Contributing more than £13bn to the tills of UK retailers, the tobacco category continues to be an essential part of the retail mix. Tobacco and its accessories typically account for about a third of turnover in convenience stores where, despite a strong down-trading dynamic, it is actually growing in value – up 5.5% in the 12 months to June 09, according to IGD data. Cigarettes continue to account for the lion’s share of the tobacco category and despite a slight dip on last year’s figures, mainly caused by recession-hit smokers downtrading to economy brands, the value secto ... Jump to full article >>

The European Society of Cardiology wishes to comment on media reports this week that France is preparing to authorise the sale of cigarettes on the internet, to conform to European rights. Although Budget Minister Eric Woerth denies that this is the intention, the news is disappointing given the drop in heart attack rates following last year’s smoking ban. ESC spokesperson Professeur Ph.Gabriel STEG (Université Paris VII, Centre Hospitalier Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris) said : “While I understand that the alleged motive is that the French government needs to align itself with the ... Jump to full article >>

If Peel’s top public health officials have their way, no one in Mississauga will be able to light up a cigarette in an apartment or condo because it could affect the health of other residents of the building. Peel officials are lobbying to ban smoking from apartments and condos to reduce the harm caused by breathing second-hand smoke. If their push is successful, apartment dwellers won’t be able to smoke in their own homes. On Thursday, Peel council will examine a report co-authored by Commissioner of Health Services Janette Smith, and Dr. David Mowat, Peel’s medical officer ... Jump to full article >>

The city that led the country in banning smoking in bars, restaurants and most public spaces is about to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products. A long-debated bill authorizing the flavored-tobacco ban was finally approved by the City Council last Wednesday, by a 46-to-1 vote. Mayor Bloomberg – who instigated the city’s smoking crackdown in 2002 – said he will sign the bill into law soon. The ban will likely kick in around February, and cost the city up to $2 million a year in lost sales tax revenues. Advocates argued that although cigarette smoking continues to decrease, ... Jump to full article >>

ATLANTIC CITY – Smoke swirled around Barbara DePierro’s head as she used one hand to puff on a cigarette and the other to play a slot machine at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort. DePierro, a New Yorker, settles into her cigarettes-and-slots routine whenever she comes to Atlantic City and dreads the thought that her gambling pleasures may someday be interrupted by a casino smoking ban. “I like it the way it is now. If they banned smoking in Atlantic City, I would go to the Indian reservation casinos in Connecticut just to smoke,” DePierro vowed as her husband, James, nodde ... Jump to full article >>

E-CigaretteDirect.com is picking up the slack as other larger websites are buckling under pressure from various interest groups to remove electronic devices from sale. E-CigaretteDirect.com Sees Increase in Sales As Amazon.com Removes Electronic Cigarettes Many top internet retailer are going to stop selling and supporting the sale of electronic cigarettes on their website. Amazon.com reportedly has sent a notice to all its resellers with the following message: We are writing because it has come to our attention that you have listed a product that we have determined is inappropriate for Amazon ... Jump to full article >>

Homebuyers could be forced to provide detailed information about the amount of money they spend on alcohol each month to qualify for a new mortgage under a new clampdown on reckless lending. In a sweeping review of the mortgage market published today, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) said lenders needed to be far more rigorous about their financial checks of potential borrowers. It said lenders should delve deeper into homebuyers’ personal spending including the amount they spend on alcohol and tobacco. Spending on shoes, clothes and childcare could also be assessed under a new, in ... Jump to full article >>

Basketball superstar Yao Ming and famed soprano Peng Liyuan Monday became the new faces of China’s anti-smoking campaign, which health officials said is still a tough task in the world’s largest tobacco market. Both Yao and Peng were not present at a meeting of the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control (CATC) in Beijing, where their representatives received certificates from the association. It is believed that they would appear in public service advertisements persuading the people not to smoke at public places or to give up the smoking habit. Yao, the most successful Chinese NBA ... Jump to full article >>

Tobacco companies are creating smokeless products for the market and utilizing social networks such as Twitter and Facebook to reach a younger audience. They are mainly trying to market their products to children and teenagers so they will start smoking younger. They should not be doing that. These companies are trying to diversify their products by creating smokeless and spitless tobacco. Camel has designed Camel Orbs, pellets that are shaped like Tic Tacs that fulfill the need for a tobacco buzz. Camel strips and Camel sticks are similar to gum and candy cigarettes. These products are a resp ... Jump to full article >>

TORONTO — Peel Public Health is pushing Queen’s Park to add more restrictions to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. The health unit wants the province to enact legislation that protects residents in multi-unit dwellings from exposure to second-hand smoke. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act already prevents smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces. But, Peel health wants Queen’s Park to amend the act to include condos and apartment buildings. The health unit is also looking to develop educational resources, including a webpage, to provide information to landlords and residents on the ... Jump to full article >>

MOULTRIE — The outlook for Georgia tobacco farmers was clouded this week with the announcement that the largest cigarette manufacturer will not offer contracts and will close its Alma buying station. Philip Morris USA told tobacco growers at a Wednesday meeting in Alma that it will no longer issue one-year contracts to growers. The company said it will honor three- and five-year contracts that are in effect as long as growers are in good standing. “The folks that left that meeting Wednesday were pretty much in a state of confusion,” said J. Michael Moore, a University of Georgia extensio ... Jump to full article >>