its business operations. Datamonitor estimates the contract to be worth approximately $20m.
The companies will work together to design applications for British American Tobacco's functions, including finance, supply chain, sales, and marketing. Accenture will develop applications for global, regional, and local use, and provide services through a joint application development center with British American Tobacco in Spain and through the Accenture Global Delivery Network that includes delivery centers in the Philippines and India.
The companies will work together to design applications for British American Tobacco's functions, including finance, supply chain, sales, and marketing. Accenture will develop applications for global, regional, and local use, and provide services through a joint application development center with British American Tobacco in Spain and through the Accenture Global Delivery Network that includes delivery centers in the Philippines and India.
Monday, July 13, 2009
On the rise
Health officials in West Virginia have to be disheartened about the latest tobacco sales statistics in the Mountain State.
The Synar Report submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that about 17.9 percent of 458 retailers subject to random inspections sold tobacco products to minors. That is up from 14.2 percent the previous year.
The Synar report, named for an Oklahoma congressman, is part of the method the federal government uses for dispensing grant money.
Not only is the increased use of tobacco by teen-agers a health concern, it is a monetary issue as well. If the percentage of retailers selling tobacco to minors goes over 20 percent, West Virginia could lose about $3.4 million in substance abuse grants.
“No tobacco is supposed to be sold to kids,” said Bruce Adkins, director of West Virginia’s Division of tobacco Prevention.
Obviously, adults are aiding children in obtaining cigarettes and smokeless tobacco — either by buying it or selling it.
Compared to other states, West Virginia’s tabacco use rate is abysmal. While the West Virginia rate is just under 18 percent, the weighted average rate of all states is 10.5 percent.
The West Virgina Alcohol Beverage Control Administration is the enforcement agency for underage tobacco sales. And while it receives $200,000 in federal funding each year to try to curb illegal tobacco sales, more obviously needs to be done. More undercover investigations and more education programs are needed — especially when it comes to convincing retailers about the importance of keeping tobacco away from minors.
The more state officials, parents, educators, students and the community at large talk about the tobacco problem, the more likely West Virginia’s high rate of illegal use will drop.
It’s a problem that did not occur overnight. And one that will not go away in just a year or two.
The Synar Report submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that about 17.9 percent of 458 retailers subject to random inspections sold tobacco products to minors. That is up from 14.2 percent the previous year.
The Synar report, named for an Oklahoma congressman, is part of the method the federal government uses for dispensing grant money.
Not only is the increased use of tobacco by teen-agers a health concern, it is a monetary issue as well. If the percentage of retailers selling tobacco to minors goes over 20 percent, West Virginia could lose about $3.4 million in substance abuse grants.
“No tobacco is supposed to be sold to kids,” said Bruce Adkins, director of West Virginia’s Division of tobacco Prevention.
Obviously, adults are aiding children in obtaining cigarettes and smokeless tobacco — either by buying it or selling it.
Compared to other states, West Virginia’s tabacco use rate is abysmal. While the West Virginia rate is just under 18 percent, the weighted average rate of all states is 10.5 percent.
The West Virgina Alcohol Beverage Control Administration is the enforcement agency for underage tobacco sales. And while it receives $200,000 in federal funding each year to try to curb illegal tobacco sales, more obviously needs to be done. More undercover investigations and more education programs are needed — especially when it comes to convincing retailers about the importance of keeping tobacco away from minors.
The more state officials, parents, educators, students and the community at large talk about the tobacco problem, the more likely West Virginia’s high rate of illegal use will drop.
It’s a problem that did not occur overnight. And one that will not go away in just a year or two.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Massachusetts are eligible to get up to $700 from legal settlement
At least 15,000 purchasers of chewing tobacco in Massachusetts could be eligible for a piece of a $10.65 million class action settlement with U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., according to a lawyer for plaintiffs who sued the company.
The plaintiffs’ legal team, which had alleged that UST artificially inflated the cost of chewing tobacco through its large market share, has launched a Web site to explain to consumers how they can access their share of the settlement.
Frequent purchasers of chewing tobacco could be eligible to get up to $700 depending on how many UST products – which include the Copenhagen and Skoal brands – they purchased from Jan. 1, 1990, through May 21. Infrequent purchasers could get $25 to $100.
Robert Bonsignore, one of the lawyers who represented the plaintiffs, said he was initially approached by chewing-tobacco users about filing a lawsuit after Conwood, a competitor of UST’s, had made similar claims against the company. The suit was filed in Suffolk Superior Court in 2001, and was one of several similar class action suits across the country, Bonsignore said.
Both sides in the Massachusetts fight eventually reached an agreement. That settlement was approved on May 22 by Suffolk Superior Court Judge Stephen Neel.
“They fought it hard for a lot of years,” Bonsignore said of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, which is now part of Altria Group. “Both sides understood there were great risks (with moving forward with the case, so) we sat down and tried to come to a fair and reasonable settlement.”
A portion of the settlement amount will be used to pay the plaintiffs’ legal costs. Any funds that are left over would be contributed through court-approved donations to charities that haven’t been named yet.
The plaintiffs’ legal team, which had alleged that UST artificially inflated the cost of chewing tobacco through its large market share, has launched a Web site to explain to consumers how they can access their share of the settlement.
Frequent purchasers of chewing tobacco could be eligible to get up to $700 depending on how many UST products – which include the Copenhagen and Skoal brands – they purchased from Jan. 1, 1990, through May 21. Infrequent purchasers could get $25 to $100.
Robert Bonsignore, one of the lawyers who represented the plaintiffs, said he was initially approached by chewing-tobacco users about filing a lawsuit after Conwood, a competitor of UST’s, had made similar claims against the company. The suit was filed in Suffolk Superior Court in 2001, and was one of several similar class action suits across the country, Bonsignore said.
Both sides in the Massachusetts fight eventually reached an agreement. That settlement was approved on May 22 by Suffolk Superior Court Judge Stephen Neel.
“They fought it hard for a lot of years,” Bonsignore said of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, which is now part of Altria Group. “Both sides understood there were great risks (with moving forward with the case, so) we sat down and tried to come to a fair and reasonable settlement.”
A portion of the settlement amount will be used to pay the plaintiffs’ legal costs. Any funds that are left over would be contributed through court-approved donations to charities that haven’t been named yet.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
President Obama not perfect: Former smoker admits to occasional cigarette
Maybe President Obama didn't pick the best time to give up smoking.
At least that's how it looks after Obama admitted Tuesday he is only "95% cured" and that "there are times when I mess up."
Experts say cut the guy a break - it's understandable.
"Stress is a big part of why someone smokes, and he has one of the most stressful jobs in the world," said Russell Sciandra, a tobacco policy specialist at the American Cancer Society of New York and New Jersey.
You want stress? Obama took over the White House facing two wars, the worst recession in 70 years and escalating nuclear threats. And that was after a bruising two-year campaign, which he launched after promising wife Michelle he would kick his butts habit.
"As a former smoker, I constantly struggle with it," Obama said at a White House news conference in between making his pitches for comprehensive health care reform, a new energy policy and a halt to Iranian repression of dissent.
"Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes? Yes," he said. "Am I a daily smoker, a constant smoker? No."
And, after noting the tobacco law he signed Monday was meant to protect children, he insisted he sets a good example for his daughters, Sasha, 8, and Malia, 10.
"I don't do it in front of my kids. I don't do it in front of my family," said Obama. "I would say that I am 95% cured. But there are times ... where I mess up.
Sciandra thought it might actually be harder for a President to keep from lighting up, because the commander in chief - when the First Lady is not around - is surrounded by minions eager to please.
'Most of us don't have someone to buy a pack of cigarettes for us," Sciandra said.
He added that Obama had the right attitude. "He recognizes that this a long-term process, and the only way to get to zero is to keep it to one," Sciandra said.
And he also offered a bit of advice.
"Do not not regard a slip as a failure," he said. "Instead, reflect and ask yourself 'Why did I want that cigarette.'"
Obama might have wanted one after his news conference. Reporters hammered him on Republican complaints that his economic stimulus package was failing and that a government-run health insurance option would put private insurers out of business.
Obama mocked the insurers' complaint, arguing that they should have nothing to fear if they are really doing a good job for American consumers.
"If private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best-quality health care, if they tell us that they're offering a good deal, then why is it that the government, which they say can't run anything, suddenly is going to drive them out of business?" he mocked. "That's not logical."
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Stocks and consumption of tobacco leaf
Large stocks of tobacco are common in Turkey. Year-end stocks in 1999 were estimated at over 500 000 tonnes, representing a 12 percent increase from the previous year and a 32 percent increase from 1990. However, their poor quality prevents their use in cigarette production. The government has been attempting to reduce oriental tobacco stocks through production control, stimulating exports by COMPOSITION OF IMPORT.
ISSUES IN THE GLOBAL TOBACCO ECONOMY 81 reducing prices, and stock disposal via burning. Nearly 125 000 tonnes of tobacco were destroyed in the last 10 years, nominally worth US$177 million. According to the supply utilization account for tobacco in unmanufactured dry tobacco equivalents, over the last decade, tobacco consumption in Turkey has decreased by over 20 percent.
ISSUES IN THE GLOBAL TOBACCO ECONOMY 81 reducing prices, and stock disposal via burning. Nearly 125 000 tonnes of tobacco were destroyed in the last 10 years, nominally worth US$177 million. According to the supply utilization account for tobacco in unmanufactured dry tobacco equivalents, over the last decade, tobacco consumption in Turkey has decreased by over 20 percent.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Extraterritorial Effect
The injunction prohibits the use of “any express or implied health message or health descriptor for any cigarette brand.”
The government concedes that this prohibition “should not be read to govern overseas activities with no domestic effect.”
But because paragraph four contains no such limiting language, we vacate that provision and remand for the district court to reformulate it so as to exempt foreign activities that have no substantial, direct, and foreseeable domestic effects.
The government concedes that this prohibition “should not be read to govern overseas activities with no domestic effect.”
But because paragraph four contains no such limiting language, we vacate that provision and remand for the district court to reformulate it so as to exempt foreign activities that have no substantial, direct, and foreseeable domestic effects.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Defendants’ own stipulations and admissions
Defendants question whether the district court clearly found a scheme to defraud, the finding on this question is explicit: “The Government has proven that the Enterprise knowingly and intentionally engaged in a scheme to defraud smokers and potential smokers, for purposes of financial gain, by making false and fraudulent statements, representations, and promises.”
The district court explains, in great detail, the seven components of the scheme to defraud. The court also held that “each of the alleged mailings and wire transmissions was in furtherance of the overarching scheme to defraud.” Thus it follows that any mailing or wire transmission found to have been made was found to have been a mail or wire fraud offense and therefore a racketeering act. Seventy-nine of the alleged acts were established by Defendants’ own stipulations and admissions.
Altogether, the court enumerated 108 racketeering acts in the opinion, as well as six others which it excluded on First Amendment grounds. This total does not include the many other findings which may be tied to other racketeering acts, but for which the district court did not provide a specific list. It is clear beyond any question that Defendants caused the mailings and wire transmissions underlying the 30 Racketeering Acts involving the news media’s dissemination of Defendants’ press releases and advertisements to their subscribers.”
The district court explains, in great detail, the seven components of the scheme to defraud. The court also held that “each of the alleged mailings and wire transmissions was in furtherance of the overarching scheme to defraud.” Thus it follows that any mailing or wire transmission found to have been made was found to have been a mail or wire fraud offense and therefore a racketeering act. Seventy-nine of the alleged acts were established by Defendants’ own stipulations and admissions.
Altogether, the court enumerated 108 racketeering acts in the opinion, as well as six others which it excluded on First Amendment grounds. This total does not include the many other findings which may be tied to other racketeering acts, but for which the district court did not provide a specific list. It is clear beyond any question that Defendants caused the mailings and wire transmissions underlying the 30 Racketeering Acts involving the news media’s dissemination of Defendants’ press releases and advertisements to their subscribers.”
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
National Health Service Stop Smoking Service
The United Kingdom government implemented a comprehensive National Health Service Stop Smoking Service to provide counselling, support and medications to smokers who want to quit. In 2004, the National Health Service dispensed approximately two million prescriptions for nicotine replacement therapy, valued at about £44 million (about US$ 90 million at 2007 exchange rates).
An evaluation found that these cessation services reduce health inequalities, result in longterm quit rates of about 15% at 52 weeks (comparable to results of clinical trials) and are cost effective.110 In Brazil, the government began to fund smoking cessation treatment in 2004. Treatment includes brief advice by health-care staff and pharmaceutical products such as nicotine patches and bupropion provided at no cost to patients. Between 2004 and 2006, 22 of 27 Brazilian states helped around 50 000 smokers try to quit, of whom about 45% used medications and about 40% remained abstinent after four weeks.
Brazil also has a government-sponsored quit line; its telephone number must be printed on health warnings for all tobacco products as well as on advertising at retail outlets.111 Given the immense burden of illness and death caused by tobacco and the existence of effective treatment, cessation services should be included in government health-care services. While some types of cessation treatment are less expensive than others, all require government expenditure, which can be difficult for some countries to fund. Incorporating tobacco cessation into existing health-care programmes is a key part of the solution.
Tobacco tax increases can fund cessation treatment that will save lives and greatly reduce the burden of disease and the economic loss caused by the epidemic.
An evaluation found that these cessation services reduce health inequalities, result in longterm quit rates of about 15% at 52 weeks (comparable to results of clinical trials) and are cost effective.110 In Brazil, the government began to fund smoking cessation treatment in 2004. Treatment includes brief advice by health-care staff and pharmaceutical products such as nicotine patches and bupropion provided at no cost to patients. Between 2004 and 2006, 22 of 27 Brazilian states helped around 50 000 smokers try to quit, of whom about 45% used medications and about 40% remained abstinent after four weeks.
Brazil also has a government-sponsored quit line; its telephone number must be printed on health warnings for all tobacco products as well as on advertising at retail outlets.111 Given the immense burden of illness and death caused by tobacco and the existence of effective treatment, cessation services should be included in government health-care services. While some types of cessation treatment are less expensive than others, all require government expenditure, which can be difficult for some countries to fund. Incorporating tobacco cessation into existing health-care programmes is a key part of the solution.
Tobacco tax increases can fund cessation treatment that will save lives and greatly reduce the burden of disease and the economic loss caused by the epidemic.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Israel attorney files a lawsuit against local Tobacco Company
The first ever collective lawsuit against menthol cigarettes was filled by Israel major anti-smoking attorney Amos Hausner, who told The Jerusalem Post reporter that he would act on behalf of thousands smokers who have suffering from lung cancer caused by smoking menthol cigarettes.
Amos Hausner is going to represent the Shuki family, residents of Rehovot, a small city near Israel’s capital Tel Aviv. Hausner said that he received a letter from Shlomo Shuki, the husband of Sarah Shuki who passed away at the age of 45 from lungs cancer after 15 years of smoking Montana cigarettes produced by Israeli manufacturer Dubek. The attorney said that the desperate man asked him to file the lawsuit against the cigarette manufacturer in order to prevent deaths caused by menthol cigarettes.
Hausner would also represent almost 3,000 Israeli people who were hooked on smoking menthol cigarettes of the same brand and had been diagnosed with several forms of cancer, including lung cancer and throat cancer within the last six years. According to the local legislation, the general period of limitations on the cigarette producer's liability for the detriment resulted from the use of its production is over after seven years from the moment medical examination.
Amos Hausner is going to represent the Shuki family, residents of Rehovot, a small city near Israel’s capital Tel Aviv. Hausner said that he received a letter from Shlomo Shuki, the husband of Sarah Shuki who passed away at the age of 45 from lungs cancer after 15 years of smoking Montana cigarettes produced by Israeli manufacturer Dubek. The attorney said that the desperate man asked him to file the lawsuit against the cigarette manufacturer in order to prevent deaths caused by menthol cigarettes.
Hausner would also represent almost 3,000 Israeli people who were hooked on smoking menthol cigarettes of the same brand and had been diagnosed with several forms of cancer, including lung cancer and throat cancer within the last six years. According to the local legislation, the general period of limitations on the cigarette producer's liability for the detriment resulted from the use of its production is over after seven years from the moment medical examination.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Gauloises - French brand of cigarette
Gauloises are a French brand of cigarette, manufactured by Altadis. The name means "Gallic [cigarettes]", and the emblem is the helmet of a Gallic warrior. The brand first appeared in 1910. In 1925 the packaging was redesigned to a distinctive blue packet with a helmet design which is still used today. Filtered Gauloises appeared in the 1950's. When the brand first appeared it was made from dark tobacco, but in 1984 the brand was extended to an American type blend of light tobacco, named Gauloises Blondes.
A Gauloise lower tar version is also available, sold in a red packet. Gauloise remain a popular brand of cigarattes worldwide, although sales have declined in recent years with the decline of cigarette smoking. In September 2005, production in France ceased, and now the cigarettes are solely produced in Spain. The move followed from declining sales in France. The brand is most famous for its very high strength cigarettes, especially in its original unfiltered form.
The writer Jean Paul Sartre was a famous smoker of Gauloises, and was rarely pictured without a cigarette in his hand. George Orwell also mentions that he smokes the brand in Down and Out in Paris and London. This, together with the romantic associations of France, makes Gauloises a popular brand among some writers and artists. The brand is also featured in the Roman Polanski film The Tenant.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Cigarette Ad 62 Marlboro, Camel
1962 Astronaut Racer Betty Skelton Camel Cigarette Ad
Smoking more now… But enjoying it less? Have a real cigarette…CAMEL The best tobacco makes the best smoke
1962 Camel Ad-RON MUSSON Speedboat Racer
CAMEL EVERY INCH A REAL SMOKE! There’s no cigarette like a Carmel. Its taste is distinctive. Alert. All there. You’ll find Camels got swagger – yet it’s smooth. Get the clean-cut taste of rich tobaccos. Get with Camel. Every inch a real smoke. ….comfortably smooth, too! The best tobacco makes the best smoke
1962 Camel Ad-RON MUSSON Speedboat Racer - CAMEL EVERY INCH A REAL SMOKE! There’s no cigarette like a Carmel. Its taste is distinctive. Alert. All there. You’ll find Camels got swagger – yet it’s smooth. Get the clean-cut taste of rich tobaccos. Get with Camel. Every inch a real smoke. ….comfortably smooth, too! The best tobacco makes the best smoke
1962 Green Bay Packers Paul Hornung Marlboro Ad
Why don’t you settle back and have a full-flavored smoke? Marlboro The filter cigarette with the unfiltered taste Paul Hornung: Green Bay halfback and 1961 National Football League Player of the Year. Paul’s a Marlboro man all the way.
1962 Green Bay Packers Paul Hornung Marlboro Ad - Why don’t you settle back and have a full-flavored smoke? Marlboro The filter cigarette with the unfiltered taste Paul Hornung: Green Bay halfback and 1961 National Football League Player of the Year. Paul’s a Marlboro man all the way.
1962 Marlboro Cigarette Man Hand Eagle Tattoo Ad - Flavor you can get hold of Marlboro The filter cigarette with the unfiltered taste. You get a lot to like.
1962 NY Yankees Roger Maris Camel Cigarette Ad - Smoking more now but enjoying it less? Change to Camel! Have a real cigarette CAMEL “For a smooth, rich-tasting smoke, you just can’t top Camels!” - Roger Maris The best tobacco makes the best smoke
1962 Marlboro Cigarette Man Hand Eagle Tattoo Ad
Flavor you can get hold of Marlboro The filter cigarette with the unfiltered taste. You get a lot to like.
1962 NY Yankees Roger Maris Camel Cigarette Ad
Smoking more now but enjoying it less? Change to Camel! Have a real cigarette CAMEL “For a smooth, rich-tasting smoke, you just can’t top Camels!” --Roger Maris The best tobacco makes the best smoke
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Cigarette History
Cigarette History Cigarettes have existed in the history of mankind since the historical days. The first cigarette that rolls up with tobacco happened when Christopher Columbus' people met the red Indians on Cuba in 1942. The word tobacco originated from Indians' words: tobago and tobacca. Tobacco is related to garden vegetables, flowers, weeds, and poisonous herbs such as potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, petunias, jimson wood, ground cherries, and nightshade. Originally, Native Americans in the eastern United States grew Nicotiana rustica, which was the first form of tobacco introduced in England and Portugal. N. Tabacam, first introduced to the Spanish, was obtained from Mexico and South America.
It has been the preferred tobacco since settlers in Jamestown, Virginia, began growing it, Why Do We Smoke? from The Psychology of Everyday Living by Ernest Dichter 1947 None of the much flaunted appeals of cigarette advertisers, such as superior taste and mildness, induces us to become smokers or to choose one brand in preference to another. Despite the emphasis put on such qualities by advertisers, they are minor considerations. This is one of the first facts we discovered when we asked several hundred people, from all walks of life, why they liked to smoke cigarettes. Smoking is as much a psychological pleasure as it is a physiological satisfaction. As one of our respondents explained: "It is not the taste that counts. It's that sense of satisfaction you get from a cigarette that you can't get from anything else." Smoking is Fun What is the nature of this psychological pleasure? It can be traced to the universal desire for self-expression. None of us ever completely outgrows his childhood. We are constantly hunting for the carefree enjoyment we knew as children. As we grew older, we had to subordinate our pleasures to work and to the necessity for unceasing effort. Smoking, for many of us, then, became a substitute for our early habit of following the whims of the moment; it becomes a legitimate excuse for interrupting work and snatching a moment of pleasure. "You sometimes get tired of working intensely," said an accountant whom we interviewed, "and if you sit back for the length of a cigarette, you feel much fresher afterwards. It's a peculiar thing, but I wouldn't think of just sitting back without a cigarette. I guess a cigarette somehow gives me a good excuse." "I Blow My Troubles Away"
In times of high tension, cigarettes provide relief, as indicated by the following typical comments of one of our respondents: "When I have a problem, and it comes back and back, warningly saying, 'Well, what are you going to do about this?' a cigarette almost acts like a consolation. Somehow it relieves the pressure on my chest. The feeling of relief is almost like what you feel in your chest after you have cried because something has hurt you very much. Relaxing is not the right kind of word for that feeling. It is like having been in a stuffy room for a long time and at last getting out for a deep breath of air." That man's explanation comes very close to stating the scientific reason why smoking brings relief. Worry, anxiety, depress us not only psychologically but also physiologically. When a person feels depressed, the rhythm of his breathing becomes upset. A short and shallow breath creates a heavy feeling in the chest. Smoking may relieve mental depression by forcing a rhythmic expansion of the breast and thus restoring the normal pace of breathing. The "weight on the chest" is removed.
This connection between smoking and respiration accounts for the common expression, "Smoking helps us to let off steam." When we are enraged, we breathe heavily. Smoking makes us breath more steadily, and thus calms us down. Cigarette Taste Has to Be Acquired Most people like the smell of tobacco but dislike the taste of a cigarette. Frequently we were reminded that "a cigarette never tastes as good as it smells. One usually very much dislikes his first cigarette. Taste for cigarettes must be acquired slowly. And whenever a smoker tries out a new brand, with a lightly different taste, he finds that he has to repeat this process of becoming accustomed to the taste.
It has been the preferred tobacco since settlers in Jamestown, Virginia, began growing it, Why Do We Smoke? from The Psychology of Everyday Living by Ernest Dichter 1947 None of the much flaunted appeals of cigarette advertisers, such as superior taste and mildness, induces us to become smokers or to choose one brand in preference to another. Despite the emphasis put on such qualities by advertisers, they are minor considerations. This is one of the first facts we discovered when we asked several hundred people, from all walks of life, why they liked to smoke cigarettes. Smoking is as much a psychological pleasure as it is a physiological satisfaction. As one of our respondents explained: "It is not the taste that counts. It's that sense of satisfaction you get from a cigarette that you can't get from anything else." Smoking is Fun What is the nature of this psychological pleasure? It can be traced to the universal desire for self-expression. None of us ever completely outgrows his childhood. We are constantly hunting for the carefree enjoyment we knew as children. As we grew older, we had to subordinate our pleasures to work and to the necessity for unceasing effort. Smoking, for many of us, then, became a substitute for our early habit of following the whims of the moment; it becomes a legitimate excuse for interrupting work and snatching a moment of pleasure. "You sometimes get tired of working intensely," said an accountant whom we interviewed, "and if you sit back for the length of a cigarette, you feel much fresher afterwards. It's a peculiar thing, but I wouldn't think of just sitting back without a cigarette. I guess a cigarette somehow gives me a good excuse." "I Blow My Troubles Away"
In times of high tension, cigarettes provide relief, as indicated by the following typical comments of one of our respondents: "When I have a problem, and it comes back and back, warningly saying, 'Well, what are you going to do about this?' a cigarette almost acts like a consolation. Somehow it relieves the pressure on my chest. The feeling of relief is almost like what you feel in your chest after you have cried because something has hurt you very much. Relaxing is not the right kind of word for that feeling. It is like having been in a stuffy room for a long time and at last getting out for a deep breath of air." That man's explanation comes very close to stating the scientific reason why smoking brings relief. Worry, anxiety, depress us not only psychologically but also physiologically. When a person feels depressed, the rhythm of his breathing becomes upset. A short and shallow breath creates a heavy feeling in the chest. Smoking may relieve mental depression by forcing a rhythmic expansion of the breast and thus restoring the normal pace of breathing. The "weight on the chest" is removed.
This connection between smoking and respiration accounts for the common expression, "Smoking helps us to let off steam." When we are enraged, we breathe heavily. Smoking makes us breath more steadily, and thus calms us down. Cigarette Taste Has to Be Acquired Most people like the smell of tobacco but dislike the taste of a cigarette. Frequently we were reminded that "a cigarette never tastes as good as it smells. One usually very much dislikes his first cigarette. Taste for cigarettes must be acquired slowly. And whenever a smoker tries out a new brand, with a lightly different taste, he finds that he has to repeat this process of becoming accustomed to the taste.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tax on alcohol and cigarettes rises
Chancellor Alistair Darling raised duty on alcohol and tobacco on Wednesday, prompting the pub industry to say he had signed the "death warrant" for thousands of bars.
"Alcohol duties will go up by 2 percent from midnight tonight and there will be an increase in tobacco duty of two percent from 6pm this evening," Darling said in his second budget.
The Tobacco Manufacturers' Association (TMA) said the rise would add some seven pence to a packet of 20 cigarettes.
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) attacked the measures which will add about six pence to a pint of beer, saying they would lead to many more closures,
Pubs are closing at a rate of six a day across Britain, clobbered by recession, smoking bans, rising costs and competition from supermarket bargains.
"Today's Budget signs the death warrant for thousands of Britain's pubs and for tens of thousands of British jobs," the BBPA said.
"In imposing these additional beer taxes, the government has wilfully ignored the views of the public, landlords, consumer groups, industry representatives and MPs from all parties who have been calling for action to save the British pub," it said.
Citing figures from forecasters Oxford Economics, the BBPA says 20,000 jobs have gone across the sector in the last year, with a further 59,000 projected to be lost in the next five years.Thursday, April 16, 2009
Lucky Strike Cigarettes Green
The brand's signature dark green pack was changed to white in 1942. In a famous advertising campaign that used the slogan "Lucky Strike Cigarettes Green has gone to war", the company claimed the change was made because the copper used in the green color was needed for World War II. American Tobacco actually used chromium to produce the green ink, and copper to produce the gold-colored trim.
A limited supply of each was available, and substitute materials made the package look drab. However, the truth of the matter was that the white package was introduced to modernize the label and to increase the appeal of the package among female smokers; market studies showed that the green package was not found attractive to women smokers who had become an important consumer of tobacco products. The war effort became a convenient way to make the product more marketable while appearing as patriotic at the same time.
A limited supply of each was available, and substitute materials made the package look drab. However, the truth of the matter was that the white package was introduced to modernize the label and to increase the appeal of the package among female smokers; market studies showed that the green package was not found attractive to women smokers who had become an important consumer of tobacco products. The war effort became a convenient way to make the product more marketable while appearing as patriotic at the same time.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
New release from Montecristo
New release from Montecristo is the little brother of the reknown Montecristo Edmundo. The Montecristo Petit Edmundo measures 110mm in length with a ring gauge of 52. The Petit Edmundo is classified as a petit robusto and measures exactly an inch shorter than the Montecristo Edmundo. Hoyo de Monterrey released the Petit Robusto in 2004 which was the first release of this size. This vitola is consistent with the current trend of thicker gauged and shorter Cuban cigars. The concept being a full, complex smoking experience in a shorter amount of time. It guess that’s the way of the world! Partnering the Petit Edmundo for the review was the equally creamy Kilkenny Irish Ale.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Skills and experience of generations
Relying on the skills and experience of generations, Karelia guarantees the highest standard of quality. The state-of-the-art production facilities are among the most advanced in Europe, with a capacity to produce over 15 billion Cigarettes per year. Karelia currently exports its premium brands to over sixty countries around the world in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Africa and Middle East. Its products can also be purchased at selected international duty-free airport stores and border shops. The Company has recently established a new subsidiary, Karelia Tobacco Company Ltd., for the purpose of selling its brands on the English domestic market. The brand Karelia Slims was launched and distributed in all the major stores and specialist tobacconist shops.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sobranie Cocktail or Sobranie Black Russian
Sobraine are produced for ladies with slim features and bright colors which attracted many women. You can select from Sobranie Cocktail and Sobranie Black Russian. Sobraine Cocktail cigarettes have five divide pastel shades with a gold foil filter. It has the same ring gauge as standard cigarette but the look of the cigarettes is what creates this brand so unique. Sobraine Black Russian cigarettes are black with a gold foil filter. Other variants of Sobraine cigarettes are Sobranie Classic Cigarettes, Sobranie Classic Lights, Sobranie Black Russian, Sobranie White Russian, Sobranie Cocktail Cigarettes, Sobranie Blues Cigarettes, Sobranie Mints Cigarettes, Sobranie Pinks Cigarettes and Sobranie Whites Cigarettes. These fashion trademarks of cigarettes are packed in an elegant and eminent manner with its stylish design. The cigarette pack is decorated by graphics with a single glossy color and a delicate image. With its pleasant calligraphy, smokers will surely be attracted. Its length, slimness and color, makes the cigarette different from other brands. The exclusivity of Sobraine cigarettes is what is very appealing not only to the women who smoke them but also to the men who notice them.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Parliament Cigarettes campaign
From the Full Flavor, Out Of The Clear Blue campaign, blue-hued tropical scene your Parliament Cigarettes.
Parliaments are generally characterized by a sharp, tangy flavor. They are referred to by teenagers in America as "Parlies" or "Parlie Lights," which refer as one might expect to the light variety. Other popular nicknames for the full flavor and lights, respectively, include "P-Funks" and "P-Lights." The former takes its name from the popular funk group P-Funk, or Parliament Funkadelic, most famous for its headliner, George Clinton. Though Parliaments represent a small share of Philip Morris's cigarette sales (1.7% based on sales figures in the first quarter of 2004), they are rather popular among smokers in their 20s in the United States and Russia. Parliament cigarette brand can be even considered a kind of a phenomenon of the Russian market. The sales of Parliaments Cigarettes in Russia constitute almost 15%, while on American market the sale of Parliament has fallen to 3.5% from the entire Philip Morris range of products. Therefore, Parliament can be now considered the leader among premium-segment brands on the Russian market. In the mid-1970s, Parliament cigarettes were the first to be sold outside of the US. However, Parliament occupied strong positions only in Japan, Argentina, Israel, Turkey, and recently in Russia. On the rest of European markets, Parliament Cigarettes are not very well-known. Nevertheless, Philip Morris decided to launch a small but focused campaign, assuming that a huge ad campaign could negatively affect the image of a premium cigarette brand.
Parliaments are generally characterized by a sharp, tangy flavor. They are referred to by teenagers in America as "Parlies" or "Parlie Lights," which refer as one might expect to the light variety. Other popular nicknames for the full flavor and lights, respectively, include "P-Funks" and "P-Lights." The former takes its name from the popular funk group P-Funk, or Parliament Funkadelic, most famous for its headliner, George Clinton. Though Parliaments represent a small share of Philip Morris's cigarette sales (1.7% based on sales figures in the first quarter of 2004), they are rather popular among smokers in their 20s in the United States and Russia. Parliament cigarette brand can be even considered a kind of a phenomenon of the Russian market. The sales of Parliaments Cigarettes in Russia constitute almost 15%, while on American market the sale of Parliament has fallen to 3.5% from the entire Philip Morris range of products. Therefore, Parliament can be now considered the leader among premium-segment brands on the Russian market. In the mid-1970s, Parliament cigarettes were the first to be sold outside of the US. However, Parliament occupied strong positions only in Japan, Argentina, Israel, Turkey, and recently in Russia. On the rest of European markets, Parliament Cigarettes are not very well-known. Nevertheless, Philip Morris decided to launch a small but focused campaign, assuming that a huge ad campaign could negatively affect the image of a premium cigarette brand.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
JT International Company expanded product line of brands Camel
JT International Company expanded product line of brands Camel: cigarettes on the market are displayed Camel Natural Flavor, positioned in the premium segments.
Camel Natural Flavor - Innovative Product produced from a tobacco leaf. Lack of candy-flavoured additives reveal the true taste of a high-quality soft tobacco. An unusual texture and natural colors tutu fully meet the concept of Natural Flavor.
So far Camel Natural Flavor has been launched in 25 countries, and in November of this year, will appear in St. Petersburg, who has been selected to test launch brand in Russia.
Camel Natural Flavor positioned in a prestigious segment. The maximum retail price for Camel Natural Flavor will be 37 rubles.
The new brand is produced in a factory Petro in St. Petersburg. Running will be supported by advertising in the subway, print ads, POS deployment and materials for sale in HoReCa channel, as well as the promotion of sales of shares in the field.
Camel Natural Flavor - Innovative Product produced from a tobacco leaf. Lack of candy-flavoured additives reveal the true taste of a high-quality soft tobacco. An unusual texture and natural colors tutu fully meet the concept of Natural Flavor.
So far Camel Natural Flavor has been launched in 25 countries, and in November of this year, will appear in St. Petersburg, who has been selected to test launch brand in Russia.
Camel Natural Flavor positioned in a prestigious segment. The maximum retail price for Camel Natural Flavor will be 37 rubles.
The new brand is produced in a factory Petro in St. Petersburg. Running will be supported by advertising in the subway, print ads, POS deployment and materials for sale in HoReCa channel, as well as the promotion of sales of shares in the field.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Marlboro Classics Shop
Recently launched the advertising campaign Marlboro cigs Classics clothing store owned by the Italian Marzotto. As it became known "Bus" campaign initiated corporation Philip Morris, a manufacturer of the same cigarette. Experts believe that the tobacco giant testing a replacement advertising restrictions in anticipation of the legislative move cigarettes.
Marlboro Classics Shop opened in Russia in 1996, in 2002 - m, it was closed last fall opened again. Marlboro Classics advertising campaign launched this week, it includes advertising on billboards at bus stops in central Moscow, in particular, on Tverskaya Street. Advertise on one stop in the center of Moscow costs about $ 400 a month. Advertising, both inside and store attributes Marlboro Classics, performed in the style similar to the same cigarette brand.
Not long ago appealed to the representatives of the Swiss MTI PM office with a proposal to pay for the deployment of outdoor advertising shop in the centre of Moscow. "The basic right to use the brand Marlboro Cigarettes are owned by PM, so we are limited in advertising, in particular, we can not give advertising next to the shields of the tobacco company.
The Swiss headquarters PM in Switzerland confirmed that Marzotto uses trademark Marlboro Classics for a license, but argued that the PM "does not support commercial activities Italian company."
Marlboro Classics Shop opened in Russia in 1996, in 2002 - m, it was closed last fall opened again. Marlboro Classics advertising campaign launched this week, it includes advertising on billboards at bus stops in central Moscow, in particular, on Tverskaya Street. Advertise on one stop in the center of Moscow costs about $ 400 a month. Advertising, both inside and store attributes Marlboro Classics, performed in the style similar to the same cigarette brand.
Not long ago appealed to the representatives of the Swiss MTI PM office with a proposal to pay for the deployment of outdoor advertising shop in the centre of Moscow. "The basic right to use the brand Marlboro Cigarettes are owned by PM, so we are limited in advertising, in particular, we can not give advertising next to the shields of the tobacco company.
The Swiss headquarters PM in Switzerland confirmed that Marzotto uses trademark Marlboro Classics for a license, but argued that the PM "does not support commercial activities Italian company."
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Vogue International
By 2008 Vogue cigarettes online potrebitelnits received the largest share of its price ranges. The direct competitors marks were from R1 Reemstma / Imperial Tobacco International and Virginia Slims production Philip Morris. In the same year, multinational manufacturing companies have realized the need for a rapprochement with the dense 18% of Russian fan of tobacco, placing women's cigarette production in Russia. This was quite logical in the context of increasing purchasing power and an increase in demand.
"Dear" segment began its rapid development. According to the research company Business Analytica, the share of premium cigarettes rose from 2.73% in 2002 to 5.59% in 2003 - m. Accordingly, the sale of cigarettes grew and the format of super slims. "Russian tobacco" has calculated that in 2003 residents of Russia vykurili 3.8 billion cigarettes, which at 1.82 billion more than a year ago.
"In the women's segment of cigarettes, a host of new proposals - recalls Maria Bezhanova. - Vogue Cigarettes could not remain unchanged among emerging temptations, new products." In BAT began to notice that Vogue Cigarettes is increasingly perceived as a classic, traditional cigarettes. According Bezhanovoy, it led to adult smokers to mark 30 years of gradually losing its relevance. As a result - since the beginning of 2004, the brand began to stagnate.
In BAT said that did not wait for the fall sales, and pre-prepared to relonchu Vogue Cigarettes. "Normally, cigarette companies restart their marks every 10 - 15 years, which is understandable: consumers used to the product, it requires new experience" - tells about the peculiarities of the market head of information and analytical services association Grandtabak Victor Stefashin.
"Dear" segment began its rapid development. According to the research company Business Analytica, the share of premium cigarettes rose from 2.73% in 2002 to 5.59% in 2003 - m. Accordingly, the sale of cigarettes grew and the format of super slims. "Russian tobacco" has calculated that in 2003 residents of Russia vykurili 3.8 billion cigarettes, which at 1.82 billion more than a year ago.
"In the women's segment of cigarettes, a host of new proposals - recalls Maria Bezhanova. - Vogue Cigarettes could not remain unchanged among emerging temptations, new products." In BAT began to notice that Vogue Cigarettes is increasingly perceived as a classic, traditional cigarettes. According Bezhanovoy, it led to adult smokers to mark 30 years of gradually losing its relevance. As a result - since the beginning of 2004, the brand began to stagnate.
In BAT said that did not wait for the fall sales, and pre-prepared to relonchu Vogue Cigarettes. "Normally, cigarette companies restart their marks every 10 - 15 years, which is understandable: consumers used to the product, it requires new experience" - tells about the peculiarities of the market head of information and analytical services association Grandtabak Victor Stefashin.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Light Cigarettes Shows
Scientists made discovery by using stem cell research. They used embryonic stem cells from mice and exposed them to cigarette smoke.
"We were surprised, and, at first, we thought maybe there's a little caveat in our research so I had to repeat the experiments over and over," said graduate researcher Sabrina Lin.
Three different light online cigarettes brands flunked the smoke test every time. Now, here's the mystery: the scientists don't know why.
Dr. Talbot explained, "Ir was a surprise to us and we'll have to do some more investigations to figure this out."
With UC Riverside scientists expecting fewer federal restrictions, human embryonic cells will soon be used to pinpoint what chemicals make light cigarettes more harmful.
Until then, people smoking light cigarettes may pay a very heavy price.
"We were surprised, and, at first, we thought maybe there's a little caveat in our research so I had to repeat the experiments over and over," said graduate researcher Sabrina Lin.
Three different light online cigarettes brands flunked the smoke test every time. Now, here's the mystery: the scientists don't know why.
Dr. Talbot explained, "Ir was a surprise to us and we'll have to do some more investigations to figure this out."
With UC Riverside scientists expecting fewer federal restrictions, human embryonic cells will soon be used to pinpoint what chemicals make light cigarettes more harmful.
Until then, people smoking light cigarettes may pay a very heavy price.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tobacco tax may increas
GCC health ministers could soon approve increasing tax on cigarettes sales and other tobacco products by 200 per cent, it was revealed yesterday.
The tax had been proposed by several anti-smoking societies in the region in their bid to discourage smoking, said Health Ministry public health and primary care assistant under-secretary Dr Mariam Al Jalahma.
"The proposal, which is now awaiting approval by the GCC health ministers, once passed will be a significant achievement for us," she told the GDN.
"As thinks stand now, it could be a matter of weeks before the ministers meet and give their final approval."
Meanwhile, Dr Al Jalahma, who is also Bahrain Anti Smoking Society deputy chairwoman, said that visitors to Bahrain are also being cautioned on the no-smoking ban in public places such as shopping malls.
She said more than 150,000 leaflets had already been distributed at entry points to Bahrain at King Fahad Causeway and Bahrain International Airport.
"The idea is to ensure they are aware of the law and do not face inconvenience when they are at malls and other public places," said Dr Al Jalahma.
"The decision to hand out the leaflets also comes at a time when we started to enforce a no-smoking rule at more than 6,000 restaurants in the country.
"The restaurants have started to comply with the regulations that we had issued more than a week ago and have begun to set up sealed no-smoking facilities.
"We are also alarmed at recent World Health Organisation reports that Bahrain risks increasing numbers of sick people unless it further combats the smoking menace among women and adolescents."
She said a detailed plan on how to deal with smoking and tobacco use in schools as well as among women was being formulated.
Dr Al Jalahma said the habit, if not dealt with at the root, could cost Bahrain significantly in economic terms over the next few years.
She said statistics revealed that 40 per cent of Bahrain's youth under 18 years were regular smokers, of which 14pc were female.
A total of 47pc of Bahraini females of all ages smoke now, compared to 43pc a few years ago, added Dr Al Jalahma.
She said they had noticed a good response to their campaign at the causeway and the airport.
"People are really interested in the campaign, in Arabic and English, and many of them have expressed surprise that Bahrain has such regulations in place," said Dr Al Jalahma.
The tax had been proposed by several anti-smoking societies in the region in their bid to discourage smoking, said Health Ministry public health and primary care assistant under-secretary Dr Mariam Al Jalahma.
"The proposal, which is now awaiting approval by the GCC health ministers, once passed will be a significant achievement for us," she told the GDN.
"As thinks stand now, it could be a matter of weeks before the ministers meet and give their final approval."
Meanwhile, Dr Al Jalahma, who is also Bahrain Anti Smoking Society deputy chairwoman, said that visitors to Bahrain are also being cautioned on the no-smoking ban in public places such as shopping malls.
She said more than 150,000 leaflets had already been distributed at entry points to Bahrain at King Fahad Causeway and Bahrain International Airport.
"The idea is to ensure they are aware of the law and do not face inconvenience when they are at malls and other public places," said Dr Al Jalahma.
"The decision to hand out the leaflets also comes at a time when we started to enforce a no-smoking rule at more than 6,000 restaurants in the country.
"The restaurants have started to comply with the regulations that we had issued more than a week ago and have begun to set up sealed no-smoking facilities.
"We are also alarmed at recent World Health Organisation reports that Bahrain risks increasing numbers of sick people unless it further combats the smoking menace among women and adolescents."
She said a detailed plan on how to deal with smoking and tobacco use in schools as well as among women was being formulated.
Dr Al Jalahma said the habit, if not dealt with at the root, could cost Bahrain significantly in economic terms over the next few years.
She said statistics revealed that 40 per cent of Bahrain's youth under 18 years were regular smokers, of which 14pc were female.
A total of 47pc of Bahraini females of all ages smoke now, compared to 43pc a few years ago, added Dr Al Jalahma.
She said they had noticed a good response to their campaign at the causeway and the airport.
"People are really interested in the campaign, in Arabic and English, and many of them have expressed surprise that Bahrain has such regulations in place," said Dr Al Jalahma.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Coffee, cigarettes and Obama
The stock market sank on President Barack Obama's inauguration day as 488 of the Standard & Poor's 500 stocks lost ground, with financial companies leading a retreat that left the index down 5.3 percent. Among the 12 gainers, two were tobacco stocks: Lorillard and Altria.
Meanwhile, the Bloomberg Star Tribune Index of Minnesota's biggest firms slipped 4.7 percent yesterday as 80 companies fell and nine rose. The leader: Caribou. Its shares jumped 12.3 percent to close at $1.70. Financial stocks led the losers column discount cigarettes
Gainers Last price 1-day % chg.
Caribou Coffee Co. Inc. $1.70 12.3%
Cyberoptics Corp. 5.23 9.9
Datalink Corp. 3.45 6.5
Losers Last price 1-day % chg.
Ameriprise Financial $17.58 -17.5%
U.S. Bancorp. 15.34 -16.3
Deluxe Corp. 11.45 -12.5
Meanwhile, the Bloomberg Star Tribune Index of Minnesota's biggest firms slipped 4.7 percent yesterday as 80 companies fell and nine rose. The leader: Caribou. Its shares jumped 12.3 percent to close at $1.70. Financial stocks led the losers column discount cigarettes
Gainers Last price 1-day % chg.
Caribou Coffee Co. Inc. $1.70 12.3%
Cyberoptics Corp. 5.23 9.9
Datalink Corp. 3.45 6.5
Losers Last price 1-day % chg.
Ameriprise Financial $17.58 -17.5%
U.S. Bancorp. 15.34 -16.3
Deluxe Corp. 11.45 -12.5
Monday, August 4, 2008
Joe Camel, the most vilified cartoon character in history
Joe Camel was the brilliantly successful advertising campaign used to market Camel Cigarettes manufactured by RJ Reynolds. The Campaign began in 1987 and was unfortunately stopped in 1997.
For the first time this cigarette mascot was introduced by a British artist Nicholas Price in 1974 that was used by a French magazine. Maybe, if there weren't cigarettes, this mascot disappeared in near time.
In 1987, at 75th anniversary of Camel tobacco “Old Joe's” and this year was year of appearance of legendary Joe Camel. It was an illustrious event. After a few years Joe Camel developed into most recognizable character. It was a real rival of such veteran characters as Mickey Mouse, Fred Flintstone, Barbie or Bugs Bunny. This confirmation was stated as result of survey done by Journal of the American Medical Association.
Who was looked Joe Camel? It was born as a cartoon mascot. As his name suggests, Joe was a camel that was represent with human-looking appearance that used to smoke cigarettes, and he was cool in style and often with sunglasses. Often meted representation were playing billiards, or a saxophone, or on the beach, in a nightclub, or just hanging out while looking cool.
Creator of Joe Camel once said in an interview, “I was just trying to make this stupid head have some kind of expression I could change from ad to ad, and I remembered how Sean Connery as James Bond could move his eyebrows so expressively. So I ripped off his eyes and eyebrows and Don Johnson's hair... how I personally feel about being known for this piece of crap that people think is great advertising. It's a pretty shitty piece of art.”
With such characteristics mascot of cigarettes was represented in many different sceneries and places, but one thing was common: he was nifty, attractive, stylish and handsome. Examining advertisement illustrated on bills, posters and placards of those times it can be easily observed all this distinctiveness that assured its world eminence.
For the first time this cigarette mascot was introduced by a British artist Nicholas Price in 1974 that was used by a French magazine. Maybe, if there weren't cigarettes, this mascot disappeared in near time.
In 1987, at 75th anniversary of Camel tobacco “Old Joe's” and this year was year of appearance of legendary Joe Camel. It was an illustrious event. After a few years Joe Camel developed into most recognizable character. It was a real rival of such veteran characters as Mickey Mouse, Fred Flintstone, Barbie or Bugs Bunny. This confirmation was stated as result of survey done by Journal of the American Medical Association.
Who was looked Joe Camel? It was born as a cartoon mascot. As his name suggests, Joe was a camel that was represent with human-looking appearance that used to smoke cigarettes, and he was cool in style and often with sunglasses. Often meted representation were playing billiards, or a saxophone, or on the beach, in a nightclub, or just hanging out while looking cool.
Creator of Joe Camel once said in an interview, “I was just trying to make this stupid head have some kind of expression I could change from ad to ad, and I remembered how Sean Connery as James Bond could move his eyebrows so expressively. So I ripped off his eyes and eyebrows and Don Johnson's hair... how I personally feel about being known for this piece of crap that people think is great advertising. It's a pretty shitty piece of art.”
With such characteristics mascot of cigarettes was represented in many different sceneries and places, but one thing was common: he was nifty, attractive, stylish and handsome. Examining advertisement illustrated on bills, posters and placards of those times it can be easily observed all this distinctiveness that assured its world eminence.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Are Mobile Phones The New Cigarettes?
There has been a raging debate for some time as to whether mobile phones or more specifically the electromagnetic radiation (EMR) that they emit, increase the phone users cancer risk.
The report says that "although the evidence remains controversial…a number of countries, including France, Germany and India, have already issued such warnings to their citizens".
Herberman also outlined 10 ways to reduce exposure including "reducing mobile phone use, use a hands-free earpiece, switch ears while chatting to limit radiation concentration in one spot, and avoid using mobile phones in public places to limit second-hand radiation".
In particular, he indicates that "kids should only be allowed to use these devices in cases of emergency, as their developing brains are more likely to be susceptible to possible side effects.
He said recent studies indicate that" "living tissue is vulnerable to electromagnetic fields within the frequency bands used by cell phones."
Recently, similar warnings have been issued by Australian scientists, although it seems, locally at least, the potential dangers of mobile phone-based EMR are not taken as seriously as they are in Europe.
Friday, July 18, 2008
I Smoke Anything
Some guys brag that they only smoke weed. Powerful people often only smoke Cuban cigars. A lot of cigarette smokers are proud of their brand loyalty. Some smoke only herbal cigarettes. Others smoke only Indian beedies. Why's everyone so picky? I don't understand. Me? I'll smoke anything!
I have a test to decide whether I'm willing to smoke something. It goes like this: Will this potential thing to be smoked put me in a pipe and smoke me? No? Then I'm smoking it! Because you have to smoke them before they smoke you! That's what I've learned! That's what I practice!
As a kid, I smoked twigs. Why not? The authorities today are all up in arms about kids smoking trees because they think wood is a "gateway smoke" that will lead children to smoking other, more serious things. Damn right it's a gateway! That's why it should be encouraged! It's a gateway to clarity! A gateway to self-reliance! A gateway to smokin'!
Sure, I bought candy cigarettes as a kid. And you know what? I smoked those things! I bought gum cigarettes. And I smoked those! They didn't influence me to smoke regular cigarettes: Candy items are perfectly smokable on their own! Everything is!
The smart people I know all love "the classics." "The Iliad is such a great story," they say. "Did you ever read Dickens?" No, but I smoked him!
I used to feel like I wasn't familiar enough with the great works of civilization. So I got all the great books they would let me check out from the local library; tore them up; put the pieces into brown paper grocery bags; and rolled those bags into seven monster cigars. And I smoked them! They had a sweet and ambitious flavor! I smoked the history of the world in a week! That was great!
"Did you see Blade Runner?" they ask me. Jesus, of course not! You don't appreciate something by watching it. You appreciate something by smoking it! I rent videotapes, crunch them up, put them in a big pipe, and smoke myself sensible! I've smoked more movies than most people have ever seen! That shocks people. "You shouldn't smoke videotapes," they say. "Plastic fumes are poisonous and will do weird things to you." Weird things? Not unless the satisfaction of having enjoyed a great smoke is a "weird thing."
People ask me if I want to go to the beach. Hey, been there, smoked that. I love smoking sand and dried-up fish. Those are some of the best smokes I've ever had!
I'm not so odd. I love it when my mother cooks up her special manicotti meal. Because I smoke it. And I like falling in love, because I like having a sweetheart who buys me flowers and jewelry. Because that's the kind of stuff I can smoke! I'm a smoker. I hate people who say they're smokers when they only smoke cigarettes. That's lying. They should say, "I'm a smoker in the weakest, most narrow definition of the word." Or, "I smoke only those things that are socially acceptable to smoke." That would make me much happier.
I keep having this dream where I'm at an auction of Nazi memorabilia. Hitler's mustache is on the block, and I bid $18 million and get it, beating out all these museum people and fascists. Then I go home, put some Bach on low, and roll those little mustache hairs into a tight little E-Z Wider joint. Then know what I do? I smoke the shit out of it.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Firms fined in tobacco probe
Six retailers and tobacco firms have agreed to pay a maximum of £173.3m in combined fines after admitting unlawful tobacco pricing practices.
The news comes after the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in April accused a number of retailers and tobacco companies of anti-competitive retail pricing.
Asda, Somerfield, First Quench, TM Retail, One Stop Stores and tobacco firm Gallaher have agreed to the fines.
The OFT is continuing its investigation into a further six firms.
They are Imperial Tobacco, Tesco, Shell, the Co-operative Group, Morrisons and Safeway.
Leniency
The OFT said that some of the fined companies had applied for leniency and if discounts for leniency and quick resolution were given, the total penalty amount would be £132.3m.
It said Sainsbury's was the first to apply for leniency and would thus escape any fine if the supermarket continued to co-operate.
"The early co-operation of these parties has enabled the swift resolution of some of this case," said John Fingleton, OFT chief executive.
"The OFT's objective is to make markets work for consumers and the economy alike," he added.
The OFT alleged that the retailers and tobacco groups arranged to swap information on future pricing.
A separate allegation is that there was an understanding that the price of some brands would be linked to rival brands.
Imperial Tobacco owns brands such as Embassy, John Player Special and Lambert & Butler while Gallaher's best-selling products include Benson & Hedges and Silk Cut.
The OFT said in April understandings between cigarette companies and retailers between 2000 and 2003 limited the retailers' ability "to determine its selling price independently"
Tobacco price-fixing: British watchdog
LONDON — Six retailers and tobacco firms have agreed to pay combined fines of more than 130 million pounds after admitting "unlawful practices" relating to retail tobacco prices, the Office of Fair Trading said.
Retailers Asda, Somerfield, First Quench, One Stop Stores (formerly T and S Stores) and TM Retail plus manufacturer Gallaher agreed to pay 132.3 million pounds (165 million euros, 263 million dollars).
The fines come after the competition watchdog accused 12 firms of price-fixing, by either co-ordinating to link the price of some brands to rival products or exchanging proposed future retail prices between competitors.
An investigation into the six other firms named by the OFT three months ago -- the Co-operative Group, Imperial Tobacco, Morrisons, Safeway, Shell and Tesco -- is continuing.
OFT chief executive John Fingleton said in a statement Friday evening that companies should set their prices independently, to ensure the markets work well for consumers and the economy.
"The OFT is very pleased that the early co-operation of these parties has enabled the swift resolution of some of this case, which will significantly reduce the costs of pursuing the investigation for the OFT and the businesses concerned," he added.
The OFT investigation covered the period 2000-3. The companies which came to "early resolution agreements" led to a reduction in their fines, the watchdog said.
Even so, the Financial Times said Saturday the sum was still the biggest collective penalty the OFT had handed down.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Difference in prices of cigarettes in Estonia and Russia
From June 1 the excise tax on tobacco products increased in Estonia by 43%, which will raise the price difference of cheap cigarettes with those sold in Russia to nearly six times.
Last year, according to Japan Tobacco International, the price difference of cheap cigarettes sold in Estonia and in Russia was more than four times. A cheaper category pack of cigarettes could be bought at the price of 4.22 kroons in Russia in the beginning of the year while in Estonia one had to pay 18.92 kroons, writes EPL Online/ LETA.
Estonia was the first among the Baltic States to raise the excise tax on tobacco to the minimum level required by the European Union and the State will earn 20 kroons of excise tax on a pack of cigarettes. Thus far consumers paid the State 14.2 kroons per pack of cigarettes and this means that the price surge will be nearly 41%. In Russia, however, the excise tax is equivalent to 1.53 Estonian kroons per pack.
According to a survey carried out by British American Tobacco, the proportion of illegal cigarettes in Estonia forms 19% of the total market volume. The problems are the greatest in the Viru region where the proportion of illegal cigarettes is 41% of the total market volume and also in Southern Estonia where the proportion of illegal cigarettes is 27%. Illegal business forms 9% in Western Estonia and in Tallinn and in the Harju, Rapla and Järva counties the share is 8%.
According to the director of corporate communications of Japan Tobacco International Ramunas Macius, 9% share of illegal business is "normal, because illegal activities cannot be entirely prevented." He noted that the State should do more in order to control the blooming illegal cigarettes business which will presumably bloom even more due to the surge in the excise tax rate. Macius stated that in Lithuania the customs authorities are able to confiscate 10% of illegal cigarettes, in Latvia the share is four% and Estonian Tax and Customs Board only manages to confiscate one% of all illegal tobacco products circulated on this market.
Monday, June 30, 2008
India says bidi jalai le as cigarettes become costlier
While the government is trying various methods, including a hefty tax levy, to make smokers kick the habit, tobacco-lovers are turning to cheaper options to “puff away their blues”.
Trends indicate smokers hit by the rising prices have shifted to so-called down-market options such as bidis and gutkhas.
“The increased tax on cigarettes is forcing consumers to shift to cheaper and alternative tobacco products. As a result, the overall consumption is on the up, as prices of other tobacco products are very less,” director of Tobacco Institute of India Udayan Lal says.
According to a health ministry report, India is home to 100 million bidi smokers and around 8 lakh people in the country die due to tobacco consumption annually with 6 lakh deaths caused by bidis alone.
“It’s not that the government is unaware of the growing bidi industry. The highly labour-intensive nature of the industry, which provides large-scale employment, gives it a powerful voice and that could be one of the reasons the taxes are so low,” says Lal.
“Also, the system of manufacturing and distributing bidis is highly decentralised. There are thousands of bidi factories and no reliable data on their production or consumption is available,” Lal adds.
Health ministry stats reveal about 15% of tobacco consumption in India is in the form of cigarettes, while bidis make for 53%.
“Unlike the rest of the world, where, on an average, cigarettes account for as much as 90% of the total tobacco consumed, in India cigarettes represent only 15% of total tobacco consumption. The remaining 85% of tobacco consumption is in the form of traditional products such as bidis, khaini, gutkha, etc,” Lal says.
Cigarettes contribute 85% to the total excise revenue collected from the tobacco industry, amounting to Rs8,500 crore, according to Tobacco Institute of India.
Pointing out that bidi consumption was very high in north India, particularly in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, with the ratio of bidis to cigarettes sometimes being as high as 24:1, Lal says, “Bidis are more harmful than cigarettes because they are filled with small amounts of low-grade tobacco.”
Chinese Couple Walk Free
Yesterday a Chinese couple walked free from charges of possessing uncustomed goods. On November 18, 2007, Jianneng Mai and Bijin Zhong, were busted with $63,000 of un-customed goods – including Winston cigarettes, Wall Street cigarettes and Benson and Hedges cigarettes in a building at 89 Vernon Street. They were charged with recklessly acquiring possession of uncustomed goods but yesterday Revenue Magistrate Ed Usher threw out the charges because the warrant wasn’t signed by a Supreme Court judge or a Magistrate.
But more importantly it wasn’t read properly. It was Mai who read it to her common law husband. He doesn’t speak English well so she translated it for him. But according to the law, the Customs Department should have found a third party who spoke Chinese to translate it and read it to Zhong. The reason is that Mai – was a defendant – and a defendant cannot read a warrant to a co-defendant.
Despite the technicality though, the couple had maintained the goods weren’t theirs. If convicted, the couple would have been charged 3 times the value of the uncustomed goods – that’s roughly $189,000.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette
New York State imposed an additional $1.25 per pack excise tax on cigarettes a couple of weeks ago. Now, a pack of smokes costs between $6 and $10, depending on where you buy them. To make the tax a bit more palatable, some government officials maintain that the reason for the increase is to discourage teen smoking by making the habit so expensive that young people would be disinclined to purchase cigarettes. That feel-good explanation is a tad disingenuous, given the state of the economy and the budget deficit. It's kind of like saying, "It's all about the kids." Don't kid yourself, its all about the money and how to channel more tax money into state coffers.
Hand in hand with the excise tax increase, is a report from Congressman and Department of Homeland Security committee member Peter King, linking the sales of tobacco products at Indian reservations to national security issues and global terrorism. At the heart of this issue is the concept of forbearance, whereupon the local, state and federal governments, in effect, look the other way when it comes to the sales tax and excise tax exemptions enjoyed by Native American merchants.
Indians do not have to pay sales and excise taxes on products sold on reservations by Native Americans to Native Americans. Since before we can remember, these exemptions also have been applied to sales made on reservations to non-Native Americans, which is a violation of the law. In the name of forbearance, lawmakers and law enforcers alike have simply ignored the infractions. As a consequence, there is heap big money exchanging hands at the Indian tobacco shops, where cigarettes are often sold for less than half the price for the same product sold at the neighborhood convenience store or gas station.
And, there is the rub.
Certain unscrupulous entrepreneurs take advantage of the cheap, tax-free cigarettes, buying them in bulk (sometimes by the tractor-trailer load) at the reservations, slapping counterfeit tax stamps on them, and peddling them to otherwise legitimate retailers at wholesale prices. The illegal markup is about $14 or $15 per carton, so go figure: a trailer load of cigarettes could contain thousands of cartons, or tens of thousands of dollars.
Congressman King fears that a great deal of that ill-begotten money is channeled to terrorist cells both local and abroad, in essence funding a national security threat. King wants it stopped.
This alleged threat to our security may or may not be legitimate; the crackdown on reservation tobacco sales may or may not be disingenuous; but, like the excise tax increase, it has been made palatable because it sounds good, and it calls upon our sense of patriotism. Could it be that there is another agenda to be filled?
Just about everyone from state legislators to the county executive to the county sheriff has jumped on the bandwagon as they look upon a gold mine of uncollected tax revenue. That is because the majority of reservation tobacco sales is to non-Native Americans, but, by virtue of forbearance, has been tax-free. Now, everyone in state and local government wants to forget forbearance and tighten up the enforcement of our tax laws. They want to dodge the budget deficit bullet.
All of this noise and rhetoric is about the noxious weed and a few, unscrupulous bootleggers. The Indians, who copped a break in the name of forbearance, will be the ones who are forced to bear the burden of increased tax liability. At least this time around, our tax-giddy leaders have targeted illegal sales of a highly addictive, non-essential commodity. (Perhaps, in the name of reconciliation, the government will offer to smoke the proverbial peace pipe with the Native Americans. But, then again, there is no tax on that kind of weed, so don't hold your breath ... or inhale!)
As much as we hate taxes and as much as we hate to say it, the time has come for the government to crack down on illegal cigarette sales and collect the taxes.
We will applaud the effort. We ask only one thing: Just don't increase our taxes again in order to do it.
And Why Not?
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