Health groups in Hong Kong on Monday called for a sharp rise in tobacco duty as a study revealed cigarettes in the city are among the cheapest in the developed world.
Buying 1 000 cigarettes of one brand in Hong Kong costs just 217 US dollars (about R1 673) compared to 409 US dollars in New York and 503 US dollars in London.
Those cigarettes would also cost significantly more in Melbourne (277 US dollars), Singapore (361 US dollars), Paris (361 US dollars) and Dublin (577 US dollars), the survey found.
The study by health groups in Hong Kong was released ahead of Wednesday's budget when financial secretary John Tsang is under pressure to push up the price of cigarettes in the city of 7-million.An open letter to the Hong Kong government signed by health advocates including World Health Organization advisor Judith Mackay says a 10 percent price rise could save thousands of lives.
"There are about 750 000 smokers in Hong Kong," the letter said. "One in two smokers is killed by disease caused by tobacco. Each 10 percent rise in price will prevent at least 18 000 deaths.
"Effective taxation must be 75 to 80 percent of the retail price (of cigarettes) whereas currently in Hong Kong, it is only between 61 and 66 percent."
Smoking in bars and restaurants and many public places in Hong Kong was banned from January 2007 although a powerful lobby group won temporary exemptions to the ban for many venues.
Показаны сообщения с ярлыком candy cigarettes. Показать все сообщения
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понедельник, 22 февраля 2010 г.
понедельник, 15 февраля 2010 г.
Creek smokeshops still selling disputed cigarettes
After telling a federal court that it would stop supplying its affiliated smokeshops with controversial cigarettes, the Muscogee Creek Nation is allowing the stores to seek and stock the cigarettes on their own, a World investigation shows.
The Oklahoma Tax Commission seized 77 cases of Seneca brand cigarettes Wednesday, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in Tulsa County District Court.
The cigarettes were headed to Riverside Smokeshop in Tulsa and had a value of $103,000 once sold to the public, said Paula Ross, a Tax Commission spokeswoman.
Karen Goodson, the manager of Riverside Smokeshop, said the seizure should ot have occurred.
"It is a sovereignty issue that needs to be decided by the court once and for all," Goodson said.
In January, the Creek Nation temporarily suspended distribution of Seneca brand cigarettes through its wholesale company in Okmulgee pending the outcome of an injunction filed in U.S. Eastern District Court in Muskogee, records show. The suspension also includes King Mountain cigarettes manufactured in Washington state by a tribal entity. Seneca is manufactured in Canada, also by a tribal entity.
The cigarette seizure is part of the state's ongoing pressure to force the Creek Nation to sign a tobacco compact or face further confiscation of unapproved cigarettes, records show. The conflict began in 2005 when the Creek Nation opted out of renewing its compact because of alleged unfair negotiation practices by the state.
Meanwhile, the Indian-based company that sold the cigarettes to the Riverside store said the cigarettes were sold with the knowledge of the Creek Nation.
"It is my hunch that the smokeshop was acting under the licensure of the tribe and with full knowledge of the tribe," said Lance Morgan, CEO of HCI Distribution, an economic development corporation of the Winnebago Tribe in Nebraska.
Morgan said that the Muscogee Creek nation had a temporary license with HCI, which expired Friday.
Creek Nation spokesman Thompson Gouge said the tribe could not comment on the cigarette seizure or the tribe's suspension on stockpiling Seneca or similar cigarettes.
Tax commission officials contend that Seneca and King Mountain cigarettes are contraband smokes not listed on the state's approved list of cigarette brands sold in Oklahoma. The cigarettes are competing heavily with other discount brands and allegedly bleeding off millions of dollars of tax revenues intended for health initiatives and smoking-cessation programs. The cigarettes are being sold by Creek-affiliated stores without an Oklahoma tax stamp.
Tribal officials contend that they can provide such cigarettes without paying taxes to Oklahoma because the cigarettes are tribal-to-tribal sales that are exempt from state taxation.
Four weeks after the tribe temporarily suspended stocking the cigarettes for its affiliated stores, the World purchased packs of Seneca at three Creek-affiliated stores in Sapulpa, Glenpool and Tulsa. King Mountain cigarettes were not available.
King Mountain officials said they could not comment on the absence of their cigarettes in the Tulsa area.
Two additional stores visited by the World did not sell the cigarettes. In the past, most of the Creek-affiliated stores within the Tulsa area have refused to sell the cigarettes, saying they are "illegal" when asked why they don't sell them.
Meanwhile, area smokeshops appear to be fully complying with a new state law that requires retailers to sell cigarettes that inhibit accidental fires.
Of the cigarettes recently purchased by the World, all of the packs, including contraband brands, had fire-safe paper. The paper involves tiny bands within the paper that act like speed bumps while the cigarette is burning.
Records by the Tulsa Fire Department reveal that cigarettes were the No. 1 heat source for fatality fires in Tulsa during the past seven years.
Between 2001 and 2008, 59 people lost their lives to fires caused by cigarettes or smoking material.
Capt. Jeff Vandolah of the Tulsa Fire Department said it is too early to determine if fire-safe paper is decreasing the number of accidental fires.
The new state law requires cigarettes to be sold with "fire-safe" cigarette paper, which allows the cigarette to extinguish itself if it is left unattended.
The law took effect Jan. 1, 2009, but to delay the law's effect, several area smoke shops reportedly were selling old inventory bought before the law took effect and were allowed to sell old inventory until Jan. 1, 2010.
In October, 10 months after the law took effect, the World bought several packs of discount-brand cigarettes without fire-safe paper at smoke shops. The tribal stores stated the stock was old stock bought before the law took effect.
The Oklahoma Tax Commission seized 77 cases of Seneca brand cigarettes Wednesday, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in Tulsa County District Court.
The cigarettes were headed to Riverside Smokeshop in Tulsa and had a value of $103,000 once sold to the public, said Paula Ross, a Tax Commission spokeswoman.
Karen Goodson, the manager of Riverside Smokeshop, said the seizure should ot have occurred.
"It is a sovereignty issue that needs to be decided by the court once and for all," Goodson said.
In January, the Creek Nation temporarily suspended distribution of Seneca brand cigarettes through its wholesale company in Okmulgee pending the outcome of an injunction filed in U.S. Eastern District Court in Muskogee, records show. The suspension also includes King Mountain cigarettes manufactured in Washington state by a tribal entity. Seneca is manufactured in Canada, also by a tribal entity.
The cigarette seizure is part of the state's ongoing pressure to force the Creek Nation to sign a tobacco compact or face further confiscation of unapproved cigarettes, records show. The conflict began in 2005 when the Creek Nation opted out of renewing its compact because of alleged unfair negotiation practices by the state.
Meanwhile, the Indian-based company that sold the cigarettes to the Riverside store said the cigarettes were sold with the knowledge of the Creek Nation.
"It is my hunch that the smokeshop was acting under the licensure of the tribe and with full knowledge of the tribe," said Lance Morgan, CEO of HCI Distribution, an economic development corporation of the Winnebago Tribe in Nebraska.
Morgan said that the Muscogee Creek nation had a temporary license with HCI, which expired Friday.
Creek Nation spokesman Thompson Gouge said the tribe could not comment on the cigarette seizure or the tribe's suspension on stockpiling Seneca or similar cigarettes.
Tax commission officials contend that Seneca and King Mountain cigarettes are contraband smokes not listed on the state's approved list of cigarette brands sold in Oklahoma. The cigarettes are competing heavily with other discount brands and allegedly bleeding off millions of dollars of tax revenues intended for health initiatives and smoking-cessation programs. The cigarettes are being sold by Creek-affiliated stores without an Oklahoma tax stamp.
Tribal officials contend that they can provide such cigarettes without paying taxes to Oklahoma because the cigarettes are tribal-to-tribal sales that are exempt from state taxation.
Four weeks after the tribe temporarily suspended stocking the cigarettes for its affiliated stores, the World purchased packs of Seneca at three Creek-affiliated stores in Sapulpa, Glenpool and Tulsa. King Mountain cigarettes were not available.
King Mountain officials said they could not comment on the absence of their cigarettes in the Tulsa area.
Two additional stores visited by the World did not sell the cigarettes. In the past, most of the Creek-affiliated stores within the Tulsa area have refused to sell the cigarettes, saying they are "illegal" when asked why they don't sell them.
Meanwhile, area smokeshops appear to be fully complying with a new state law that requires retailers to sell cigarettes that inhibit accidental fires.
Of the cigarettes recently purchased by the World, all of the packs, including contraband brands, had fire-safe paper. The paper involves tiny bands within the paper that act like speed bumps while the cigarette is burning.
Records by the Tulsa Fire Department reveal that cigarettes were the No. 1 heat source for fatality fires in Tulsa during the past seven years.
Between 2001 and 2008, 59 people lost their lives to fires caused by cigarettes or smoking material.
Capt. Jeff Vandolah of the Tulsa Fire Department said it is too early to determine if fire-safe paper is decreasing the number of accidental fires.
The new state law requires cigarettes to be sold with "fire-safe" cigarette paper, which allows the cigarette to extinguish itself if it is left unattended.
The law took effect Jan. 1, 2009, but to delay the law's effect, several area smoke shops reportedly were selling old inventory bought before the law took effect and were allowed to sell old inventory until Jan. 1, 2010.
In October, 10 months after the law took effect, the World bought several packs of discount-brand cigarettes without fire-safe paper at smoke shops. The tribal stores stated the stock was old stock bought before the law took effect.
пятница, 12 февраля 2010 г.
Anti-smoking group says cigarette tax hike would ease state budget woes
A bigger tax on cigarettes could be the answer to South Dakota's budget shortfall, according to a new report.
Released by a coalition of public health organizations, including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the report suggests that by raising the cigarette tax by $1 per pack, South Dakota would collect $15.4 million more annually, while at the same time prompting more smokers to quit.
"This report shows that raising tobacco taxes is truly a win-win-win for South Dakota ...," said Matthew L. Meyers, president of Tobacco-Free Kids.
But John Boyd, owner of the Deadwood Tobacco Company in Deadwood, isn't buying the new report.
"Anything times zero is zero," he said.
Boyd said the argument that an increased tax can both raise money for the state and reduce the number of smokers is nonsensical.
"If you reduce the number of smokers, where do you get your money," he said. "If that's your intent to reduce smoking, then you're not getting the taxes."
About 20 percent of South Dakotans smoke, including 24.7 percent of the state's high school students, according to the South Dakota Department of Health. South Dakota's current cigarette tax is $1.53 per pack. The national average is $1.34.
The new report details both the revenue and health benefits of a $1 a pack tax increase, by state.
In South Dakota, the increase would save $145 million in health care costs and save 2,900 residents from premature smoking-related deaths. It would prevent 6,000 kids from becoming smokers and encourage 3,100 adult smokers to give up the habit, according to the report.
A national poll released along with the report found that 67 percent of voters support a $1 tobacco tax over other options, such as an income tax, gasoline or sales tax increase.
Boyd said a national survey doesn't give a fair look at the state.
"If it's a nationwide study; nationwide doesn't have anything to do with South Dakota," he said. "It's a skewed survey."
Boyd believes that another increase in cigarette taxes will only push people to buy their cigarettes in bordering states or online. Either way, it will mean less revenue for the state.
"If they think that it's going to make people quit; then they're going to lose revenue shares," Boyd said. "South Dakota will lose huge revenues."
Released by a coalition of public health organizations, including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the report suggests that by raising the cigarette tax by $1 per pack, South Dakota would collect $15.4 million more annually, while at the same time prompting more smokers to quit.
"This report shows that raising tobacco taxes is truly a win-win-win for South Dakota ...," said Matthew L. Meyers, president of Tobacco-Free Kids.
But John Boyd, owner of the Deadwood Tobacco Company in Deadwood, isn't buying the new report.
"Anything times zero is zero," he said.
Boyd said the argument that an increased tax can both raise money for the state and reduce the number of smokers is nonsensical.
"If you reduce the number of smokers, where do you get your money," he said. "If that's your intent to reduce smoking, then you're not getting the taxes."
About 20 percent of South Dakotans smoke, including 24.7 percent of the state's high school students, according to the South Dakota Department of Health. South Dakota's current cigarette tax is $1.53 per pack. The national average is $1.34.
The new report details both the revenue and health benefits of a $1 a pack tax increase, by state.
In South Dakota, the increase would save $145 million in health care costs and save 2,900 residents from premature smoking-related deaths. It would prevent 6,000 kids from becoming smokers and encourage 3,100 adult smokers to give up the habit, according to the report.
A national poll released along with the report found that 67 percent of voters support a $1 tobacco tax over other options, such as an income tax, gasoline or sales tax increase.
Boyd said a national survey doesn't give a fair look at the state.
"If it's a nationwide study; nationwide doesn't have anything to do with South Dakota," he said. "It's a skewed survey."
Boyd believes that another increase in cigarette taxes will only push people to buy their cigarettes in bordering states or online. Either way, it will mean less revenue for the state.
"If they think that it's going to make people quit; then they're going to lose revenue shares," Boyd said. "South Dakota will lose huge revenues."
понедельник, 8 февраля 2010 г.
E Cigarette Exchange Program Offered To London, UK Users
London, UK smokers who have already switched to the highly popular alternative smoking device called an e cigarette now have the opportunity to exchange thier old device for a Green Smoke. "We're excited to offer this unique exchange program to all the traditional smokers out there who have already made the switch from tobacco cigarettes to this smarter alternative." states Jeff Smith, affilate for Greensmoke. "It gives the opportunity for these smokers to try our Greensmoke e cigarette products at a discount price."
The offer gives users of the device an incentive to try Greensmoke brand e cigarettes. Throughout the UK, users from Plymouth, Bournemouth and Bristol all the way up to Birmingham, Liverpool and Glasgow can simply send in their current brand e cigarette for a £30 coupon that can be used torward a starter kit or any product they sell. "There may be many users out there who are not happy with their current brand for what ever reason. We feel our Greensmoke product is the best on the market today and this program is a great way to prove it. What better way to prove than with current users of the popular device" says Jeff.
Electronic cigarettes are a revolutionary new nicotine delivery device that provides a smarter alternative to traditional cigarette smoking. With traditional cigarettes, the smoker is forced to inhale thousands of unwanted chemicals (over 3900) and carcinogens along with the nicotine. With e cigarettes, this is a thing of the past!
The offer gives users of the device an incentive to try Greensmoke brand e cigarettes. Throughout the UK, users from Plymouth, Bournemouth and Bristol all the way up to Birmingham, Liverpool and Glasgow can simply send in their current brand e cigarette for a £30 coupon that can be used torward a starter kit or any product they sell. "There may be many users out there who are not happy with their current brand for what ever reason. We feel our Greensmoke product is the best on the market today and this program is a great way to prove it. What better way to prove than with current users of the popular device" says Jeff.
Electronic cigarettes are a revolutionary new nicotine delivery device that provides a smarter alternative to traditional cigarette smoking. With traditional cigarettes, the smoker is forced to inhale thousands of unwanted chemicals (over 3900) and carcinogens along with the nicotine. With e cigarettes, this is a thing of the past!
четверг, 29 октября 2009 г.
Philip Morris USA raises cigarette prices
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Philip Morris USA has raised prices on its top selling Marlboro and other brands, a company spokesman said on Monday.
The unit of Altria Group Inc is raising the price it charges wholesalers for Marlboro, Basic and L&M cigarettes by 6 cents a pack and the rest of its brands by 8 cents, Altria spokesman William Phelps said.
The average price of a pack of Marlboros was $5.29 in the third quarter.
The new prices take effect on Wednesday, he said.
Phelps declined to comment on the reason for the increase, but under a law passed in June that gives the Food and Drug Administration regulatory power over tobacco companies, those companies have to pay new fees to the agency.
Altria shares were up 16 cents, or almost 0.9 percent, at $18.09 in Monday morning trading.
Shares of rival Lorillard Inc fell 5.6 percent after that company posted profit that missed analysts estimates as it spent more on promotional offers to boost cigarette sales.
The unit of Altria Group Inc is raising the price it charges wholesalers for Marlboro, Basic and L&M cigarettes by 6 cents a pack and the rest of its brands by 8 cents, Altria spokesman William Phelps said.
The average price of a pack of Marlboros was $5.29 in the third quarter.
The new prices take effect on Wednesday, he said.
Phelps declined to comment on the reason for the increase, but under a law passed in June that gives the Food and Drug Administration regulatory power over tobacco companies, those companies have to pay new fees to the agency.
Altria shares were up 16 cents, or almost 0.9 percent, at $18.09 in Monday morning trading.
Shares of rival Lorillard Inc fell 5.6 percent after that company posted profit that missed analysts estimates as it spent more on promotional offers to boost cigarette sales.
среда, 23 сентября 2009 г.
Trio in bribery case ordered to pay $13m in restitution
The former chairman of a tobacco manufacturer and two people from another company who were earlier jailed for bribery and fraud over cigarette smuggling activities, were today ordered to pay more than $13 million in restitution to the tobacco company.
District Court Judge Joseph Yau earlier sentenced Lu Dayong, 62, the former chairman of Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company Limited, to four and a half years in prison in his absence. Lu had fled the city and failed to turn up for the trial in June last year. The court issued a warrant for his arrest.
In February, the judge had jailed Ko Kit, 40, a director of Hang Chun Trade Development Limited, for three and a half years. Chan Kai-san, 41, a sales manager for the company, was jailed for two years.
Judge Yau today allowed the prosecution's application and ordered Lu and Ko to pay $7.55 million in restitution to Nanyang Brothers. The judge also ordered Lu, Ko and Chan to pay the company a restitution of over $5.73 million.
The judge also allowed the prosecution's application for court costs against Lu.
Lu and Ko were earlier convicted of one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage from a cigarette trader, Golden Leaf International Development (Hong Kong) Limited. Lu, Ko and Chan were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud Nanyang Brothers.
Cigarettes smuggled into Mainland
Nanyang Brothers, a subsidiary of publicly listed Shanghai Industrial Holdings Limited, manufactured the Double Happiness brand of cigarettes in Hong Kong. As then-chairman of the company, Lu approved Hang Chun and Golden Leaf as overseas distributors. Nanyang Brothers subsequently sold $48 million worth of cigarettes to Hang Chun.
Lu and Ko received $7.55 million in illegal commissions from two directors and shareholders of Golden Leaf between January 2003 and February 2004 as rewards for causing Nanyang Brothers to sell Double Happiness cigarettes worth $42 million to Golden Leaf.
The cigarettes sold to Hang Chun and Golden Leaf were prohibited from sales in the Mainland, but had been smuggled to the Mainland through places including the Philippines and Vietnam.
District Court Judge Joseph Yau earlier sentenced Lu Dayong, 62, the former chairman of Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company Limited, to four and a half years in prison in his absence. Lu had fled the city and failed to turn up for the trial in June last year. The court issued a warrant for his arrest.
In February, the judge had jailed Ko Kit, 40, a director of Hang Chun Trade Development Limited, for three and a half years. Chan Kai-san, 41, a sales manager for the company, was jailed for two years.
Judge Yau today allowed the prosecution's application and ordered Lu and Ko to pay $7.55 million in restitution to Nanyang Brothers. The judge also ordered Lu, Ko and Chan to pay the company a restitution of over $5.73 million.
The judge also allowed the prosecution's application for court costs against Lu.
Lu and Ko were earlier convicted of one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage from a cigarette trader, Golden Leaf International Development (Hong Kong) Limited. Lu, Ko and Chan were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud Nanyang Brothers.
Cigarettes smuggled into Mainland
Nanyang Brothers, a subsidiary of publicly listed Shanghai Industrial Holdings Limited, manufactured the Double Happiness brand of cigarettes in Hong Kong. As then-chairman of the company, Lu approved Hang Chun and Golden Leaf as overseas distributors. Nanyang Brothers subsequently sold $48 million worth of cigarettes to Hang Chun.
Lu and Ko received $7.55 million in illegal commissions from two directors and shareholders of Golden Leaf between January 2003 and February 2004 as rewards for causing Nanyang Brothers to sell Double Happiness cigarettes worth $42 million to Golden Leaf.
The cigarettes sold to Hang Chun and Golden Leaf were prohibited from sales in the Mainland, but had been smuggled to the Mainland through places including the Philippines and Vietnam.
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