South Carolina - legislators eager to pass cigarette tax increase - the odds are against them??

January 12, 2009 - South Carolina legislators eager to raise the cigarette tax in 2009. Even Governor Sanford agrees with the idea of raising the cigarette tax. But again like last year - the lawmakers disagree on how the money should be spent.

Republican representatives Dan Cooper of Piedmont and Brian White of Anderson said, “They want to tax it to ban it and at the same time rely on the money for health care,” White said. “Do you want people to quit smoking, or do you want a source of funding?” More Cooper: Legislators should not try to prevent smoking through “nanny state” laws, Cooper said, noting his opposition to seat belt laws because of his personal freedom values. Cooper said cigarette laws could open the door forobesity laws, since both would involve health hazards.

At present, South Carolina spends NO money on tobacco prevention..

Cooper said he is concerned about the possible economic effect of the tax on convenience stores near South Carolina’s borders with Georgia and North Carolina but would reluctantly accept a 25-cent increase that didn’t increase the size of government. Georgia and North Carolina levy cigarette taxes of 37 cents and 35 cents, respectively, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. South Carolina now has the lowest cigarette tax in the nation, 7 cents per pack.

If South Carolina raised its cigarette tax by 50 cents, to make it 57 cents per pack, there would be nine states with lower taxes (Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia), according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. Idaho levies a 57-cent per pack tax.

Related news briefs: South Carolina to spend NO money on tobacco prevention..; South Carolina (SC) will NOT devote any resources to anti-smoking programs..; In 2008 will the politicians do what's right for the State of South Carolina??; South Carolina - Tobacco Tax Increase Killed - State House Fails to Override Governor's Veto.. and Tobacco Tax Increase – What’s Wrong with South Carolina??


Reference: Cigarette tax increase coming this year to S.C., legislators say by Mike Ellis, independentmail.com, 1/10/2009.

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Cigarette sales in France dropped to a record low in 2008..

January 12, 2009 - Cigarette sales in France dropped to a record low in 2008, research by British American Tobacco (BAT) shows. BAT France said 54.4 billion cigarettes were sold in 2008 in France, down 2.3 percent from 2007. In 1998, almost 85 billion cigarettes were sold in France. BAT cited bans on smoking in bars and public places as well as high prices as factors encouraging the formerly smoking-mad French to stub out their cigarettes for good. The price of cigarettes, which are heavily taxed, has risen steadily in recent years. The average price of a packet was EUR 5.30 (USD 7.11) last year, up from EUR 2.96 (USD 3.97) a decade earlier.

BAT France's head of institutional relations, Yves Trevilly,"It is clear that from the moment that prices go up in France, people will cross the border where they can get cigarettes more cheaply." He said almost one in four cigarettes smoked in France last year was bought abroad, mainly in Spain, Luxembourg and Belgium.

French health authorities have told the National Sanitary Institute that there was a 15 percent decrease in admissions of patients with heart attack and stroke to hospitals since the smoking ban in restaurants, hotels and casinos was implemented January 2007. (France: Heart Attack Rates Drop Following National Smoking Ban, Medical News Today, 2/29/2008)

Reference: Smoking ban in cafes puts French off cigarettes, Reuters, 1/6/2009 and Cigarette sales at record low, Tobacco Journal International, 1/7/2009.

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Judge dismisses General Tobacco challenge to tobacco settlement..

January 12, 2009 - U.S. District Judge Jennifer Coffman has dismissed a challenge by General Tobacco (GT), the sixth-largest tobacco company in the U.S. and maker of GT-One brand cigarettes, to the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between the states and 19 tobacco product makers saying there's no legal basis for attacking the compact. October 30, 2008 - GT filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Louisville, Ky., seeking more than $1 billion in damages. It also asked the court to stop states from penalizing the company for not making payments while the lawsuit was pending in U.S. District Court. The settlement separated participants into two camps — original participants and subsequent participants. General Tobacco, which was a latecomer to the settlement, said it is unfairly required to pay millions more because it signed on to the agreement later than 19 other companies.

U.S. District Judge Jennifer Coffman ruled Tuesday. January 6, 2009 that the lawsuit, brought by General Tobacco, failed on all fronts because the company couldn't prove the settlement amounted to either a conspiracy or anti-competitive behavior by the government.

Reference: Federal judge dismisses lawsuit challenging tobacco master settlement by BRETT BARROUQUERE - Associated Press Writer - Chicago Tribune, 1/6/2009; Likely ruling a blow to General Tobacco
Company expected to lose its suit for $1 billion damages by Richard Craver, Winston-Salem Journal, 12/12/2008.

Related news briefs: General Tobacco lays off nearly 25% of work force..; General Tobacco Sues 52 U.S Attorneys General and 19 Tobacco Companies..; N.C.'s General Tobacco Appoints New Sales Head..; General Tobacco completes move to Mayodan, N.C.. and General Tobacco (GT) could “potentially” come out with a snus product in the future..

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45 years ago - January 11, 1964 - Luther Terry, Surgeon General Report..

January 11,2009 - January 11, 1964, the U.S. Surgeon General, through his Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health, released the report “Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the United States.”

After reviewing over 7,000 medical journal articles, the report made by U.S. Surgeon General Luther Leonidas Terry stated, “Cigarette smoking is a health hazard of sufficient importance in the United States to warrant appropriate remedial action."

This report is considered that first widely-publicized report by the federal government that cigarette smoking is harmful to the health of humans. Dr. Luther Terry, unequivocally warned the American public for the first time of the dangers of cigarette smoking, one major organization failed to support this stand - the American Medical Association.

More - The 1964 Report on Smoking and Health..

Reference: 45 years ago: U.S. makes first health warning on smokin by William Atkins, iTWIRE, 1/12/2009.
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Taiwan - smoking ban takes effect - THESE PEOPLE ARE SERIOUS..

January 11, 2009 - Taiwan - a new ban targeting indoor public area takes effect today, January 11, 2009 after an 18-month grace period expired. The amended Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act passed the legislature in June 2007.

According to the revisions to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, smoking in indoor workplaces manned by three or more people and in the majority of other public indoor spaces could result in a fine of up to NT$50,000 (USD$1,508.32) for the businesses and NT$10,000 (USD$301.66) for the individuals involved. Airports have closed their smoking rooms and local air carriers are barred from selling cigarettes to passengers during flights under the new law. The law also bans cigarette advertisements and cigarette promotional activities. Although the law stipulates no smoking in homes where there are children under three or pregnant woman, it does not dictate any punishment for violators. Cigarette vendors are not allowed to sell the product to persons under 18 years of age, to display cigarettes on shelves that are accessible to consumers, or to place cigarettes in automatic vending machines. Also, the law requires that prominent "no smoking" signs be posted at the entrances of the specified establishments.


Taiwan became the 17th country in the world (Ireland, the 1st, banned indoor smoking in 2004), to ban smoking indoors at public facilities by law, prohibiting smoking in theaters, restaurants, office buildings and public establishments, in the first step toward a government goal to make the country smoke-free. Some establishments such as hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and nursing homes for the elderly are allowed to have special smoking areas. However, these establishments are likely to prohibit smoking altogether in light of the strict requirements for setting up smoking rooms.

In a bid to discourage violations of the ban, health authorities are offering rewards to people who report such violations. Dozens fined for smoking violations..

In addition to implementing the indoor smoking ban, the Cabinet-level Department of Health is currently lobbying the Legislative Yuan to pass a bill to increase the health tax on tobacco products. Taiwan lawmakers fail to raise tobacco tax..

John Tung Foundation, the leader in Taiwan's anti- smoking campaign.

References: Indoor smoking ban takes effect
Health authorities are expected to target hotels, KTVs, Internet cafes and chain restaurants in first wave of inspections, Central News, Taiwan News, 1/11/2009; Indoor smoking ban enforced,By Dimitri Bruyas,The China Post, 1/12/2009.
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