The world’s biggest tobacco-consuming countries that I profiled in my last post, including Greece, Russia and Austria, are also among the top travel spots, but the opposite isn’t quite the case. Countries with the lowest reported adult smokers, as you’ll notice in the list below, don’t all provide dream vacations. But there are some nice hangouts not far beyond the top 10. The percentage of adult tobacco smokers in Barbados, the homeland of pop singer Rihanna, is 10.8%, according to a 2005 World Health Organization report. At No. 12, the island is the first on the list that is not on ... Jump to full article >>

When American investors think of tobacco greatness, Altria (NYSE: MO) and Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) are the first companies to come to mind. But based on recent performance, British American Tobacco (NYSE: BTI) should definitely be moving into the mix, following the interim management report the company released on Wednesday. With British American reporting results on a nine-month basis, we’re somewhat comparing apples and oranges, especially since the company didn’t report profit or revenue numbers. But British American’s volume results were still roughly in lin ... Jump to full article >>

Does the recent increase in excise duties really help to curb cigarette smoking? AS the world’s population increases, policy-makers around the world are scratching their heads on the most effective ways to curb smoking, which is on the uptrend. In many countries, governments have introduced excise taxes on cigarettes. Come budget season, the issue of “sin” taxes will invariable crop up again. Cigarette tax has been steadily increasing over the years – the most recent hike occurring on Oct 1 when tobacco excise duty was raised by 1 sen (or 5.6%) per stick. British American Tobacco Malay ... Jump to full article >>

Chileans are still the heaviest smokers in the region despite a strict anti-tobacco law. SANTIAGO, Chile — When a strict anti-tobacco law came into effect three years ago, Maria Eugenia Avila scoffed. She had no intention of quitting the two packs a day she was delightfully smoking. She just stopped going to malls. “I flee from places where I can’t smoke and I cover the horrible warnings on the packs. I love smoking and I suffer with this law and all its prohibitions. But no law is going to make me quit,” the 47-year-old kindergarten teacher said, while puffing away on a habit that co ... Jump to full article >>

Philip Morris International (PMI) has hit back at groups advocating a total ban on the display of tobacco products in retail stores via a new website. The cigarette giant supports effective regulation but opposes a total ban on the display of tobacco products in stores. “A number of countries are investigating a ban on display of tobacco products in retail stores,” said PMI’s director of regulatory communications, Morgan Rees. “There is limited information in the public domain that describes experiences from countries that have banned display and so we felt that it would be useful to c ... Jump to full article >>

They’re called “cigar-factory readers” and for almost 150 years they have entertained the workers who hand-roll cigars in factories all over Cuba. The Cuban government has suggested that these unique readers be designated as part of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage that the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization will vote on, together with another 110 candidates, at a the meeting to be held in Abu Dhabi beginning next Monday. In medieval monasteries, a monk read from the Bible or other sacred texts to the brothers while they were having their meals. In the same ... Jump to full article >>