Snus News & Other Tobacco Products: 4/3/11

Coram's Fields - lot of children present but smoking ban rejected.

April 8, 2011 -A HISTORIC park reserved exclusively for children has become embroiled in a row over social class after a plea for a smoking ban was rejected.
Coram's Fields is a unique seven acre playground and park for children living in or visiting London. It is open access, provides a calm, safe and stimulating environment where children can play freely and enjoy a varied programme of activities. Coram's Fields is a large urban open space in the London borough of Camden in central London, England

King’s Cross resident Daniel Zylbersztajn has been waging a campaign against visitors lighting up at Coram’s Fields, which contains a farm, paddling pool, playground and café. His appeal for a ban on cigarettes was rejected at a Coram’s Fields board meeting in February.

The Holborn park’s executive director Octavia Holland has warned that turning the area into a no-smoking zone might deter some people from bringing their children there.
In an email to Mr Zylbersztajn last month, Ms Holland said: “As you are aware Coram’s Fields serves some of the most disadvantaged people in the area and making it a non-smoking zone could mean their children, many of whom don’t have gardens, would not come to the park and therefore miss out.

Do you love your children?? Children and Secondhand Smoke Exposure..

Mr Zylbersztajn, who regularly takes his daughter to Coram’s Fields, accused Ms Holland of being “classist and unfair”. He said: “What they [the board] are saying is people shouldn’t smoke but poor people can smoke as they are too stupid to know better. I don’t think that is the case.”

This week, Ms Holland claimed her words had been misinterpreted. She said: “That’s a misreading of my email. What is important is that everyone can come into this park. It’s an open access park and no one should be excluded from having enjoyment of it because their parent or carer decides to smoke. “I’m not aware of any other parks that have banned smoking and it’s important to bear in mind this is an open space and not a confined area.”

Coram’s Fields is a seven-acre park within what was once the Foundling Hospital site. No adult may enter unless accompanied by a child.

Mr Zylbersztajn said an online petition he has started has been signed by more than 60 people. Patrols to collect cigarette butts from the park have been stepped up in response to the campaign.

Members of Coram’s Fields executive committee have said that while they do not condone smoking there would be “practical problems” with banning it as children might have to be separated from parents.

Patients from nearby Great Ormond Street Hospital regularly visit the park with their parents, many of whom smoke because of “particularly stressful circumstances”, one committee member said.

Reference: Class bias claim in Coram's Fields smoking row by JOSH LOEB, Camden New Journal, 4/7/20100. Read more...

Increasing prevalence of smoke-free homes and decreasing rates of sudden infant death (SIDS) syndrome in the United States..

April 8, 2011 - This study utilises an ecological design to analyse the relation between concurrent temporal trends in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) rates and prevalence of smoke-free households with infants in the USA, controlling for an important risk factor, infant supine sleep position.

For every 1% absolute increase in the prevalence of smoke-free homes with infants, SIDS rates decreased 0.4% from 1995 to 2006, controlling for supine sleep position.

PAPER: Increasing prevalence of smoke-free homes and decreasing rates of sudden infant death syndrome in the United States: an ecological association study, Ilan Behm1,
Zubair Kabir Gregory N Connolly Hillel R Alpert, Tobacco Control Published Online First 7 April 2011 ABSTRACT.. Read more...

Malaysia - cigarette makers charging less than the minimum for a pack of cigarettes..

anti-smoking..
April 8, 2011 - Cigarette makers have reminded retailers that it is illegal to sell packs of cigarettes below the RM7 (2.32 USD) minimum price following reports that it was a common practice. The Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers (CMTM) said today selling 20-stick packs for less than the minimum price was an offence and that retailers risked action by the Health Ministry if they did so.

Directly related news brief: Malaysia - sets minimum price for cigarettes..

The CMTM, representing British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd, Philip Morris and JT International Bhd, was responding to reports in The Sun on Monday that cigarettes were being sold below the minimum price, sometimes as low as RM3.50 to RM4 (1 MYR = 0.330961 USD).

The tobacco industry body said that based on its own observations, cigarette packs being sold below the required minimum had genuine Customs security markings and were therefore not likely to have been smuggled from neighbouring countries.

It pointed out that for each 20-stick pack, cigarette makers have to pay about RM5 in taxes prior to distribution to retailers.

“As such, CMTM is significantly perplexed as to how these products... can be retailed not only below the minimum cigarette price but also below the mandatory tax payable amount,” CMTM chief executive Shaik Abbas Ibrahim said in a statement.

“It is clear that selling cigarette packs below the minimum cigarette price does make such packs much more affordable and increase their sales.”

The CMTM was established in 1980 to manage various issues of common interest between cigarette makers and act as a general source of information on the Malaysian tobacco industry.

Reference: Respect minimum price, say cigarette makers by Yow Hong Chieh, themalaysianinsider.com, 4/7/2011.

Malaysia - some related news briefs:
Malaysia - Study reveals Malaysian Indians are least likely to quit smoking compared to the Chinese or the Malays..:
Malaysia - 8% drop in tobacco industry volume projected in 2011..;
Malacca, Malaysia - smoke free zones to be expanded..;
Malaysia - public are strongly advised not to purchase any e-cigarettee..;
Malaysia - sets minimum price for cigarettes..;
Malaysia - if you smoke you lose..;
Penang, Malaysia - specific areas for smoking..;
Malaysia - BAT wants gradual, moderate increases in the cigarette tax..:
Malaysia - horrific graphic warnings on cigarette packs, cartons..;
Malaysia - one out of three packets of cigarettes was smuggled;
Malaysia - doing a better job of seizing smuggled cigarettes..;
Malaysia - best way to get teenage girls to stop smoking is through education..;
Malaysia - ban on 14-stick cigarette packs delayed worry about increase in illicit cigarettes..;
Malaysia - slight decrease in illicit cigarettes; JTI Malaysia q1 2010 market share increases..;
Malaysia - Health Ministry's proposal to ban the sale of 14-stick cigarette packs beginning June 1, 2010..;
Malaysia - increase in number of women smoking..;
Malaysia - new strategy to penalize retailers who sell contraband cigarettes..;
Malaysia - youth and student smokers may not receive aid from government..;
Malaysia - two tobacco control regulations starting January 1, 2010..
Malaysia - about 368,000 teenager smokers in the country, 50-60 added per day..;
Malaysia - sale of cigarettes in packets of less than 20 prohibited as of June 1, 2010..;
Malaysia - stepping up efforts to curb the trade in illicit cigarettes..;
Malaysia - BAT plans to dispose of a parcel of industrial land..;
Malaysia - ban on cigarette sponsorship for sports will not be withdrawn..;
Malaysia - cigarette-shaped sweets packaged like cigarettes;
Malaysia - Penang consumer group ban cheap cigarettes and increase price on premium..;
Malaysia - Kelantin State Government may not promote staff who smoke..;
Malaysia - excise duty increased on tobacco - another increase could be coming this month..;
Malaysia - smoking limits your quality of life..;
Malaysia - smoking civil servants in Penang to receive free nicotine treatment..;
Malaysia - illicit cigarettes, BAT wants government to slow excise duty increases..;
Peninsular Malaysia - one of three cigarette packs is either contraband or fake..;
Komtar, Penang, Malaysia smoking ban strictly enforced..;
Malaysia student forced to smoke 40 cigarettes in two hours..
Malaysia - PSD and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government departments and agencies..;
Malaysia: Are tobacco control measures working? - WHO thinks so...;
Malaysia - slowdown in cigarette consumption..;
Malaysia - January 1, 2009 pictorial cigarette warnings..;
Malaysia to hike cigarette prices..;
Malaysia - 25% of all cigarettes sales are illegal...Peninsular Malaysia - one of three cigarette packs is either contraband or fake..;
Komtar, Penang, Malaysia smoking ban strictly enforced..;
Malaysia student forced to smoke 40 cigarettes in two hours..
Malaysia - PSD and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government departments and agencies..;
Malaysia: Are tobacco control measures working? - WHO thinks so...;
Malaysia - slowdown in cigarette consumption..;
Malaysia - January 1, 2009 pictorial cigarette warnings..;
Malaysia to hike cigarette prices..;
Malaysia - 25% of all cigarettes sales are illegal...
Read more...

RAI to host first-quarter 2011 earnings conference call on April 21st, 2011..

April 8, 2011 - RAI to host first-quarter 2011 earnings conference call
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – April 7, 2011 – Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE: RAI) will host a conference call and webcast following the release of first-quarter 2011 financial results on April 21, 2011.

Details of the call are as follows:
Date and Time: Thursday, April 21, 2011, 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Speakers: Daniel M. Delen, president and chief executive officer
Thomas R. Adams, chief financial officer
Morris L. Moore, vice president of investor relations
Webcast registration and access:

The RAI conference call will be available online on a listen-only basis at http://www.reynoldsamerican.com/events.cfm. Registration will be available as of April 7, 2011. All remarks made during the conference call will be current at the time and will not be updated to reflect subsequent material developments. A replay will be available on the website for 30 days. Call-in Numbers: (877) 390-5533 (toll-free) (678) 894-3969 (international)

While news media representatives will not be permitted to ask questions during the call, they are welcome to monitor the remarks on a listen-only basis. Following the call, media representatives may direct inquiries to Jane Seccombe at (336) 741-5068.
Web Disclosure

Reference: RAI to host first-quarter 2011 earnings conference call/a>, 4/7/2011.

Read more...

Altria - April 20, 2011 to discuss its 2011 first-quarter business results...

April 8, 2011 - Altria Group, Inc. will host a live audio webcast on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its 2011 first-quarter business results.

Reference: Altria to Host Webcast of 2011 First-Quarter Results. Read more...

PMI buys more shares of Medicago Inc.

Apil 8. 2011 - Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) bought more than $9 million worth of shares in Medicago Inc., roughly half of the equity offering from the Canadian biotech company.

Philip Morris said Tuesday, April 5th that the offering gives it 9.86 percent of Medicago's issued and outstanding shares. Medicago uses tobacco leaves to make influenza vaccines for the pandemic and seasonal flu.

Background news briefs:

October 29, 2010 - Philip Morris International Update on Its Medicago Inc. Holding..;
September 23, 3008 - Philip Morris International buys shares in biotechnology company - Medicago.

Reference: Phillip Morris buys stake in vaccine company, Bloomberg Business Week (Associated Press) 4/5/2011. Read more...

U.S. Convenience Store Sales Show Strong Growth in 2010..

April 7, 2011 - CHICAGO -- Convenience store in-store sales grew 4.4% in 2010, reaching a record $190.4 billion, according to figures released today by NACS. Combined with $328.7 billion in motor fuels sales, total convenience store sales in 2010 were $575.6 billion, or one out of every 25 dollars of the overall $14.624 trillion U.S. gross domestic product.

The industry's 2010 numbers were announced in Chicago today, April 6th at the annual NACS State of the Industry Summit, a two-day conference that reviews and analyzes the industry's key economic indicators.

The 4.4% growth rate of convenience store in-store sales surpassed the growth rates of other competing channels, including warehouse stores/clubs (4.0%), restaurants (3.4%), drug stores (2.4%) and grocery stores (2.3%), based on U.S. Department of Commerce numbers.

Part of the sales growth can be attributed to an increase in stores. The number of U.S. c-stores grew 1.2% over the past year and stands at a record 146,341 stores, according to the NACS/Nielsen TDLinx 2011 Convenience Industry Store Count, released in January 2011.

Nearly three-quarters of in-store sales are from the top five categories:

1. Cigarettes (35.8% of in-store sales).
2. Packaged beverages (14.2%).
3. Foodservice (12.9%).
4. Beer (8.3%).
5. Other tobacco products (4.0%).

While motor fuels revenues are closely tied to price volatility, the 17.2% growth in motor fuels sales outpaced the overall 14.4% increase in prices in 2010, meaning that c-stores, which sell an estimated 80% of the country's motor fuels, also picked up some volume in 2010. Overall, 69.3% of total c-store sales dollars were from motor fuels. Even with an increase in motor fuels gross margins to 15.8 cents per gallon, motor fuels margins remain slim and motor fuels still only account for 26.4% of pretax profits at c-stores.

As a result of these strong sales, c-store pretax profits reached $6.5 billion in 2010, a remarkable turnaround from just 20 years ago, when the industry reported a loss of $220 million in 1990. As a percentage of total sales, pretax profits in 2010 were 1.1%.

"Our strong performance in 2010 shows that our convenience offer--especially one-stop shopping and speed of service for refreshments, food and fuel--continues to resonate with customers," said NACS vice chairman of research Fran Duskiewicz, senior executive vice president of Canastota, N.Y.-based Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes.

Despite the strong sales and profit numbers, concerns remain for the industry, especially with credit-card and debit-card fees jumping a staggering 21.6% to hit a record $9 billion. Total credit- and debit-card fees surpassed overall c-store industry profits for the fifth straight year. As a percentage of overall sales, credit- and debit-card fees increased from 1.45% to 1.56% of total industry sales dollars, factoring in all forms of payment, including cash and check. Just looking at motor fuels sales, credit- and debit-card fees added 4.7 cents to every gallon of gasoline sold at c-stores in 2010.

In-store sales have shown significant growth at c-stores over the past decade, growing 82.9% since 2000. This year's in-store sales alone topped total sales--combined in-store and motor fuels sales--for every year through 1998.

Reference: Convenience Store Sales Show Strong Growth in 2010 Daily News
4/6/2011`
Read more...

Australia - conducting research into the prevention of smoking for young people through mass media.

April 7, 2011 - CANBERRA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Social media is a powerful weapon in the fight to lower smoking take-up rates in young people, Australian researchers said Sunday, April 3rd.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the University of South Australia and Brisbane Royal Children's Hospital are conducting research into the prevention of smoking for young people through mass media. Researchers said existing mass-media messages, such as billboards and radio spots, had little impact on the youth market.

"There is a great deal of peer pressure in schools and the community for young people to smoke," a researcher at Adelaide's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kristin Carson told Australia Associated Press on Sunday. "Yet in the new forms of social media, like Facebook, there is a tag that encourages people to declare themselves smoke-free and to say they would not date somebody who smokes.

"That is exactly the opposite of what is happening in school yards, and we know young people are increasingly turning to things like My Space, Facebook and Twitter to communicate with each other. "

In that case, Kristin said researchers are now conducting trials to assess the potential of directing the anti-smoking message through online communication forums.

Tobacco manufacturers deny YouTube links..

References:internet to lower smoking rates among young people: researchnews.xinhuanet.com, 4/6/2011; Internet to lower smoking rates among young people: research marketreportchina.com, Read more...

John Middleton Co. branching into the untipped cigarillo market..

April 7, 2011 - Already a market leader in tipped cigarillos, John Middleton Co., a division of Altria Inc., is branching into the untipped cigarillo market. After extensive test runs in Ohio and Tennessee, the tobacco giant is rolling out nationally two new profiles, Black & Mild Classic and Black & Mild Sweets.

"Classic is for adult cigar smokers interested in a classic Black & Mild pipe tobacco taste, while Sweets is a more traditional cigarillo taste made from primarily air cured tobaccos," Altria spokesperson Greg Mathe told CSP Daily News. "Both products are available in five-packs and singles."

The rollouts extend Altria's continued expansion into the other tobacco products (OTP), most notably in cigars and moist smokeless. Alluding to last year's test markets of untipped cigarillos, Mathe noted, "Middleton found...that there is significant interest and product appeal among both competitive and Black & Mild adult cigar smokers. The test market results exceeded Middleton's expectations and business objectives."

Because of growth in the untipped cigarillo segment, Altria views this foray as a natural step in ratcheting up its total-tobacco portfolio across all segments, from cigarettes to moist smokeless, cigars and snus. Since its acquisitions of USST and John Middleton, Altria has focused on brand extensions by offering a greater variety of tastes and blends..

Pointing to this latest move, Mathe said the company was buoyed by some key findings during its testing in Ohio and Tennessee, including that 20% of smokers who had bought and tried Black & Mild untipped cigarillo ranked it better than their regular brand, and that 75% rated it equal to or better than their regular brand.

John Middleton's cigar brands include Black & Mild, Middleton's Cherry Blend, Gold & Mild and Prince Albert's Cigars. Pipe-tobacco brands include Prince Albert, Carter Hall and Middleton's Cherry Blend.

Reference: Black & Mild Going Sweet
John Middleton enters untipped cigarillo market with Classic, Sweet flavors by Mitch Morrison, Csp Daily N ws, 4/4/2011 Read more...

What was Pfizer thinking? Another family, Another drug, Another murder-suicide...

April 7, 2011 - Killer dad Andrew Case was taking powerful anti-smoking drugs, Was this man informed when he went to the doctor to get something to help him stop smoking, that chantix tops the list of “31 prescription drugs associated with violence”??? 33-year-old’s body Andrew Case, along with his wife Vicki, 31, and two little girls Phoebe, two, and Nereya, 18 months, were discovered at their home in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, on Monday July 26 2010.

Of the 31 drugs, “the worst offender with the strongest association to uncontrollable, murderous violence–within days of ingesting the drug–is the smoking cessation drug, Chantix (varenicline), which increases dopamine: it ranks 18.0 in the proportional reporting ratio (PRR) with 408 cases of violence–including murder. There are two other smoking cessation drugs that do NOT pose serious risks of violence.”

Refeence: Killer dad Andrew Case was taking powerful anti-smoking drugs, leoniefennell.wordpress.com&, 4//2011.

Some Chantix (Champix) related news briefs:
Chantix (Champix) risks out weigh the benefits - the story of Dr. Brenda Wells..:
Japan - demand for Chantix (Champix) soars while more and more lawsuits pile up in the U.S..;
Champix (Chantix) - Health Canada issues stronger warnings..;
Champix (Chantix) - Canada class-action lawsuit started..;
Champix (Chantix) - more serious psychiatric reactions and death..;
Smoking Cessation - Chantix (Champix) vs. Cold Turkey..;
Chantix - Pfizer faces three lawsuits surely many more to come..;
Champix (Chantix) - the risks are greater then the benefits..;
Chantix - another wrongful death lawsuit filed..;
Anti-smoking drugs (non-nicotine) - Chantix and Zyban to carry mental health warnings..;
Another Chantix Warning in Canada..;
Operators of any form of transportation warned on the use of Pfizer's smoking-cessation drug Chantix..;
Pfizer Changes Chantix Label..;
Chantix Reports of Suicidal Thoughts and Aggressive and Erratic Behavior..; Read more...

Rosendale Community Center - ULster County -p

April 7, 2011 - State Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah had a message for people who want to smoke outside in public places – Don’t!

Shah was at the Rosendale Community Center Tuesday, April 5th to speak in support of smoke free outdoor spaces in Ulster County and throughout the state.

Second hand smoke can be just as bad,” he said, “children exposed to second hand smoke, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, are subject to have much higher rates of asthma and respiratory problems.”

Those problems are totally preventable, noted Dr. Shah, and they can be avoided by passing laws such as the ones on the books in Rosendale, and many other municipalities throughout Ulster County, which create smoke free outdoor environments.

Reference: tate health commissioner supports ban on outdoor smoking in public places, midhudsonnews.com, 4/5/2011. Read more...

Australia - first look at the plainer, uglier cigarette packets..

April 7, 2010 - Health Minister Nicola Roxon says she wants all cigarette packaging to be olive green, because research shows it is the least attractive colour for smokers. Under proposed legislation aimed at reducing smoking rates in Australia, all logos will be removed from cigarette packaging, and tobacco companies will be required to print their brand name in a specific font.

VIDEO- Watch Health Minister Nicola Roxon interview with Lateline..

CONSULTATION PAPER Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 Exposure Draft 7 April 2011

Some background:
January 16, 2011 - Australia - Philip Morris (PMI) searching for ways to prevent plain packaging of tobacco products coming in 2012..;

October 14 , 2010 - Australia - world set to follow Australian tobacco policy..;

September 19, 2010 - Australia - plain cigarette packaging will legislation be written to avoid any legal challenge..;

August 4, 2001 - Australia - big tobacco fighting back against plans to introduce plain cigarette packaging..;

April 29, 2010 - Australia - plain packages on all tobacco products within 2-years...

The Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 is due to be introduced during the winter sitting of Parliament, after a 60-day period for public comment on the draft legislation.

If all goes to plan, the changes would come into effect on January 1, 2012 and all products on sale will be required to comply with the new laws within six months.

Ms Roxon said the new packaging had been consumer tested on smokers around the country and found to be the least appealing.

"We want to get the Australian smoking rate down to 10 per cent by 2018," she said.

Ms Roxon said tobacco companies would be able to use certain markings to stop counterfeit issues.

"We might be breaking ground but we are on firm ground and others will follow us," Ms Roxon said.

References: Roxon to unveil no-frills cigarette pack plan, ABC News, 4/7/2011; No-frills fight against Big Tobacco: Cigarette packets to be ugly olive green by Andrew Banks and AAP, 4/7/2011; Australia gets tough on cigarette packs, News24, 4/7/2011.
Read more...

India - pictorial warnings on tobacco products unclear....

Even as the government is delaying the notification of new pictorial warnings on tobacco products, a health ministry official Monday, Arpil 4th said they have received feedback that the present pictorial warnings are unclear to people.

India makes critical decision on education that will help convince children not to use tobacco. The government on Thursday, April 1st brought into force a new law that makes education free and compulsory for every child from age 6 to 14—the latest government initiative aimed at harnessing the economic potential of its young population. About a third of India's 1.2 billion people are under the age of 14, one of the highest ratios in the world. (Joining hands in the interest of children, Kapil Sibal, The Hindu, 1/31/2010)

The present pictorial warnings on tobacco packs feature lungs X-ray, a cross section of lungs with related cancer, and a scorpion. 'Globally, pictorial warnings have proved to be deterrent to tobacco use,' he said.

When asked about the new pictorial warnings which were supposed to be enforced from December last year, the senior official said: 'New warnings will come, consultations are going on,' he said, without giving a time frame.
Desraju, however, said he was unaware of any pressure from tobacco lobbies behind the delay in the implementation of new pictorial warnings.

'Many of the buyers in urban areas understand the meaning of the symbols but they still buy. Ultimately, it's the people who will have to understand that it's bad for them,' he added.

A survey done by an anti-tobacco advocacy group last year said that only 20.6 percent of cigarette smokers, 15 percent of bidi smokers and 13.2 percent of smokeless tobacco users either read or looked at the warning labels.

More current news briefs on pictorial warnings on tobacco products:

December 24, 2010 - India - cigarette/bidis companies resume tobacco production..;

December 9, 2010 - India - will delay for a year the use of scarier pictorial warnings on cigarette and bidi packs..;

December 4, 2010 - India - cigarettes and bidis manufacturers halt production seek clarification on pictorial health warnings..

November 30 2010 - India - revised pictorial warnings on tobacco products will be implemented from December 1, 2010..

More previous news briefs on pictorial warnings:

^*India - still confusion pictorial warnings on cigarette packs..;
^*Mumbai, India - NGO activists want closure of hookah bars..;
^*India - gutkha and bidi companies NOT pictorial warnings..;
^*India - cigarette packs with pictorial warnings are here..; ^*ndia - NO graphic pictorial warnings yet..;
^*India - Still no pictorial warnings on cigarette packs..;
^*India - pictorial warning on cigarettes and tobacco products effective May 31, 2009..;
^*India - pictorial warning on cigarettes and tobacco products will be implemented from May 31 - no doubts about it..;
^*India - will pictorial or graphic health warnings be implemented from May 30, 2009..;
^*India - placing pictorial warnings on tobacco products delayed again..

Reference: Present tobacco pictorial warnings unclear: Health ministry, thaindian.com, 4/4/2011.

Read more...

Indonesia Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo skips trial..

April 6. 2011 - A clove cigarette lobbying group on Tuesday vented their anger against Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo for ignoring their courtroom challenge of the regulation banning smoking rooms from public buildings.

“We cannot accept that the governor, who resides in Jakarta, did not appoint anyone to represent him in court,” said Habiburrahman, a lawyer for the plaintiffs who call themselves Komunitas Kretek, or Clove Cigarette Community. “Meanwhile, the case has reached a third month without any progress,”

Governor Fauzi Bowo Governor of Jakarta for the 2007-2012 term) continues to come under from pro-tobacco campaigners. The gubernatorial decree, which makes smoking inside buildings or even near entrances and exits a fineable offense, has been a sore point not just for smokers across the capital, but also the entertainment and tourism industries who believe it will adversely impact their business. (Protesters Rail Against Indonesia Smoke Ban, Arientha Primanita, thejakartaglobe.com 11/2/2010; City starts scrapping smoking rooms, —JP/ Indah Setiawati, Jakarta Post, 10/14/2010; City to warn errant building owners about smoking ban. Andreas D. Arditya, The Jakarta Post, J12/22/2010.

Background:
Background: The Smoking Ban decree, signed on May 6, 2010 (Governor Regulation No. 88/2010), stipulates smoking is not allowed inside buildings, and people who want to smoke must do so outside. The regulation is an extension of a smoking ban which had allowed smoking in designated smoking areas in workplaces and public spaces. The decision came after a joint survey, by BPLHD, Swisscontact Indonesia Foundation (SIF) and the University of Indonesia Demography Institute, showed smoking rooms in buildings did not prevent smoke infiltrating non-smoking areas. (The Jakarta Government, through the Governor Regulation No. 88/2010, New Bylaw Designate All Public Buildings as Smoke Free Zones

"Non-Smoker Jakarta citizens are now able to breath freely. Starting from this year forward, citizens will be free from exposure to 4000 types of deadly toxins contained in a cigarette. The Jakarta Government, through the Governor Regulation No. 88/2010, ensure that they will protect citizens from second-hand smoke (Asap Rokok Orang Lain [AROL]) in buildings throughout Jakarta" Based on the second-hand smoke test conducted in 34 buildings in Jakarta by the Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (Badan Pengelola Lingkungan Hidup Provinsi DKI Jakarta [BPLHD]), smoking rooms were simply ineffective to protect citizens from second-hand smoke. Jakarta Government took the initiative to revise Governor Regulation No. 75/2005 to Governor Regulation No. 88/2010 which firmly prohibits the existence of smoking rooms in buildings.
Aside from eliminating smoking rooms in buildings, other important changes in the new gubernatorial decree include adding administrative sanctions by making public announcements through the media based on building inspection results

Governor Regulation No. 88/2010 represents a strong support by the City Government, specifically Jakarta's governor Fauzi Bowo, towards the realization of 100% Smoke Free Jakarta as was declared by Fauzi Bowo in closed hearings between the Jakarta Government and Smoke Free Jakarta Program partners. Fauzi Bowo stated that this new gubernatorial decree is a "first step of a long journey towards 100% Smoke Free Jakarta". This step will be followed up with the dissemination of the new gubernatorial decree to building managements. The Jakarta Environmental Management Agency will conduct routine monitoring and violation complaints of no-smoking areas in buildings through Smoke Free Jakarta Zwebsite. ;Swisscontact Indonesia Foundation (SIF)

Komunitas Kretek has filed a lawsuit seeking to withdraw a 2010 gubernatorial regulation that bans smoking rooms inside public buildings. At the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday, Habiburrahman argued that the decree was in conflict with a city regulation passed five years earlier that mandated smoking rooms in public buildings.

The overlapping regulations are taking their toll on “ethical smokers” who only enjoy their cigarettes without harming others, the attorney said.

“The case should have seen a verdict by now but the judges again adjourned because the governor failed to show up,” Habiburrahman said. “We will lodge our protest with the Judicial Commission.”

“We fully understand that the Jakarta governor does not have much time to spare, but he could at least appoint a lawyer.

“Judges must take firm measures regarding his absence, otherwise the case will never get settled,” he appealed to the bench, which consisted of presiding judge Enid Hasanuddin and his colleagues Supardja and Sapawi.

The gubernatorial regulation reflects the government’s ambiguity toward the tobacco issue, Habiburrahman argued. On one hand the state legalizes tobacco, levying taxes and earning big money from it, but at the same time criminalizes smokers, the he said.

Daru Supriono, another lawyer and member of Komunitas Kretek’s Yogyakarta branch, said the judges should have reached a verdict without the presence of the defendant, because the case had already gone through four hearings.
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“According to procedure, a decision can be made after the defendant fails to appear three times without explanation,” Daru said.

Reference; Tobacco Lobbyists In a Huff After Fauzi Skips Trial, Eddy Pratama, thejakartaglobe.com, 4/6/2011.

Directly related news briefs:
Indonesia - Jakarta’s entertainment industry complains about city's smoking ban..;
Indonesia - planning to file a judicial review against a joint ministerial decree regulating smoke-free zones..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - lawyers mount bid to challenge city's anti-smoking decree..;
Indonesia - by banning smoking inside buildings smokers could be considered criminals.

Reference: Nightlife Reps Say Smoking Ban Will Hit City’s Economy, Dessy Sagita, TheJakartaGlobe.com. 3/17/2011.

Indonesia some related news briefs:
http://snus-news.blogspot.com/2011/03/indonesia-planning-to-file-judicial.html;
Indonesia - court heard from officials and experts that say that tobacco is not addictive..;
Kudus, Central Java, Indonesia - 75% of town employed in cigarette industry..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - lawyers mount bid to challenge city's anti-smoking decree..;
Indonesia - at least one court still debatng whether tobacco is addictive..;
Indonesia - by banning smoking inside buildings smokers could be considered criminals.;
Indonesia - govt to raise cigarette excise up to 10 percent starting January 2011..;
Indonesia - tobacco companies provide volcano rescue relief..;
Indonesia - health minister drafting regulation on tobacco advertising ban..;
Indonesia - police drop tobacco graft case, sparking suspicions..;
;
Indonesia - Australian bands (2) will they perform at tobacco sponsored musical festival??;
Indonesia - confusion regarding possible suspects regarding the missing clause from the health bill passed in September 2009..;
Indonesia - 2-year old kicks the habit - COLD Turkey..;
Indonesia - agrees to ratify the WHO FCTC public health treaty..;
WTO - US rejected call by Indonesia to rule on dispute on ban of clove cigarettes in the US..;
Indonesia - on June 22nd will ask WTO to rule on US ban on clove cigarettes..;
Indonesia - PT Djarum Tobacco to sponsor badminton events..;
Indonesia - CNN Video on 2-year old nicotine addict..;
Indonesia - more on the 2-year old addicted to nicotine..;
Indonesia - paradise for smokers and paradise for tobacco companies..;
Indonesia - House Finance and Banking Commission opposes govt plan to lower cigarette production..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - more on the Kelly Clarkson tobacco sponsored concert April 29th..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - Singer Kelly Clarkson will she perfom concert sponsored by major tobacco company..;
Indonesia - launches formal dispute with WTO over U.S, ban on clove cigarettes..;
Indonesia - parents encourage 4-year old boy to continue smoking habit..;
Hemoglobin obtained from pigs may be used in cigarette filters..;
Indonesia - government may raise cigarette tax and cut cigarette output..;
Indonesia - Muhammadiyah-owned university students demonstrate against edict against smoking..;
Indonesia - kretek cigarette maker Gudang Garam's 2009 net profit jumps 84 percent..;
Indonesia - persons accused of eliminating clause designating tobacco as addictive..;
Indonesia - second largest Muslim organization launched a fatwa against smoking..;
Indonesia - RATIFICATION OF FCTC MAY RAISE INDONESIA'S BARGAINING POWER.. ;
Indonesia - 18 tons of illegal cigarettes destroyed..;
Indonesia - Government to limit cigarette production..;
Indonesia - BAT, Bentoel shareholders approve planned merger..;
Indonesia - another protest rejecting the new cigarette excise tax..;
Indonesia - workers from small cigarette producers protest excise tax increase..;
Indonesia - cigarette industry has pledged to stage a demonstration to protest a government plan to increase excise tax.;
Indonesia - the last paradise for a puff in Southeast Asia..;
Indonesia - trade minister officials want to meet with US counterparts to discuss ban on clove cigarettes..;
Indonesia - PT BAT Indonesia to merge with PT Bentoel International Investama Terbuka..;
Indonesia - missing tobacco regulation in approved Health Law..;
Indonesia - section on tobacco in health bill disappears..;
Indonesia - Constitutional Court by close vote rules that tobacco ads can continue..;
Indonesia - parent smoking can negatively affect the nutrition of children..;
Indonesia - new council member suspect in cigarette fraud case..;
Indonesia - an NGO commission assists cigarettes must be banned in films..
Indonesia - a paradise for tobacco companies..
Indonesia - after buying cigarettes very little left for food..;
Indonesia - will they ratify the first world public health treaty..;
Indonesia - last paradise to smoke in public places in Southeast Asia..;
Indonesia - Industry minister to close tobacco to new foreign investment..;
Indonesia Finance Ministry to cap tax deductions for tobacco companies..;
Indonesia - Smoking hits poor families the hardest, making the poor even poorer..;
Indonesia - Cigarette makers defy crisis, grows stronger..;
Indonesia - government may raise cigarette excise tax next year..;
WHO - Indonesia is crying out for your help..;
Indonesia - dispute with U.S. over banning the use of clove in cigarettes..;
Indonesia 'cash cow' for Philip Morris International..;
Tobacco industry has long targeted young people as "replacement smokers";
Indonesia - district court dismisses request to ratify FCTC..;
Asean Countries - Tobacco Industry Blocking Global Treaty On Tobacco..; Indonesia - farmers hold rally protest tobacco controls..;
Indonesia - tobacco farmers reject Islamic council's edict..;
Indonesia - Ulema Council - debate results is split on smoking..;
Indonesia - Withdraw Sponsorhip of Another Rock Concert..;
Indonesia to increase tax on tobacco products..;
Semarang, Indonesia - Cigarette Smoking Areas to be Prepared..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - Malls help enforce non-smoking ban..;
Indonesia - federal anti-smoking laws in one year - MAYBE..;
Indonesia - NGO's (non-government organizations) Demand the Government Ratify WHO's FCTC.;
Indonesia to raise cigarette tax by 6 to 7% in 2009..;
Surabaya, Indonesia - anti-smoking bylaw 10/2009 - FOR REAL??
Indonesians smoking more than ever before..;
Indonesia further rise in the excise tax would hurt the cigarette industry..;
Alicia Keys - Jakarta Concert (July 31st) tobacco companies forced to withdraw sponsorship.. and
Most Indonesians support moves to ban tobacco advertisements..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - lawyers mount bid to challenge city's anti-smoking decree..;
Indonesia - at least one court still debatng whether tobacco is addictive..;
Indonesia - by banning smoking inside buildings smokers could be considered criminals.;
Indonesia - govt to raise cigarette excise up to 10 percent starting January 2011..;
Indonesia - tobacco companies provide volcano rescue relief..;
Indonesia - health minister drafting regulation on tobacco advertising ban..;
Indonesia - police drop tobacco graft case, sparking suspicions..;
;
Indonesia - Australian bands (2) will they perform at tobacco sponsored musical festival??;
Indonesia - confusion regarding possible suspects regarding the missing clause from the health bill passed in September 2009..;
Indonesia - 2-year old kicks the habit - COLD Turkey..;
Indonesia - agrees to ratify the WHO FCTC public health treaty..;
WTO - US rejected call by Indonesia to rule on dispute on ban of clove cigarettes in the US..;
Indonesia - on June 22nd will ask WTO to rule on US ban on clove cigarettes..;
Indonesia - PT Djarum Tobacco to sponsor badminton events..;
Indonesia - CNN Video on 2-year old nicotine addict..;
Indonesia - more on the 2-year old addicted to nicotine..;
Indonesia - paradise for smokers and paradise for tobacco companies..;
Indonesia - House Finance and Banking Commission opposes govt plan to lower cigarette production..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - more on the Kelly Clarkson tobacco sponsored concert April 29th..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - Singer Kelly Clarkson will she perfom concert sponsored by major tobacco company..;
Indonesia - launches formal dispute with WTO over U.S, ban on clove cigarettes..;
Indonesia - parents encourage 4-year old boy to continue smoking habit..;
Hemoglobin obtained from pigs may be used in cigarette filters..;
Indonesia - government may raise cigarette tax and cut cigarette output..;
Indonesia - Muhammadiyah-owned university students demonstrate against edict against smoking..;
Indonesia - kretek cigarette maker Gudang Garam's 2009 net profit jumps 84 percent..;
Indonesia - persons accused of eliminating clause designating tobacco as addictive..;
Indonesia - second largest Muslim organization launched a fatwa against smoking..;
Indonesia - RATIFICATION OF FCTC MAY RAISE INDONESIA'S BARGAINING POWER.. ;
Indonesia - 18 tons of illegal cigarettes destroyed..;
Indonesia - Government to limit cigarette production..;
Indonesia - BAT, Bentoel shareholders approve planned merger..;
Indonesia - another protest rejecting the new cigarette excise tax..;
Indonesia - workers from small cigarette producers protest excise tax increase..;
Indonesia - cigarette industry has pledged to stage a demonstration to protest a government plan to increase excise tax.;
Indonesia - the last paradise for a puff in Southeast Asia..;
Indonesia - trade minister officials want to meet with US counterparts to discuss ban on clove cigarettes..;
Indonesia - PT BAT Indonesia to merge with PT Bentoel International Investama Terbuka..;
Indonesia - missing tobacco regulation in approved Health Law..;
Indonesia - section on tobacco in health bill disappears..;
Indonesia - Constitutional Court by close vote rules that tobacco ads can continue..;
Indonesia - parent smoking can negatively affect the nutrition of children..;
Indonesia - new council member suspect in cigarette fraud case..;
Indonesia - an NGO commission assists cigarettes must be banned in films..
Indonesia - a paradise for tobacco companies..
Indonesia - after buying cigarettes very little left for food..;
Indonesia - will they ratify the first world public health treaty..;
Indonesia - last paradise to smoke in public places in Southeast Asia..;
Indonesia - Industry minister to close tobacco to new foreign investment..;
Indonesia Finance Ministry to cap tax deductions for tobacco companies..;
Indonesia - Smoking hits poor families the hardest, making the poor even poorer..;
Indonesia - Cigarette makers defy crisis, grows stronger..;
Indonesia - government may raise cigarette excise tax next year..;
WHO - Indonesia is crying out for your help..;
Indonesia - dispute with U.S. over banning the use of clove in cigarettes..;
Indonesia 'cash cow' for Philip Morris International..;
Tobacco industry has long targeted young people as "replacement smokers";
Indonesia - district court dismisses request to ratify FCTC..;
Asean Countries - Tobacco Industry Blocking Global Treaty On Tobacco..; Indonesia - farmers hold rally protest tobacco controls..;
Indonesia - tobacco farmers reject Islamic council's edict..;
Indonesia - Ulema Council - debate results is split on smoking..;
Indonesia - Withdraw Sponsorhip of Another Rock Concert..;
Indonesia to increase tax on tobacco products..;
Semarang, Indonesia - Cigarette Smoking Areas to be Prepared..;
Jakarta, Indonesia - Malls help enforce non-smoking ban..;
Indonesia - federal anti-smoking laws in one year - MAYBE..;
Indonesia - NGO's (non-government organizations) Demand the Government Ratify WHO's FCTC.;
Indonesia to raise cigarette tax by 6 to 7% in 2009..;
Surabaya, Indonesia - anti-smoking bylaw 10/2009 - FOR REAL??
Indonesians smoking more than ever before..;
Indonesia further rise in the excise tax would hurt the cigarette industry..;
Alicia Keys - Jakarta Concert (July 31st) tobacco companies forced to withdraw sponsorship.. and
Most Indonesians support moves to ban tobacco advertisements.. Read more...

Russia - still in discussion mode - significant tax hike should be coming..

April 6, 2011 he Finance Ministry is proposing that tobacco excises be increased to 3,000 rubles per 1,000 cigarettes from the current 270 rubles by the year 2015, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Kudrin, who is also finance minister, told the State Duma on Wednesday.

January 30, 2010 - Russia - Finance Ministry skeptical about raising taxes on tobacco..

"If Russia chooses to reach the level where tobacco tax represents 70 percent of the retail price, up to 2.7 million tobacco-related deaths among the Russian population can be avoided. Furthermore, the government would collect an additional RUB 153 billion (US$ 6 billion) in excise tax revenue per year." (Economics of Tobacco Taxation in Russia, Hana Zarubova Ross, PhD, Samina Shariff, MPH, Anna Gilmore, PhD, One of a series of reports on tobacco taxation funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as part of the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, 2008.)

Plans for next year include raising tobacco excises by 60 percent and then moving to a more significant increase, he said. "When tobacco excises are growing at a rate of 50 percent, that, of course, will alter the behavior of smokers and enterprises planning their production capacity, so, I think, we cannot immediately triple excises but need to move at a rate of 50 percent to 70 percent and effect a doubling in a few years," Kudrin said. "That is sufficiently strong excise growth," he said, adding that this would generate substantial budget revenue. The budget will take in an additional 100 billion rubles ($3.54 billion) just from tobacco excises in as little as a year. There will be a discussion next month about the rate at which tobacco excises are hiked, Kudrin said.

Reference: Kudrin Confirms Cigarette Tax Hike, The Moscow Times, 4/6/2011

Russia related news briefs:
Russia - smoking ban coming- do you believe it??;
Russia - seeing is believing, legislation coming to restrict spread of cigarette smoke..;
Russia - accepting funds from PMI to improve technical colleges..;
Russia - govt talks the talk but can't walk the walk..;
Russia - KT&G Corp. completes construction of plant..;
Russia - launches anti-smoking program, maybe they're serious this time..;
Russia - electronic cigarettes to be banned..;
Russia - strong plans to reduce the burden of tobacco use - will it come true??;
Russia - finance minister urges citizens to smoke and drink more to lift tax revenues..;
Russia - BATR has an alternative instead of banning cigarette sales from kiosks or by street vendors..;
Russia - health warnings on cigarette packs..;
Russsia - 73 percent of boys and 65 percent of girls smoke..;
Russia - Finance Ministry skeptical about raising taxes on tobacco..;
Russia - tax on tobacco may be quadrupled..;
Russia - tobacco epidemic with no solution in site..;
Russia - public health official discusses tobacco control..;
Russia - making it more difficult for servicemen to smoke..;
Russia - draft tobacco law being considered by Duma..;
Russia among top-10 smoking nations..;
Russian lawmakers discuss smoking ban for restaurants and bars..;
Russia passes new restrictions on tobacco..;
British American Tobacco (BAT) Misleading Russian Consumers..;
Russian State Duma (Parliament) ratified the framework convention of the World Health Organization (WHO) on tobacco control...
a Read more...

South Korea - smokers face uphill battle in Supreme Court..

April 6, 2011 - Will smokers be compensated for the cancer they develop after smoking cigarettes for decades without knowing its harms?

Background:

South Korea - lung cancer patients taken tobacco suit to the Supreme Court..;
South Korea - appellate court upholds lower court ruling rejecting claims of compensation for smoking lung cancer patients..

Moreover, will the court find tobacco firms guilty of selling carcinogens without appropriate warnings? The answers now depend on the Supreme Court justices as six smokers and 25 of their relatives have filed a suit against KT&G, the tobacco manufacturer here, over the prevalence of cancers believed to have been caused by decades-long smoking habit. They have demanded a total of 360 million won ($320,000) in compensation.

Bae Keum-ja, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. “It seems the court is taking the side of a poison maker.” Bae, who graduated from Harvard Law School with studies on cigarette litigation, admitted that the struggle will be long and might not produce the result they are looking for.

The answers now depend on the Supreme Court justices as six smokers and 25 of their relatives have filed a suit against KT&G, the tobacco manufacturer here, over the prevalence of cancers believed to have been caused by decades-long smoking habit. They have demanded a total of 360 million won ($320,000) in compensation.

The Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul High Court took 12 years to rule in favor of the tobacco maker, acknowledging that smoking increases cancer prevalence but requiring individuals to verify that smoking was the direct cause of their cancer. To successfully sue, the patients must also show that tobacco firms have concealed information about the harm that cigarettes have on human health.

“KT&G has refused the court’s settlement offer to establish a public foundation dedicated to antismoking campaign. Unless a whistleblower turns up to reveal crucial facts that support our claims from the inside, the chances are not so high,” she said.

Reference: Herald Interview] Smokers face uphill battle in Supreme Court by Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldm.com). Korea Herald, 3/27/2011.

South Korea - some related news briefs:
South Korea - KT&G’s Esse is queen of the super-slim cigarettes..;

South Korea - lung cancer patients taken tobacco suit to the Supreme Court..;
South Korea - One out of every 10 female high-school students smoke cigarettes habitually..;
South Korea - appellate court upholds lower court ruling rejecting claims of compensation for smoking lung cancer patients..;
South Korea - more tobacco control measures to be implemented - wants positive results by 2014..;
South Korea - govt serious about getting smokers to quit..;
South Korea - charge enough for cigarettes smokers will quit..;
South Korea - BAT Korea launching Dunhill Nanocut 1 mg, next week..;
South Korean tobacco company KT&G signs deal to sell cigarettes in the Middle East and Russia..;
South Korea - BAT releases Dunhill Orient as a limited edition..;
http://snus-news.blogspot.com/2010/11/south-korea-end-of-next-year-teenagers.html;
South Korea - stop people from smoking go ahead and triple the price of cigarettes..;
South Korea - Smoking Manner Campaign - promoting cigarette butt-free streets..;
South Korea - in 2007, world's 12th largest cigarette exporter..;
South Korea - study finds higher prices most effective method to discourage smoking..;
South Korea - a new Raison line extension..;
next month enforcement of ban on smoking by taxi drivers..;
South Korea - fines collected for dumping cigarette butts are down.. ;
South Korea - BAT launches new cigarette seems similar to Camel Crush..;
South Korea - rate of male smokers probably higher than any other OECD country..;
South Korea - BAT to further invest in Sacheon factory..;
South Korea - a look at KT&G Corporation with 63% of the market..;
South Korea - streets and parks of Seoul City could be designated as non-smoking areas..;
PMI - slide presentation South Korean Cigarette Market..;
South Korea - KT&G forms alliance with Imperial Tobacco Group..;
South Korea - more smokers in 2009 than in 2008..;
South Korea - remote island going smoke-free, car-free and night lights-free..;
South Korea - Stressed-out Koreans smoking more..;
South Korea - to ban smoking in public places from 2011..;
Korea - BAT - winning the hearts and minds of customers based on tactics tailored to local tastes..;
Korea - sets target to reduce smoking 10% in 5-years..;
Korea - stricter regulation of the tobacco industry coming..;
South Korea - tobacco imports surge 396-fold over 10-years..;
Korea - slight increase in men smoking.. ;
South Korea - anti-tobacco campaign - body painting..;
Korea - smoking ban just about everywhere by end of 2009..;
Tobacco marketing in South Korea has been deliberately aimed at girls and young women..;
Korea - smoking rates fall for men and women...
(passive smoking, environmental tobacco smoke, ets, involuntary smoking, sidestream smoking) Read more...

Conflicting Studies - does nicotine promote tumor growth..

March 6, 2011 - Back August 2010 researchers from Taipei Medical University looked looked at both breast cancer cells and normal cells to see if nicotine promoted tumour growth at a cellular level. It is the first time nicotine has been implicated as one of the chemicals in cigarettes that can trigger the development of breast cancer. Dr Yuan-Soon Ho and his team found that when normal cells were treated with nicotine in the laboratory it promoted the development of cancer characteristics. Likewise reducing the level of nicotine inhibited tumour growth. The findings, published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, could be a major blow to makers of nicotine-based products that help smokers to quit. The research could have a negative impact on companies that make nicotine gum, patches and electronic cigarettes that are promoted as a 'healthy alternative' for smokers. (PAPER: Nicotine in cigarettes linked to breast cancer..)

Now we found- nicotine at doses similar to those found in most nicotine replacements therapies did not increase lung cancer tumor incidence, frequency or size, according to results of a mouse study presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held here April 2-6.“If you take our data and combine it with epidemiological data from Europe, even in people who quit smoking and maintain the use of nicotine replacement therapy for months or years, there does not appear to be increased lung cancer incidence,” said Phillip A. Dennis, M.D., Ph.D., senior investigator at the medical oncology branch of the National Cancer Institute. “This suggests that nicotine replacement therapy is probably safe and is certainly safer than smoking.” Nicotine Does Not Promote Lung Cancer Growth in Mouse ModelsAmerican Association of Cancer Research, 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held here April 2-6. 4/4/201.

Nicotine Promotes Growth Of Tumors Already Established By Tobacco Carcinogens

Read more...

Spain - cigarette smuggling after tax hike..

April 6, 2011 - The sale of smuggled cigarettes in Spain has soared since the government raised the tax rate on tobacco, a spokesman for Franco-Spanish tobacco producer Altadis said Monday.

Directly related:
November 6, 2010 -Spain's Biggest Ever Counterfeit Cigarette Network Dismantled..

The company estimates smuggled cigarettes accounted for around six percent of Spain's total cigarette consumption during the first three months of the year, compared to just one percent in all of 2010, the spokesman said.

The problem is especially high in the southwestern region of Andalusia as a significant amount of smuggled cigarettes enter Spain from the nearby British territory of Gibraltar, he added.

The prices of cigarettes in Spain have risen by around 40 percent since June 2009 due to a series of tax hikes, with a packet of Marlboro now costing 4.25 euros ($6.04) from 3.10 euros.

Altadis is a unit of Britain's Imperial Tobacco Group, Europe's second-biggest tobacco company. Altadis (Alliance Tobacco Distributors) born from the merger of Spain's Tabacalera and France's Seita SA (F.STA) state tobacco monopolies..;
Imperial Tobacco successfully concludes acquisition of Altadis...

Imperial Tobacco makes Davidoff, West, Drum, Golden Virginia and Lambert & Butler cigarettes while Altadis manufactures Fortune, Gitanes and Ducados.

Reference: Cigarette smuggling soars in Spain after tax hike: company, expatica.com, 4/4/2011

Spain - related news briefs:
Spain - hostelry sector to present 1 million signatures against smoking ban..;
Spain - the govt is serious - smoking ban holding this time..:
Spain - Spanish Hotel and Catering Association (FEHR) complains about loss of business..;
Palencia, Spain - hotels and restaurants protest anti-smoking law..;
Spain - anti-smoking law goes into effect Sunday, January 2, 2010.;
Spain - new smoking ban goes into effect January 2, 2011 - how many jobs will be lost??;
Paper: Spain - cost of each pack of cigarettes up to $150..;
Spain - doctors call for tobacco sales banned in vending machine in bars and from kiosks..;
Spain - the Basque Governing Council gives green to the latest anti-smoking bill..:
Spain - ban smoking legislation wins unanimous support in parliament..;
Spain - tougher smoking restrictions not until 2011..;
Spain - Indonesia`s clove cigarettes popular in Spain..;
Spain - health minister believes society mature enough to accept total smoking ban..;
Spain - cigarette sales are up - so what else is new!!;
Spain - zero tolerence smoking ban this year or next??:
Spain - in June 2010 government will present a law to congress to ban smoking in closed public places..;
Spain - government postpones debate on tougher smoking legislation..;
Spain - smoking ban to be implemented on January 1, 2010 still being delayed..;
Spain - still some hesitation on total smoking ban for country..;
Spain - hotel and catering industry protests plan to ban smoking next year..;
Spain - hopes next year to expand ban on smoking in enclosed public places..;
Spain - impact of 2006 law banning smoking in public places..;
Spain - ready for expansion and enforcement of Anti-Smoking Act..;
Spain - ready for full smoking ban in public places..;
Spain - ban smoking public places - a lot of talk no action..;
Spain plans gruesome images on cigarette packs sometime in future..
Read more...

New York City - loosies still being sold in New York City..

Archive