Make Smoking Hot Savings by Kicking the Habit

Ex-smokers could have pocketed £7,250[1]in the last five years by not smoking Non-smokers can save £4,209[2]over the term of a life insurance policy, says MoneySupermarket Five years 'smoke free' could have saved recession-hit Brits £7,250 on cigarettes alone since the introduction of the Smoking Ban in 2007, according to MoneySupermarket.com. Research by Britain's number one comparison site found that as well as saving on the cost of cigarettes Brits can make an impressive saving on life insurance including critical illness cover if they've kicked the habit.

A 30 year old male smoker wanting £100,000 of cover over the next 25 years would fork out £36 a month with Scottish Provident, but only £22 if he was smoke free for 12 months; a saving of £14 a month, or £4,209 over the full term.[2] For women, the cost saving over the term would be an equally impressive £2,052. NHS research shows that while there has been no significant difference in the number of adults giving up smoking since the Smoking Ban came into force in 2007, the statistics reveal two thirds of current smokers would like to give up.[3] Emma Walker, protection expert at MoneySupermarket, said: "They say 'there's no smoke without fire' and for addicted Brits the cost of cigarettes no doubt burns a hole in their pocket. But, five years down the line from the Smoking Ban anyone who kicked the habit for good will not only have saved a packet, they'll have taken a big step to improve their health.

The cost smoking adds to the price of a premium for life insurance or critical illness is considerable and should be one reason for anyone to consider quitting. "In order to be classed as a non-smoker and qualify for life insurance premium savings, insurers insist smokers have packed it up for a full year.[4] Once smokers have given up for 12 months - this includes any tobacco-replacement products they might be on, such as nicotine patches - they should go back to their insurer and ask for non-smoker rates; subject to tests to prove they've quit of course." MoneySupermarket found that by giving up, smokers can also save money on single life insurance cover.

It would cost £10.59 a month for a male smoker with Ageas but £6.81 for someone who has quit the habit - a saving of £1,134 over the term.[5] Emma Walker continued: "Looking at the savings that can be made over the long-term can be a real eye-opener. The better your health, the cheaper your premium and by quitting you won't be burning your hard-earned cash either. It is essential to do your research to get the right premium for you - shop around for the best deals currently available on the market and decide on the most cost-effective deal to best suit your circumstances."

Armed Robbery at Discount Cigarettes in Concord’s Terminal Shopping Center

An armed robbery occurred at about 12:45 on Monday afternoon inside the Discount Cigarette store on Clayton Road in Concord. The store, which is located inside the Terminal Shopping Center, was busy at the time of the robbery. 

The suspect is described as a white male in his late-20′s or early 30′s with blonde hair and a blonde beard, he was also wearing sunglasses and had a gun, police said. The suspect came into the store and waited for everybody to leave. He then pulled out the gun and demaded cash, which was given to him. Nobody was injured during the robbery.

Cigarette Tax has Vendors Fuming

Sunday, Illinois increased its cigarette sales tax to $1.98. It's meant to bring in money to the struggling Illinois government. It had been .98 People who sell cigarettes said their patrons are the ones who will feel it the most. News 10 talked to Calista Davidson In Marshall, Illinois. She runs Moe's Package Liquors. A small portion of her profit comes from cigarette sales. So when she heard about the increase, she had to pay attention to what her customers were saying. "No one was happy, obviously, no one wants to spend more, but most people that I talked to said well this would be a great time to quit, " Davidson said.

 It's part of Governor Pat Quinn's plan to cut more than $2.7 billion from the state budget. Experts believe the tax increase alone will bring $350 million in revenue. Davidson agrees the state could use the money, but she doesn't know if the tax will help in the long run. That's because she believes it will drive business to Indiana. "You want everyone to support your home state and support your home town, but when it boils down to money, you're going to, go where you can get the best deal," Davidson said. Illinois legislators hope the tax increase will bring in millions in health grants to the state as well.

Tobacco-free parks

We find ourselves in a quandary. On one hand, we applaud the Fremont City Council’s approval of a resolution that prohibits tobacco use in city parks and trails except in designated areas. But we also can’t help being concerned about another governmental intrusion into our lives. Prohibiting tobacco use in parks and trails will have healthful benefits, which ultimately may reduce the medical costs we all pay.

It also is a good step toward the goal of becoming a Well City USA. However, we might have preferred to take an approach similar to what is being suggested in Lincoln. The proposal there is to prohibit tobacco in areas where children regularly play, such as playgrounds and ball parks. As much as this resolution can make Fremont a healthier place to live, we can’t help but be concerned that government’s role is not necessarily to protect us from ourselves. Each rule like this moves us closer to having the government make all of our decisions.

Man arrested mid-burglary at tobacco store

http://www.tobacco-news.net/ - the best blog about cigarettes industry.
A Galesburg man was arrested mid-burglary early Monday when police received a tip from an anonymous passer-by. Michael Eric Andrews Jr., 18, East North Street, was arrested for burglary and possession of cannabis after allegedly attempting to take more than $200 of merchandise from Main Street Tobacco and Games.

A passer-by called police after seeing a man entering the store through a broken glass window. When police arrived, they found Andrews hiding inside the store with more than 140 cigar or blunt wraps in various flavors, as well as several packs of cigars, according to the police report. He also was found with a clear plastic baggy containing two grams of a leafy green substance, according to police.

State’s $1-Per-Pack Cigarette Tax Hike Goes Into Effect

Illinois smokers are bracing for a $1-per-pack increase on cigarette taxes that takes effect Sunday, with many trying to stock up and others vowing to kick the habit. The tax on a pack of cigarettes will jump from 98 cents to $1.98, a move lawmakers and health advocates say will generate desperately needed revenue for the state while cutting smoking rates. “Every research organization that’s looked at this … has concluded that raising price is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, especially among young people,” said Danny McGoldrick, vice president of research for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, a nationwide anti-smoking organization.

 The group estimates the increase will prevent 72,700 Illinois kids from becoming smokers and cause 53,400 adults to quit smoking while raising $350 million per year in new revenue. Gov. Pat Quinn said the increase could help offset Medicaid cuts. Lorraine Harvey, assistant manager at Discount Tobacco in Peoria, said she personally plans to try to quit smoking rather than pay more. She and other retailers also hear customers talking about making a run for the border. The cigarette tax in neighboring Missouri is just 17 cents, the lowest in the nation.

 “You’re literally sending business away from Illinois,” Mike Saurs, co-owner of the Cornerstore on Main, told the (Peoria) Journal Star. Meanwhile, so many smokers have been stocking up that distributors are having trouble meeting demand. Harvey got only 127 cartons in a recent shipment that normally would have at least 200, so she limited her customers to two cartons apiece until the tax increase takes effect. “It’s going to be a zoo in here,” Harvey said. McGoldrick, the anti-smoking advocate, hopes low-tax states like Missouri will follow Illinois’ example and raise taxes, too. “That’s the best solution for everybody,” he said.

Lawsuit filed over ‘roll your own’ cigarette tax

The roll-your-own tobacco industry said this morning that they are filing a lawsuit against a measure that would tax their product like retail cigarettes. Roll-your-own machines let customers produce a carton of cigarettes for about half the cost of what they’d pay for those sold at retail stores.

A law passed earlier this year would begin taxing these cigarettes like retail smokes, as of July 1. The group filing the lawsuit argues that this “raises taxes,” and therefore should have required a 2/3 vote to pass, due to Initiative 1053. Supporters of taxing roll-your-own smokes as retail cigarettes say the law closes a loophole, and argue that the products are essentially the same.

 The lawsuit was filed in Franklin County by a local resident and consumer, a Benton County tobacco retailer, and RYO Machine – the major supplier of the machines.