Cancer Council commends tobacco move

Australia is leading the world by reducing the duty-free tobacco allowance, the Cancer Council of Australia says. From September 1, the government will slash the duty-free tobacco allowance, creating budget savings of $600 million over four years. At present, inbound international travellers aged 18 or over can bring in 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of cigars or tobacco products tax-free.

Cancer Council CEO Professor Ian Olver said this was "an anomaly that encourages consumption of an extremely harmful substance". He said the commitment to cut the tax-free intake level to 50 cigarettes or 50 grams of cigars or tobacco products by September 1 would "discourage people from purchasing bulk quantities of the world's most harmful carcinogen".

Caryville joins WCHD against candy-flavored tobacco

Representatives from the Washington County Health Department and volunteers from Tobacco Free Washington County visited the Town of Caryville during their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 8 to pass a resolution disagreeing on the local sale of candy-flavored tobacco targeting youth in Caryville. Guest speaker and volunteer for Tobacco Free Washington County Milton Brown came before the council to answer any questions and address any concerns the council may have about the resolution. “We’ve got a small town and smoking is bad but imagine the revenue that it would be taking away from us,” said Chairman Henry Chambers.

 Brown assured that it wasn’t a law that was being passed, just a request that the local convenient store not sale candy-flavored tobacco. “This is just requesting that the store not sale candy-flavored tobacco, excluding menthol, which is blatantly targeting our youth towards tobacco products,” said Brown. “This is just a resolution saying you disagree with what they’re doing.” Town Attorney Lyndia Spears concurred that it wasn’t a law-binding contract, just a request. “It won’t prevent them from selling it, it’s just the town saying they disagree with these tobacco companies targeting children,” said Spears. The Town approved of the resolution. Chambers then informed the council that there was a light out at the basketball court and that Gulf Power would need to be notified to see about replacing it.

 Spears informed the council that they have yet to hear back from Gulf Power. During the previous meeting on Tuesday, April 10 Spears reported that she was able to talk with a representative from Gulf Power about the town’s proposal. Caryville Town Council approved to pursue a settlement with Gulf Power during their regularly scheduled meeting on March 13 after a lumber company recently employed by the town cut down trees on land owned by Gulf Power. “The Town of Caryville’s land borders Gulf Power’s land and the man we hired went too far when he was cutting,” explained Caryville Town Attorney Lyndia Spears.

“Unfortunately we are unable to see how much money he received for the amount of trees he cut and if that money was included to the city when he paid for the trees.” Spears said that Gulf Power estimated an amount by the stumps left on their land, but instead of charging the town with the amount they would usually receive for their trees from their contractor, which would’ve been estimated at over $9,000 and decided to go with what the town would’ve received, which is $5,272. Since the town council agreed that they didn’t authorize for the contractor to cut down the trees, the council approved to pursue only paying half of the $5,272, which is $2,686. The council is also going to see about paying the amount to Gulf Power in payments while looking into getting the contractor to pay the other half. “Just going to court alone would cost over $4,000 in legal fees,” said Spears.

“It would be best at this point to minimize the damages as much as possible.” She said she spoke with the representative and the representative said that he would present it to his superiors and he would contact her with a reply. Also during the last meeting the Town approved of the request of owner of Paron’s Produce at Caryville Flee Market, Paron Beeco, to pay half of the $250 to place a light pole at the flee market so they could have power. “We’re still willing to pay half if you pay the other half,” said Chambers. Beeco informed the council that he was having trouble getting the other three venders to pay their portion. “They just don’t seem to understand where the money’s going and I can’t get them to understand it’s so that we can have electricity at the flee market,” said Beeco. “So as soon as I can get them to give me the money I’ll be down here to pay.”

 Chamber said that the offer still stands because the request has already been approved and they await payment. Resident Bobby Hipburn was present to inform the council that his water bill had drastically spiked the previous month and that the records would indicate that he normally has the minimum required payment every month. “We checked and there isn’t a leak, we just think it might be because it’s an old meter skipping,” said Hipburn. “I just want you to look into it and credit me the extra money on the next bill.” The council agreed to credit Hipburn’s account for the next billing cycle. The next regularly scheduled meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12 at the Caryville Town Hall.

Dispelling the Myths of Tobacco Control

By Seth A. Mailhot, Special Counsel, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP. This is the first of what will be a continuing series on the regulation of tobacco retailing. In future articles, I will address the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) regulation of tobacco retailers, and the pressing issues with FDA enforcement at the retail level. For my inaugural article, however, I address the recently released report “Deadly Alliance: How Big Tobacco and Convenience Stores Partner to Market cigarettes Products and Fight Life-Saving Policies.”

 The report was prepared by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Counter Tobacco and the American Heart Association. It has become increasingly clear that the key regulatory issues with respect to tobacco involve the point of sale, which places convenience stores and other tobacco retailers in the position of having to face the brunt of FDA’s enforcement efforts. The report, released on March 5, has the stated purpose of examining the relationship between convenience stores and the tobacco industry. The report argues that the relationships between c-stores and the tobacco industry justify even higher tobacco taxes and greater restrictions on retail sales of tobacco products.

 The report authors point to three issues in making their argument for higher taxes and greater restrictions. First, the authors cite information about convenience store advertising to suggest an intent to market tobacco products to children. Second, the authors point to promotional practices, including merchandising agreements and product discounts, to imply that such practices are designed to encourage children, minorities and the underprivileged to use tobacco products. Third, the authors claim recent lobbying efforts by convenience store organizations are a cover by tobacco companies to counter efforts to increase taxes on tobacco products.

House panel okays increase in alcohol, tobacco taxes

Alcohol and tobacco products will soon be slapped with higher taxes after the House committee on ways and means approved Wednesday the Malacañang-backed proposal. With a vote of 46-14, House Bill 5727 authored by Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya, an ally of President Benigno Aquino III, was approved with amendments proposed by the Department of Finance (DOF) on alcohol products. Have something to report?

Tell us in text, photos or videos. As a result, the expected yearly revenue from the proposed increase of sin taxes will only reach P33 billion instead of the original target of P60 billion. This developed after Abaya said the committee “did away with the 45 percent proof on alcohol as basis” and shifted to net retail price. "These amendments were proposed because we recognize the concern of all sectors and we want to be responsive to the industries (which will be affected)," Finance Undersecretary Jeremias Paul said in an interview. Overall, the measure eyes to bring in an additional P400 billion in revenues to the government during the remaining four years of the Aquino administration. With this development, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda is hoping that the measure will be easily approved in the plenary.

 “The initiatives to reform the excise tax system started 15 years ago and it is only under this administration, with the President’s firm leadership, that such a legislative measure has been approved,” he said. Money that will be drawn from the tax measure will be used to improve public healthcare and welfare of tobacco growers, Lacierda said, as well as strengthen the current tax structure, and sustain revenue growth. "These reforms will enable us to increase the cost of tobacco and alcohol addiction while at the same time providing government with additional resources to respond to the public costs of these vices. The restructuring of the tax system will also create a more level playing field in the tobacco market as well as enable us to comply with our WTO (World Trade Organization) commitments," Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said in a separate statement. The bill was considered a priority during the second Legislative-Executive Development and Advisory Council (Ledac) last year, thus the Palace saw no need to expedite its passage by certifying it as urgent. 

The second regular session of the 15th Congress will adjourn on June 6. Meanwhile, if Congress approves the bill, distilled spirits with a net retail price of less than P90 will be taxed with P25. This means that by 2013, prices of alcohol products like whiskey, brandy, rum, gin and vodka will increase to P115. The tax rate for distilled spirits with net retail prices ranging between P90 to P150 will be P80 while distilled spirits which cost above P150 will be taxed with P320. Tax rates for wines with net retail prices of P500 or less will be P250; and P700 for those that cost more than P500. For fermented liquor (beer, lager beer, ale, porter), if the cost is P50.60, taxes will be P15.49. If the cost is higher than P50.60, then the tax rate will be P20.57. The existing tax rate for fermented liquor is only P10.41. On the other hand, cigarettes that cost P11.50 or less will soon be sold for P23.50, while cigarettes that cost P11.50 and above will be sold for P31.80.

Police spot violation of tobacco norms, raid shop

The UT Police along with officials of the National Tobacco Control Programme on Thursday confiscated over 260 packets of tobacco molasses of brand Afzal , 20 hookahs and water pipes and about 16 packets of hookah charcoal from a shop in Patel market, Sector 15, in violation of Section 5 of the COTPA (Control of Tobacco Products Act) wherein advertisements of cigarette brands were also displayed. The raid was conducted on the basis of specific inputs.

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Dr Deepak Bakshi, nodal officer, National Tobacco Control Programme, Chandigarh, along with Sunil Chowdary, drug inspector, and a team of police officers — SI Ramesh Kumar, SI Ashok Kumar, Head Constable Major Singh and Constable Birender Singh — raided a booth and found a huge cache of tobacco molasses to be used in hookahs along with water pipes, hookahs, charcoal for hookahs.

 The police team also found about 110 packets of cigarettes of brands like Pine and Black, Superslim, Marlboro, Rothmans packets and cigarettes without the mandatory pictorial warnings. Two other shops were also found displaying advertisements for cigarette brands and the same were removed by the police officers. Both the shops were booked for violations. Later, the team took a round of Sector 24 market wherein they found three violations of Section 5 of COTPA, ie advertisements of cigarettes and tobacco products. The advertisement boards were removed. At another shop, the team found some cigarette packets without the mandatory pictorial warnings. About 60 such packets were confiscated.

Tobacco and booze drop nets two arrests

Tobacco news and cigarettes articles: www.tobacco-news.net
Two people who may have thought they were doing something nice for someone landed themselves in Mariposa County Jail on May 5. Their “good deed” was allegedly dropping off tobacco and alcohol to an inmate at the California Department of Corrections (CDC) camp at Mt. Bullion. According to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s report, a CDC officer had seen the pair drop off three black bags alongside Mt. Bullion Ridge Road, on the way to the camp.

Deputies responded and found Steven Nash and Carol Moss at the scene. Inside the bags were four bottles of vodka, seven cans of chewing tobacco, two boxes of rolling papers, 48 bags of tobacco and five cigarette lighters. Moss told deputies that she was driving on the road because she was looking for a headlight that had recently fell off on that part of the road when she went to visit her boyfriend at the camp. She said she stopped so that Nash, her boyfriend’s brother, could urinate.

 The CDC officer said he had seen Nash get out of Moss’s car and remove the bags and place them along the road. He believed that the pair was leaving it for Nash’s brother, who may face charges as well. Moss and Nash were booked on charges of bringing a controlled substance or alcohol into a prison. Moss is on probation for drug charges out of Madera County.

Legislators override governor's veto of local tobacco tax bills

The days-long saga continued Tuesday in the Alabama Legislature with the Senate overriding Gov. Robert Bentley's veto of three tobacco tax bills that apply to Randolph, Clay, and Chambers counties. Jeremy King, spokesman for the governor, said "The fact remains that there were discrepancies between what was publicly advertised about the bills and the substance of what actually passed.

Those concerns led to the governor's veto. The legislature has the choice to override a veto, but the governor stands behind his decision and respects separation of powers." Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville, who drafted the bills that drew local opposition, said "I think the senators just realized it is not the governor's job. He doesn't decide if something is constitutional. I think the Senate didn't want people messing with local bills." Rep. Richard Laird, D-Roanoke, who after the veto introduced what is viewed by opponents as an even harsher bill, said, "Well, I just want to drop it (his new bill). It is in a position to pass tomorrow. I may go ahead and send it up to Sen. Dial." He said he hopes the three original bills would go into law but this is new territory and he has not looked into the way a vetoed bill becomes law.

After the dust settles, he is going to sum it up and review why everything happened the way it did, he said. Both Randolph County bills, the one that survived Gov. Bentley's veto and Rep. Laird's substitute bill, are opposed by the Randolph County Democratic and Republican parties, the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, the Randolph County Economic Development Authority and the Randolph County Water, Sewer and Fire Protection Authority. They have united under the name Randolph County Bipartisan Coalition. Many of the coalition members from this area attended a hearing on Laird's substitute bill, HB785, in Montgomery Tuesday morning. Laird said he brought up this bill just in case the governor's veto stood on the first bill, SB486.

Both bills redistribute tobacco tax funds and take funds and some local control away from local agencies currently receiving them and put the money into a grant fund under the exclusive and unregulated control of Dial and Laird. SB486, the bill that was vetoed, called for eliminating funding currently going to the Randolph County Water, Sewer and Fire Protection Authority, reducing to 24 percent the amount going to the Randolph County Industrial Development Council while specifying that no more than 20 percent could be used for personnel costs, and using 10 percent of the tobacco tax total to set up a grant authority controlled by Dial and Laird, even though the bill that was advertised in The Randolph Leader called for a District Community Service Office instead of the grant authority that appeared in the final bill.

HB785, the bill Laird introduced following the governor's veto, also calls for creation of a District Community Service Office and also eliminates funding for the county water authority. Rather than 24 percent of the total going to the industrial development council, however, Laird's bill reduces this to 15 percent while also specifying no more than 20 percent can be used for personnel costs. The 10 percent specified for the newly created grant authority/district office in SB486 would increase to 19 percent in Laird's HB785. Laird said he asked the Randolph County Water, Sewer and Fire Protection Authority to do a water line with the money it received and they did not do it so he put that funding back into the grant fund. Dial and Laird said they were not told about a heavily attended town meeting in Wedowee several weeks ago where opposition was expressed, and they were busy with the legislature.

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Kesa Johnston Dunn, who serves on the Industrial Development Council board, said the bi-partisan committee asked for a meeting for three weeks prior to the town hall meeting. Some of the others attending Tuesday's hearing in Montgomery were Todd Freeman, Lathonia Wright, Mack Arthur Bell, Terry Lovvorn, Jerry Cotney, Cotina Terry and Mark Prestridge. From eight to ten Chambers County residents also were present to support the opposition to the bills. Jeff Nolen of Roanoke was the only local resident speak in favor of the bills other than the legislators themselves. Wright, a Randolph County Commissioner, said "We're talking about economic development, good clean water and they want their little slush fund."

Coalition members said they are very appreciative of Gov. Robert Bentley for recognizing that the tobacco tax bills were very bad for the citizens of Randolph and neighboring counties and for the whole state of Alabama. Rep. Laird, however, said, "It is local legislation. It is unheard for a governor to veto local legislation. All local legislation passes by a low vote. Legislators who need votes on other issues do not want to vote on local legislation. Nobody voted against it," he said. The Randolph County bills as well as similar bills affecting Clay and Chambers counties, are in Laird's district of Randolph, Clay and part of Chambers counties. (Bridges represents a portion of Chambers.) Dial, who is the majority whip in the Senate, has these counties as well as portions of or all of Cherokee, Cleburne and Lee counties.