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SENATE BILL No. 25 (PDF) 

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ITC Has Biggest Drop in Nine Months on Cigarette Tax Increase  

ITC Ltd., Asia’s second-largest tobacco company by market value, fell the most in more than nine months after India’s government proposed increasing excise tax on some filter-tipped cigarettes by as much as 18 percent.

ITC fell 6.2 percent to 232.25 rupees in Mumbai after declining as much as 7.6 percent. The government will raise the tax on filter cigarettes longer than 60 millimeters, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said while unveiling the government’s annual budget. The government proposed a tax cut in cigarettes not exceeding 60 millimeters.

The Kolkata-based company, 32 percent owned by British American Tobacco Plc, earns more than 80 percent of its profit before tax from selling Gold Flake, Classic and other cigarette brands. The company, which also runs hotels and sells shampoos, doesn’t offer cigarettes shorter than 60 millimeters.

“They will have to increase prices by about 8 to 10 percent,” said Abhijeet Kundu, an analyst at Antique Stock Broking Ltd. in Mumbai. “ITC has to bring in shorter length cigarettes to compensate for the fall in volume because of the tax increase.”

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EDITORIAL: Lighten up on movies that contain smoking  

Hollywood's relationship with cigarettes lasted eons longer than most Tinsel Town romances.

The smoke-filled rooms set the mood in "Casablanca," and "Citizen Kane" -- considered by many to be the greatest film ever -- had either a cigarette, pipe or cigar in ever scene.

Men were suave with a cigarette in their hand. Women sexy. . . .

According to Dr. Stanton Glantz, the center's director, movies are the biggest reason teens smoke. Using the R rating -- a box office crippler in many cases -- may force some directors to keep the smoke away if it's not totally necessary.

He may have a point. Go back and watch the 1978 "Superman," a movie made for kids, yet a movie that include a Marlboro chain-smoking Lois Lane and a few obvious Marlboro product placement moments.

How far have we come? The 2006 "Superman Returns" included a smoking Lois, too ... though with a scene where Superman tells her it's bad for her.

There's anger over the mega-blockbuster "Avatar," too ... which also contains characters who light up.

We agree there needs to be a concerted effort in Hollywood to un-cool smoking, but we don't necessarily think it warrants an R-rating. Hollywood is reflecting reality more and more, whereas back then, it was the other way around. As society continues to kick the habit, we feel the silver screen will, too.

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Cigarettes and gutka to cost you dear  

Cigarettes and gutka are going to cost you dear, and not just in terms of health. The FM — who often struck a debonair pose with his pipes —having kicked the habit, on Friday announced dramatic structural changes in excise duties on tobacco products, along with increases in rates, that will burn a hole in your pocket if you are in the "unhealthy habit".

Although the move was not entirely unexpected, the quantum of the hike — about 17%— came as a shock to companies. Analysts say the manufacturers are likely to pass on a substantial part of the additional costs to consumers.

While the exact amount of retail hike is likely to vary across brands and pricing points — it would depend on parameters like how financially strong the company is and its need to factor in various state taxes as well — experts say the firms would be unwilling to completely absorb the extra cost accruing in the form of higher excise duties. "It's an extremely steep increase and we are evaluating the impact," an ITC spokesman said.

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Man dies after catching fire  

Thomas Goodloe, 65, Apt. C1, Spring Creek Apartments, died from burns covering more than 80 percent of his body, according to reports. . . .

"From what we understand, he was sitting outside smoking and caught his arm on fire and then ran back inside, caught the couch on fire and then ran back outside," said Tuscumbia Police Assistant Chief Terry Sherron. . . .

Moore said Goodloe had suffered from a couple of strokes.

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Olympic brew-haha a tempest in a beer can  

Hundreds of readers weighed in on media websites after pictures were published of the women posing with their medals, tipping champagne into each other's mouths, holding beer bottles and smiling with cigars in their teeth.

While some expressed disappointment – "I have no respect for anyone who needs to smoke and drink booze because they are happy" – most said the women had won the right to celebrate. . . . .

Team captain Hayley Wickenheiser said she understands why the team has come in for criticism. "I don't brush off the underage part and being on the ice," Wickenheiser said Friday. "But these women are athletes, they're not smoking cigars and drinking alcohol." . . .

Canadian Olympic Committee president Michael Chambers said the women have nothing to apologize for, noting it's not uncommon for people to have a cold drink, including alcohol, after a hockey game. "When you win something, someone shoves a cigar in your mouth and all of a sudden you're a cigar smoker," he said.

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Utah Legislature: Proposed smoking tax would benefit education, law enforcement 

A bill increasing the cigarette tax that failed in committee is coming back, this time with a long list of earmarks for the $50 million in new revenue.

The proposal, labeled "an innovative idea" by Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, includes spending for everything from public education to law enforcement, all paid for by raising the tax on a pack of cigarettes to $2.

"I'd rather not use 'pork barrel.' These are not pork," said the sponsor of SB40, Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden. "It's brand new money for programs that had been passed over."

Christensen has tried for several years to raise the cigarette tax from the current 69.5 cents a pack, one of the lowest rates in the country, to help curb smoking in the state. . . .

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Canadian women offer an apology 

Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin (left) and Tessa Bonhomme pose with cigars, beer and gold medals during celebration after their Olympic hockey win over the U.S. Thursday. . . .

Forward Marie-Philip Poulin, who scored both of Canada's goals in the win, was among those celebrating. Drinking age in B.C. is 19. She celebrates her 19th birthday March 28.

"I think we just wanted to enjoy the game and go back on the ice and I think we are really sorry for what happened," she said. "It won't happen again. . . .

"We accomplished something huge," Hefford said. "Huge for our country and something that maybe a lot of people doubted could happen here in Canada. I think that's a pretty great story for Canadians who love the game.

"Not one person on our team is a smoker. We had cigars as a sign of celebration. We had a few beers. That was it.

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Christensen pushing to revive tobacco tax 

It'll be Christmas in March, if Sen. Allen Christensen has his way.

Angry that his tobacco tax increase died in a committee this week, he is coming back with an offer that could be difficult for just about everyone to refuse.

His original proposal was to bring the tax on a pack of cigarettes up to $2 from the current 69 cents -- an effort, he says, to get people to stop smoking. That is still the case, but instead of putting the $50 million in expected revenue into a restricted account that would provide several million in interest each year, he's trying something new in the face of extensive budget cuts. Christensen said he's going to try to lift his dead bill from the committee straight to the Senate floor on Monday or Tuesday. He released a wish list Friday that doles the money out to every sensitive area of the state, including:

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Tobacco tax proponents cut deals to win votes  

Advocates for an increase to Utah's cigarette tax are attempting a bold new strategy, earmarking tens of millions of dollars in revenue toward a list of popular programs in hopes of winning support from fence-sitting legislators and boxing in opponents.

Sen. Allen Christensen, R-Ogden, is seeking to raise the tax from 69.5 cents to $2 per pack and dole out $50 million to public and higher education, the prison system, county jails and other programs that are on the budgetary chopping block.

"I'm desperate to get this thing through," said Christensen, the sponsor of SB40. "The strategy is that, after all the cuts are in the budget and done ... we know where we can get 50 million more dollars. This is what I can buy for it and this is what I'm proposing."

Opponents of the tax said the backers were using strategically placed earmarks to try to buy key votes for the bill that failed to get out of committee earlier this week.

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Smoking ban still in effect But can it be enforced? 

A central Ohio judge has stopped the state from collecting more than $30,000 in fines against a Columbus-area bar accused of allowing customers to smoke.

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David E. Cain ruled business owners have no control over whether "someone rips out a cigarette and lights up" and cannot be held responsible if they have met other requirements outlined under the voter-approved Ohio SmokeFree Workplace Act.

"This all comes down to the fact that property owners can only do so much...," Cain wrote. "They can put up 'no smoking' signs. They can take away ashtrays. They can ask patrons that are smoking to leave. Outside of these things, there is little property owners can do."

Backers of the ruling said Thursday the decision could have wide-reaching implications, including stopping health officials from enforcing the smoking ban anywhere in the state and potentially leading to the forced refunds of fines already paid by businesses cited with violations.

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They can put up 'no smoking' signs. They can take away ashtrays. They can ask patrons that are smoking to leave. Outside of these things, there is little property owners can do. . . . Placing the (onus) of enforcing the SmokeFree Act against individuals completely on property owners is ludicrous and defies basic notions of fairness.
Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David E. Cain, whose ruling that business owners have no responsibility to enforce Ohio's smoking ban would invalidate virtually every smoking ban in the world.

Would the Department of Health require property owners to pat down visitors for cigarettes before they are allowed to enter?
Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David E. Cain, who ruled business owners have no responsibility to enforce Ohio's smoking ban.

Judge: Bar owners not required to police smoking ban violators 

Taverns cited by the health department could have their violations thrown out after a judge ruled in favor of bar Zeno's, said the Columbus-based 1851 Center for Constitutional Law, who defended the bar.

Judge David Cain said the department fined Zeno's despite "no smoking" signs, the removal of ashtrays and requests by employees that smokers extinguish cigarettes, according to the Associated Press.

He said the health department exceeded its authority by holding Zeno's responsible for the actions of its patrons.

The state is appealing the Franklin County ruling.

But Sandusky area bar owner Paul Hauke Jr. said Thursday the ruling could free him and other owners from constantly policing their patrons. "As long as we have the signs up, we're not responsible,"

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Chesterfield-based Swedish Match North America seeks to boost its dipping tobacco 

Swedish Match North America is stepping up its efforts to introduce Americans to snus, the traditional Swedish dipping tobacco.

The Chesterfield County-based company has expanded by sixfold the number of stores where it sells snus, even as it ended a joint venture with Lorillard Tobacco Co. to test demand, company officials disclosed yesterday.

This winter, it has crews at Vail and Aspen, Colo.; Jackson Hole, Wyo.; and other ritzy ski resorts, passing out silvery sample cans of its General brand snus.

Snus, which is a type of snuff made from tobacco cured by steam instead of heat in the usual American way, could become one of the hottest new tobacco products on the market. It has a different aroma than moist snuff and does not require users to spit.

Last week, Michael E. Szymanczyk, chairman and chief executive officer of the nation's No. 1 tobacco company, Henrico Countybased Altria Group Inc., said expanding spitless tobacco products was a top priority.

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Smuggler sentenced for illegal cigarette haul 

A SMUGGLER who was stopped at a ferry port with a people carrier crammed full of 28,000 cigarettes was given a suspended prison sentence today.

According to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Karl Hansen, 47, from Stockton-on-Tees, was found with almost 450 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco as well as the cigarettes when he was stopped at Poole Ferry Port, in Dorset.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard how Hansen was stopped on October 3, last year, by officers who found the roof-box on his Chrysler Grand Voyager stuffed full of smuggled cigarettes with large quantities of tobacco hidden under blankets and crammed beneath the back seats.

The car had arrived in Poole by ferry from Cherbourg, in France.

Hansen, a tiler, of Kennedy Gardens, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, admitted evading around £71,000 in excise duty last month.

Today he was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.

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Customs seize 28,000 cigarettes at Dorset port 

A man caught with 28,000 cigarettes crammed into a people carrier at a Dorset port has been given a six-month suspended sentence.

HM Customs said Karl Hansen, 47, also had 450kg (0.45 tonnes) of tobacco when his vehicle arrived at Poole ferry terminal from Cherbourg, France.

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