July 30th, 2011

Appeals Court Considering Tobacco Ad Challenge

 NACS Online

 

The tobacco companies allege that the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act infringes on their first   amendment rights to free speech.

 

CINCINNATI – On Wednesday, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments relating to a lawsuit over whether the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act unlawfully limits the free speech of tobacco companies, the Associated Press reports.

The three judges will decide in the case that pits the U.S. Food and Drug Administration against major tobacco companies, including Commonwealth Brands, Discount Tobacco City & Lottery Inc., Lorillard Inc., National Tobacco Co. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. At issue is whether or not the agency can regulate marketing and advertising of tobacco products.

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July 27th, 2011

Opinion: Raising Cigarette Taxes Will Help Illegal Trade

 

The Canadian Convenience Stores Association contends that higher cigarette taxes decreases business for retailers

 

POINTE CLAIRE, Quebec — Higher cigarette taxes will not lower smoking rates, wrote Michael Gadbois, senior vice president of the Canadian Convenience Stores Association, in an opinion piece in the Montreal Gazette.

“Such a law will only hurt law-abiding retailers and force consumers to the unregulated, untaxed, criminally run contraband tobacco market,” wrote Gadbois in response to a recent article recommending a minimum cost for cigarettes. “We have already begun to see such a phenomenon as a result of higher taxes on tobacco products. Retailers in the legal industry are seeing their customers turn to the illegal market on native reserves, where authorities are not enforcing laws and cigarettes can be purchased for a fraction of the regular price.”

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July 25th, 2011

Smokers, sellers doubt cigarette pack scares will work

FDA-required packaging features graphic, disturbing images intended to keep people from using the product

 

By Terry Morris,

Staff Writer

DAYTON — It will be more difficult to overlook anti-smoking messages on cigarette packs when jarring images including damaged lungs and a smoker with a tracheotomy incision start showing up prominently in 2012.

Mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, the photographs and messages chosen for the campaign are sparking advance conversation.

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July 18th, 2011

Report shows climb in black market cigarettes is costing $2 billion a year

  • EXCLUSIVE by Joe Hildebrand
  • From: The Daily Telegraph
  • July 12, 2011 12:00AM

 

Cigarette

 

THE number of counterfeit cigarettes in Australia has doubled in the past six months, with one in every 12 cigarettes being sold now a fake, a report claims.

The increase comes ahead of federal government plans for plain packaging and if correct could cost the government more than $2 billion a year in lost excise, The Daily Telegraph reported.

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July 15th, 2011

SPECIAL REPORT: Cigarette Taxes Leading More Smokers To Roll Their Own

Locals Joins The Roll-Your-Own Revolution

High Taxes Leading More Smokers To Roll Their Own — Tom Vacar report

 YUBA CITY, Calif. — A mini tax revolt by smokers is sweeping across the nation as the price of smokes keeps soaring. 

It’s a big movement back east and has now come to California. It’s the “roll your own” revolution. 

Business is booming at Yuba City’s “Roll Your Own” tobacco shop. Customers are happy. Regular customer Gary “G-Man” Jackson quips, “Roll your own. You can’t beat it.” 

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