http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/state/SC.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-18-2008/0004927964&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/274586.html Ten years after the November 1998 state tobacco settlement, South Carolina ranks worst in the nation in funding programs to protect kids from tobacco, according to a national report released today by a coalition of public health organizations. South Carolina this year is scheduled to spend $1 million on tobacco prevention programs, which is 1.6 percent of the $62.2 million recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All of this funding is from a federal grant. South Carolina is the only state that is spending no state funds on tobacco prevention this year. Other key findings for South Carolina include: -- The tobacco companies spend more than $280 million a year on marketing in South Carolina. This is more than 280 times what the state spends on tobacco prevention. -- South Carolina this year will collect $114 million from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend less than 1 percent of it on tobacco prevention. The annual report on states' funding of tobacco prevention programs, titled "A Decade of Broken Promises," was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. PR Newswire photodesk@prnewswire.com (SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids ) Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.wpde.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=220509 http://tobacco.org/news/274338.html After about a year of tussling with the issue, the town of Surfside Beach is set to approve its smoking ban. The town originally passed a ban restricting smokers from lighting up in public places and made it a criminal offense. But it became null when the state supreme court said the offense could not be criminal in nature. WPDE Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20081111/PCN/811110347/1069/YOURUPSTATE01 http://tobacco.org/news/274283.html Easley became the latest Upstate city on Monday to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and other enclosed areas. City Council voted 5-2 to immediately begin enforcing the ban at city-sponsored events. The ban will go into effect elsewhere on New Year's Day. Also on a 5-2 vote, the council turned back a request to exempt pool halls. Greenville News Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.islandpacket.com/opinion/letters/story/659206.html http://tobacco.org/news/274040.html We have tobacco farmers in this state, but we all know that cigarettes are no good for the human body. Sales might go down if the cigarette tax is increased --so what. Higher taxes and costs associated with the purchase of cigarettes also would help keep our young people from purchasing and smoking them, a critical issue for everyone. It would be great if sales did go down because it would mean healthier people, but we also would get more money for our stretched budgets. Raise the tax on cigarettes. Island Packet Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.wpde.com/news/story.aspx?id=214423 http://tobacco.org/news/273783.html The Surfside Beach town council is revisiting the smoking ban issue after a recent ruling from the South Carolina Supreme Court. On Tuesday night, a few changes were made to a proposed ordinance. It would now allow people to smoke on a sidewalk, but not on the beach or any enclosed spaces. WPDE Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.thestate.com/politics/story/570450.html?RSS=general_news http://tobacco.org/news/273781.html Lexington County Council retreated Tuesday from an effort to ban smoking in restaurants and bars, instead leaving the choice to owners as long as they post signs alerting patrons. Council voted unanimously to reverse a ban it tentatively adopted two weeks ago by the thinnest of margins. "They had five votes to kill it," Councilman John Carrigg said of the ban, which he supported. "It was signs or nothing." Carrigg and fellow councilmen Johnny Jeffcoat and Bill Banning said the swing vote from Councilman Smokey Davis went against the ban he supported Oct. 14 on a 5-4 vote. Columbia State cleblanc@thestate.com (CLIF LeBLANC) Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/sc_state_house_kills_cigarette_tax_increase_idea/10103/ http://tobacco.org/news/272840.html South Carolina lawmakers were in Columbia Tuesday dealing with the state's $466 million budget shortfall. S.C. Rep.James Smith, D-Richland wanted a cigarette tax increase that would help balance the budget. He said increasing cigarette taxes by 50 cents a pack would raise nearly $200 millon state dollars. "It was important that this be done… at this point.... it would make a big difference for our economy here in South Carolina", said Smith. Smith also said that a cigarette tax increase would bring more South Carolina jobs and increase state healthcare. Lawmakers still voted to kill the idea. WSPA News Channel Seven Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/oct/22/house_approves_deep_cuts58707/ http://tobacco.org/news/272772.html A plan to cut nearly $500 million in spending is on its way to the state Senate after the House on Tuesday voted down one proposal after another on everything from raising the cigarette tax to undoing property tax relief. The Senate will return Thursday to debate what turned out to be an iron-clad, pre-determined agreement in the House. . . . Smith urged the House to raise the state's lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax from 7 cents to 50 cents a pack to help the state recover revenue to help run services. His effort fizzled when it became clear the Republican leadership wouldn't budge. Charleston Post & Courier ywenger@postandcourier.com (Yvonne Wenger The Post and Courier ) Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.goupstate.com/article/20081021/NEWS/810210297/1083/NEWS01?Title=State_House_gives_key_approval_to__488M_in_cuts_ http://tobacco.org/news/272770.html House Republicans turned back efforts today to raise taxes in South Carolina as they approved $488 million in budget cuts that reach deeply into health care, colleges, police and human services. , , ,' Rep. James Smith, D-Columbia, offered a tax increase on cigarettes. But that went nowhere, too, with Republican leadership in the House saying they would work to raise that tax in January when the Legislature returns. "If raising the tax in January is a good idea, it's a great idea today," Smith said. His amendment was tabled AP Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/142/story/638286.html http://tobacco.org/news/272708.html House Democrats might move to raise the state's cigarette tax during debate today to cut $488 million from the state's budget. The Democrats say raising the state's lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax - 7 cents a pack - could help balance the budget and spur a larger conversation on overhauling the S.C. tax system. Republicans, who control the S.C. House and Senate, say they have no interest in raising taxes. But they agree lawmakers should take a long look at how the state collects taxes. Myrtle Beach Sun-News Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/555585.html http://tobacco.org/news/272648.html The S.C. attorney general's office has issued an opinion that the town of Surfside Beach is allowed to ban smoking on its beaches, up to a mile into the Atlantic, as long as it does not criminalize any violation. The council received the opinion late Tuesday from Attorney General Henry McMaster, said Mayor Allen Deaton. Deaton asked for the opinion after the Town Council reviewed several revisions to its smoking ban in September. Deaton wanted to make sure it was in the authority of the Town Council to restrict smoking on the beaches. "They say we can," Deaton said Tuesday. "But we will have to give it to our attorney to review." Columbia State Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/greathomesanddestinations/10havens.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin http://tobacco.org/news/272609.html Aiken's night life can be wild on weekends. There are students from two local colleges, the seasonal horse set and scientists from the nearby Savannah River Site, a federal nuclear production facility. All of them spill onto the sidewalks, drinks in hand, from the Aiken Brewing Company, Pat's Martini Bar or CuiZine. At the Hotel Aiken, with its Polo Tavern and Tiki Tavern, people dance to Carolina shag, drink Jack Daniel's and smoke with abandon. "Yes, we have smoking in Aiken," said Jane Page Thompson, an agent with the Carolina Real Estate Company in town, "and if that's not O.K., you probably shouldn't come." . . . Pros Aiken's climate is dry and sunny, there are plenty of riding opportunities, there is a lively downtown, real estate values are below the national average, and taxes are low. Cons Smoking is allowed in restaurants and bars, but many in Aiken like that -- South Carolina, after all, is tobacco country. New York Times Magazine Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/pageoneplus/corrections.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=smoking&st=nyt&oref=slogin http://tobacco.org/news/272608.html Escapes The Havens column last Friday about Aiken, S.C., gave outdated information on the smoking policy in bars and restaurants there. Although there was no ban on smoking at the time the article was reported in June, the city council voted in July to ban smoking as of Jan. 14, when fines will be imposed. In the meantime, warnings may be issued. New York Times Magazine nytnews@nytimes.com Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/637895.html http://tobacco.org/news/272547.html A man selling half-priced cartons of cigarettes outside a south Hilton Head Island gas station pedaled away on his bicycle from an investigating deputy, according to a Beaufort County sheriff's report released Monday. An employee of Coligny Exxon, 2 Lagoon Road, called the Sheriff's Office at 4:30 p.m. Friday to report the man, whom he suspected of stealing the cigarettes earlier from the same gas station, the report said. Island Packet Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081013/NEWS01/81013020/-1/rss http://tobacco.org/news/272455.html Easley City Council is expected to vote tonight on an ordinance that would ban smoking in most public places. Smoking would be prohibited in all enclosed public places within the city, including restaurants, bars and shopping malls, according to a draft ordinance. According to the draft ordinance, the measure would prohibit smoking in all enclosed areas within places of employment and in certain outdoor areas when the use involves a gathering of the public. Greenville News Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT