http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/rollyourown.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.csnews.com/csn/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004073609&imw=Y http://tobacco.org/news/298125.html LAS VEGAS -- Nearly a year after Congress passed and the president signed a historic increase in the federal excise tax (FET) on tobacco to fund an expansion of children's healthcare benefits, convenience store and tobacco outlet retailers joined here at the Tobacco Plus Expo from March 3-4, to discover the opportunities in the category, learn the latest trends, see new products and more. Ahead of the conference, Convenience Store News held its annual Tobacco Roundtable March 2, where a panel of retailers and manufacturers met to discuss best practices in the category, as well as hear the latest tobacco retailing data presented by CSNews. One retailer at the event noted the past year was spent "adapting to trends." One of which included bringing in loose pipe tobacco into stores as a lower-cost alternative to roll-your-own (RYO) cigarette tobacco, which was subject of a 1,200 percent tax hike under the FET increase. . . . Attendees at the roundtable included representatives from such retailers as 7-Eleven, Smoker Friendly and TravelCenters of America. For more on the roundtable, watch for the April 12 issue of CSNews. The roundtable was sponsored by McLane Co. Inc. and Republic Tobacco. Meanwhile, the Tobacco Plus Expo focused on targeting untapped opportunities in a session called "El Elefante in Your Isles," which was presented by Juan Tornoe, consultant at Hispanic Trending. "Everyone is aware of the growth of the Latino market. But oftentimes, businesses think they are doing OK, so they don't go after Latinos," he told attendees. Convenience Store News Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/27/state_budget_tax_cigars_and_pipe_tobacco/ http://tobacco.org/news/297618.html State legislators should support the governor's proposal to hike taxes on cigars and pipe tobacco in the 2011 budget. The increase in the excise tax is expected to raise $15 million, which would help the Commonwealth fend off the sort of revenue shortfalls that force steep cuts in government programs. . . . In these times of joblessness and economic despair, the state must do all that's possible to preserve the ability of families to feed and clothe themselves. Rather than shore up the safety net through a broader-based tax, in these times of joblessness and economic despair, it makes sense to apply a higher tax to something that is both a luxury and a harm to those who smoke it. Boston Globe Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Features/CA_Feature_Basic_Template/0,2344,3078,00.html http://tobacco.org/news/297072.html New York City's controversial flavored tobacco ban, which prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products within the city and was scheduled to go into effect February 26, has been delayed. The ban, once it takes effect, would prohibit the sale of flavored cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco and pipe tobacco. According to Norman Sharp, president of the Cigar Association of America, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Manufacturing Company filed suit in federal court against the city on January 26, arguing that in the case of tobacco, federal law trumps local law. Cigar Aficionado Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.europapress.es/economia/noticia-economia-empresas-ampliacion-jti-responde-auge-tabaco-liar-lanzamiento-winston-bolsa-lata-20100126124717.html http://tobacco.org/news/295983.html Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has responded to strong growth that is tracking snuff rolling in Spain with the launch of its flagship brand 'Winston' in 30 gram bag and can of 100 grams, at a price of 2.50 euros and EUR 8,35 respectively, tobacco reported Monday. Europa Press Spain Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.thelocal.de/society/20100119-24665.html http://tobacco.org/news/295605.html Although new figures show that Germans are smoking less, they are spending more on tobacco products, according to the Federal Statistics Office (Destatis) on Tuesday. The increase in spending is despite what appears to be a move away from expensive cigars and cigarillos during the financial crisis. Tobacco products worth ?22.8 billion retail were sold in Germany in 2009, a total sum of 1.4 percent more than in the previous year, the new Destatis figures showed. Yet the number of taxed cigarettes dropped by 1.6 percent to ?1.4 billion. The financial crisis seems to have hit the luxury tobacco market in Germany particularly hard, with the taxed sales of cigars and cigarillos down by 24.6 percent. The Local.de news@thelocal.de Germany Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=44181&catid=1088 http://tobacco.org/news/295101.html While trends in cigarette smoking and sales have declined in the U.S. for the past decade, sales of non-cigarette tobacco products have been on the rise. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health sought to compare trends in sales of all tobacco products in the U.S. and found that 30% of the recent decline in cigarette sales may be offset by the robust sale of small cigars, snuff and roll-your-own products. Thus, the apparent magnitude of overall decline in tobacco use in the U.S. may be illusory. The major factor in the apparent switch to non-cigarette products by smokers appears to be price─with the federal tax on other forms of tobacco 1/10th that of cigarettes -- and the heavy attention given to campaigning against cigarette use but not against other forms of tobacco products in recent years. Price increases have proven to be the single most effective form of curbing tobacco use in the U.S. population. According to the National Cancer Institute, in the U.S. smoking-related illnesses account for an estimated 438,000 deaths each year. An estimated 25.9 million men (23.9 percent) and 20.7 million women (18.1 percent) in the U.S. are smokers, according to the American Heart Association. OfficialWire gstatsinfo@gmail.com (Harry Heiti) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20100104/NEWS01/1040306/Smokers-put-out-by-law http://tobacco.org/news/294912.html A new state law intended to reduce fires caused by cigarettes has some smokers frustrated. "I think they suck," said Tina Mayton of the cigarettes, which extinguish when left unattended. "They taste different, and to be honest, I lose more ash." Mayton, a cashier at Smoker's Outlet, 4141 24th Ave., Fort Gratiot, said she's not alone in her gripes. Several customers have switched to rolling their own cigarettes so they don't have to deal with it, she said. Mayton said smokers have to huff down their cigarette or be prepared to relight it. They also must constantly flick ashes, she said. Port Huron Times Herald lshepard@gannett.com (LIZ SHEPARD Times Herald) Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://adg.nwanews.com/news/2009/nov/30/tobacco-critics-rip-packets-relabeling-20091130/ http://tobacco.org/news/293461.html With increased federal and state tobacco taxes raising the cost on some brands to more than $5 per pack or by about $12 a carton, she’s changed her habits. Near the end of the month when money is running low,she goes to her usual tobacco store and buys a $4.25 roll your-own-cigarettes kit and maybe one pack of pre-rolled cigarettes. She tried one other cost cutting measure: using rougher-cut pipe tobacco. That didn’t work out. “It was very harsh,” she said, grimacing and patting her throat with her right hand. “It almost hurt ... Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.newbernsj.com/articles/tobacco-49646-class-pound.html http://tobacco.org/news/293366.html Some tobacco companies have pulled another one on the federal government. By relabeling their product, the companies are avoiding a punitive tax placed on roll-your-own tobacco products. . . . Yet many people in our nation, despite knowing the research, the dangers and the statistics, continue to smoke. Quite frankly, we wish they'd choose to quit. But that choice should be made based on their own desire and motivation, not based on a tax policy that seeks to make their habit cost-prohibitive. A free nation should not invoke a punitive tax policy for anything. New Bern Sun-Journal Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://lakeconews.com/content/view/11495/928/ http://tobacco.org/news/293352.html SACRAMENTO - the Board of Equalization (BOE) has announced that it has notified wholesalers and distributors that it is illegal to sell flavored cigarettes or roll-your-own (RYO) under the federal U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provision of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The BOE sent a special notice by email informing them of this new federal regulation, according to Chairwoman Betty T. Yee. Under federal law, these products can no longer be manufactured, imported or sold in the United States and could be seized by federal, state or local law enforcement authorities. Lake County News Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/sidestep-40779-span-.html http://tobacco.org/news/293182.html Some tobacco companies have pulled a fast one on the federal government by re-labeling their products and avoiding a punitive tax placed on roll-your-own tobacco products. Congress and the Obama administration raised taxes on tobacco products earlier this year . . . Former Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall once said, "The power to tax involves the power to destroy." It's obvious that Congress and the administration intended to use the roll-your-own tax as a means of destruction. But the legitimate power to tax is to help pay for the functions of government. It shouldn't be used to redistribute income, effect behavior or destroy an industry. . . . The effects of smoking have taken far too many lives prematurely. Yet many people in our nation, despite knowing the research, the dangers and the statistics, continue to smoke. We wish they'd choose to quit, but that choice should be made based on their own desire and motivation, not based on a tax policy that seeks to make their habit cost-prohibitive. A free nation should not invoke a punitive tax policy for anything. Gaston Gazette Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2009/11/tobaccos_tax_dodge_a_loophole.html http://tobacco.org/news/293152.html APA pack of Marlboro cigarettesWhen you make a product that kills people, you need good lawyers. And the tobacco companies have them. That's why quicker than you could say "Joe Camel," Big Tobacco found a loophole in new legislation that more than doubled the tax on roll-your-own tobacco. . . . Tobacco companies insist they're just trying to survive in an industry that keeps saddling them with more taxes. But take a puff on this: Phillip Morris made $6.89 billion in net income in 2008. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), one of the strongest anti-tobacco voices in Congress, says it's just a matter of time before legislators close the loophole: "If the companies won't do what's right, then we will," Lautenberg said. Star-Ledger Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.jdnews.com/opinion/tobacco-70088-span-justify.html http://tobacco.org/news/293131.html SOME TOBACCO companies have pulled another one on the federal government. By relabeling their product, the companies are avoiding a punitive tax placed on rollyour-own tobacco products. . . . Certainly, tobacco use and abuse can lead to many health problems. Those ailments include lung cancer, respiratory diseases and heart disease. The effects of smoking have taken far too many lives prematurely. Yet many people in our nation, despite knowing the research, the dangers and the statistics, continue to smoke because they choose to do so. But that choice should be made based on their own desire and motivation, not based on a tax policy that seeks to make their habit cost-prohibitive. A free nation should not invoke a punitive tax policy for anything. Jacksonville Daily News Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov/21/pipe-dream-posing-problems/ http://tobacco.org/news/293122.html The federal government should have known how small, independent tobacco companies would react when it disproportionately increased the tax on their primary product. These companies specialize in making tobacco for roll-your-own cigarettes, whose sales had been growing because they are cheaper than packaged cigarettes. But Congress and President Barack Obama this year raised taxes on all tobacco products in order to expand a program that subsidizes children’s health insurance. . . . The Associated Press reported that the federal treasury could be shorted hundreds of millions of dollars a year if the labeling switcheroo stands. And there is another problem, as worrisome as the loss in taxes. Flavored cigarettes, which attract children, are banned by the Food and Drug Administration. But that ban does not extend to pipe tobacco. This opens the possibility that so-called pipe tobacco could soon be on store shelves in various flavors, an incentive for children to roll their own. “This is a direct challenge to the federal government,” Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, told the AP. Certainly the government should address this unforeseen strategy by the independent tobacco companies. Perhaps the tax on roll-your-own tobacco could be reduced somewhat, as it is inordinate. And without question, “pipe tobacco” needs a clear definition. Las Vegas Sun Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/opinion/22sun4.html http://tobacco.org/news/293120.html There are no records kept on how fast loopholes can be uncovered in new federal law, but the roll-your-own tobacco industry is making a breathtaking run for this year's shabby laurels. No sooner had President Obama signed the new children's health insurance law last spring than the industry pried open a lucrative escape from the 20-fold tax increase levied on roll-your-own cigarettes to help support the program. . . . Obviously the new law is in urgent need of a no- nonsense amendment to bring roll-your-own under proper federal controls and full taxation. The companies plead they merely found a way to save their industry from taxes so prohibitive as to force them to close. That's not a bad idea, given the public health findings about lethal smoking. But the companies' gambit -- the pretense of marketing pipe tobacco -- is an outright deception. Retailers are winking as they peddle pipe tobacco along with cigarette papers. This is not what President Obama and Congress had in mind in acting to bolster the health of young people. What's the record for shutting a loophole? New York Times Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT