The Chinese regime launched a public ‘no smoking’ policy on Monday—that’s five years after it signed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Under the new ban, people cannot smoke inside public spaces. Business must display “No Smoking” signs and outdoor smoking areas must not adversely affect non-smokers. [Li Fei, Beijing Resident]: “Actually, I am a smoker but I support the ban on smoking in public places, especially in restaurants. Usually the air in restaurants is not that good and they are quite crowded. If there are people smoking t ... Jump to full article >>

Dallas County sheriff’s deputies say too many stores sell tobacco to underage teenagers. Last year, 20 percent of retailers failed inspections by deputies, and 3 percent of them kept selling to minors, even after they were warned. Deputies said they hope more state funding will help keep tobacco out of the hands of minors. The department will apply for another $90,000 state grant for another year of tobacco enforcement starting in September. The grant money would cover the salary and overtime for one deputy, as well as costs of supplies and money to buy tobacco products during undercover ... Jump to full article >>

The Student Government Association on Tuesday tabled a resolution supporting WKU as a tobacco-free campus. SGA senators voiced concern that there was not enough student say about a tobacco ban. The senate will now vote on the resolution next semester. More than 400 people were surveyed by political science major Jack Jackson about the ban, with 47.82 percent of students supporting it, 23.47 percent opposing it and the remaining 28.71 percent neutral on the matter. Multiple senators said they would like to conduct their own survey in which SGA talks to more students, including ones at WKU’ ... Jump to full article >>

Nearly half the cigarettes sold in Hong Kong are illegal because of high prices, a tobacco concern group claims. The finding was based on an informal “survey” carried out by the Vote Against Tax Hikes Alliance, which rummaged through dozens of trash bins in Lok Fu and Lam Tin public housing estates last month, picking up empty cigarette packages. Of the 200 boxes retrieved, 92 were either from the mainland, or on which duty was not paid. “High tobacco taxes are forcing more people to turn to illicit cigarettes, because regular cigarettes are too expensive and because it is di ... Jump to full article >>

The City of Sheboygan is easing its restrictions on enclosed public smoking areas at businesses such as bars and restaurants, though an official said the city ordinance still would be in compliance with the statewide smoking ban. The Common Council Monday night approved increasing the amount of wall space in a smoking area from 50 to 75 percent of the confined surface area, which places the minimum open space area at 25 percent. Businesses that already have been approved for permits are grandfathered in. “Anecdotally, we’re getting complaints from certain bar owners that certain other bars ... Jump to full article >>

If DeKalb County Commissioners vote to expand its no-smoking ordinance, it will be doing its best to drive away local business, says two Georgia-based premium cigar associations. According to the Atlanta-based Georgia Premium Retail Tobacconists Association and the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association, expanding the current smoking ban to include bars, clubs, restaurant patios and other outdoor areas would cause customers to seek other, more smoker-friendly businesses in other communities. “No time is a good time for legislated smoking bans, but this is a particularl ... Jump to full article >>

A BRAZEN smuggling gang has been caught dealing deadly counterfeit cigarettes – just months after they were exposed on TV. Shocking pictures show crook John Scullion back at Ayr market peddling tobacco after he was named and shamed in a BBC Scotland investigation in January. Cheeky Scullion and his cronies openly sold “illicit whites” – tobacco from China with 30 times more lead than normal cigarettes – at Ayr Sunday market on April 17. The images were taken by former Metropolitan Police officer Bob Fenton during an undercover swoop on tobacco smugglers, who rob t ... Jump to full article >>

But for other guests who stepped in to broker peace, a heated argument between two groups of youth at a bar in a Lagos suburb was on the verge of degenerating into a brawl. “The smokes from their cigarettes were coming in our direction and we told them politely that since we came here before them, they should change their seating position,” said one of the youth who identified himself as Fred. “Instead, one of them replied that we should be happy to be inhaling their smokes. And that was an insult,” he added. Cigarette smoking has remained a common sight in most public places in the c ... Jump to full article >>

After 91 years, The Tobacco Shop in downtown Hartford was about to close this spring. Shop owner Jim DeLisle said he couldn’t afford a rent increase imposed by the building’s owner, and potential buyers seemed as scarce as a genuine Cuban cigar. But four former patrons purchased the shop and are moving the business to 89 Pratt St., a 2,000-square-foot retail space that was formerly a shoe store. The Tobacco Shop will reopen May 9, if not sooner, said one of the new owners, who asked not to be identified. He would not disclose how much he and his three partners paid for the business ... Jump to full article >>