The nearly two-month-old statewide smoking ban does not appear to be harming taverns or other hospitality businesses and might actually be helping some, though bar owners say they still are withholding judgment. Cries were heard statewide that the smoking ban, which went into effect July 5, would be the demise of bars that relied upon smokers for their business. The state Tavern League and others complained that their customers would stay at home to drink and smoke rather than visiting bars in which tobacco was prohibited. So far, bars aren’t shutting their doors, but the real test will ... Jump to full article >>

Tobacco proved to be bad for a Fostoria business’s health Wednesday. Eight agents from the state Department of Taxation closed the Clark gas station/convenience store, 400 N. Countyline St., for several hours to execute a search warrant. Agents confiscated tobacco pipes, chewing tobacco, cigarette tobacco, wrapping papers and cigars, according to a receipt of inventory released today by Seneca County Common Pleas court. According to Department of Taxation Spokesman Mike McKinney, the confiscated items were untaxed. The results of the investigation are being referred to the county prosecu ... Jump to full article >>

As support for medical marijuana grows and states consider proposals to legalize the drug for recreational use, advocates on both sides of the debate over whether to end the war on pot are pooling their collective resources to help push their agenda. It’s no stretch to imagine, then, that the two industries best positioned to develop pot-based products—tobacco and pharmaceuticals—are also drafting playbooks to determine how they might capitalize on what CNBC.com estimates to be a $40-billion-a-year market. And if there’s a battle to bring recreational cannabis to market, most beli ... Jump to full article >>

A Manchester shopkeeper has requested a judicial review of government plans to remove cigarettes from display. John Rastegar, 46, owner of Lakeland Grocers’ on Deansgate, claims his business will suffer if he is forced to hide cigarettes and remove brand signs. He has joined Philip Morris in a legal fight, funded by the tobacco company, to question the validity of the legislation, to be phased in from 2011. Mr Rastegar claims the law will cause queues, confusion and increased theft. [caption id="attachment_4478" align="alignleft" width="203" caption="Taking cigarettes off display is aime ... Jump to full article >>

Non-smokers are breathing a sigh of relief in restaurants and bars across North Carolina now that a statewide smoking ban went into effect this weekend. Businesses found in violation of the law could face a $200 fine and a person who smokes inside a restaurant could pay a $50 fine. Having an after-dinner smoke for Greg Williams means lighting up outside. “It was a good meal,” Williams said. “I just ate at the Penguin Cafe. It’s a good spot. I just can’t smoke in there anymore. It’s pretty upsetting.” Fried pickles is one of the popular dishes at the P ... Jump to full article >>

Even though he projects he’ll lose business when a statewide smoking ban takes effect in May, Century Lanes Bowling owner Phil Huffman is optimistic about the challenge it might bring some of his league bowlers. “We want to help our league bowlers who smoke, maybe by helping them quit altogether,” said Huffman, who has contacted the American Cancer Society for ideas about smoking cessation programs to offer his customers. “We want to help them through this deal.” This week, Michigan legislators passed a long-delayed smoking ban that will eliminate smoking in all bars, restaurants, an ... Jump to full article >>

VIRGINIA Star Scientific at risk of Nasdaq delisiting Tobacco company Star Scientific Inc. has six months to get its stock price above $1 per share or face possible delisting from the Nasdaq stock exchange. The Petersburg-based company said it was notified by Nasdaq officials on Nov. 5 that it was not in compliance with the exchange’s minimum-bid rules because its closing per-share bid price was below $1 for 30 consecutive days. Star said it has until May 4 to regain compliance. To do so, the closing bid price for its stock must be $1 or more for at least 10 consecutive trading days. Sha ... Jump to full article >>

The L.A. city attorney’s tough talk has ruffled feathers. Getting things done requires a certain amount of sophistication and nuance, and nobody wants a public servant behaving like a thug. I was strolling toward the entrance of the Homegirl Cafe when Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich, a San Pedro boy, lumbered toward me like a longshoreman, his fist clenched. “Should I punch you now?” he asked. “What’d I do?” I asked. “Nothing. But I’m a bully, right?” According to a headline in my newspaper and a growing number of people, yeah, he i ... Jump to full article >>

Beating market expectations for the second consecutive quarter, ITC has logged a strong performance, thanks to its diversified business portfolio. The tobacco-to-FMCG major has registered a double-digit increase in net profit and revenues as well as a healthy expansion in profit margins. Though the company is witnessing a subdued performance in its hotel business and its non-cigarette FMCG continues to bleed, the good show put up by its other businesses has more than compensated for any adverse impact on profits. ITC has made significant savings on advertising & promotional costs, as is ev ... Jump to full article >>

The stock could see further re-rating, given that almost every segment has chipped in with better numbers. The highlights of ITC’s sterling set of numbers for the September 2009 quarter are the strong performance of the cigarettes and agri businesses and smaller losses from the non-cigarette FMCG segment. Not surprisingly, the stock closed 5 per cent higher at Rs 260 on Friday, with operating profit margins rising by 620 basis points year-on-year, to just under 36 per cent, on revenues of Rs 4,293 crore, up 14 per cent year-on-year. The strong profitability pushed up the operating profit by ... Jump to full article >>

THIS IS A SMOKE-FREE FACILITY” is emblazoned on every door leading into Hall A of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, but step inside and you’re transported back to a world where no one blinked at ashtrays on every table and a corona of blue haze in the air. It’s the annual convention of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR), and for five days in August the 5,000-strong group transformed the convention center and meeting rooms in the Hilton Riverside into the testosterone-filled world of Mad Men, where no smoking was replaced by no apol ... Jump to full article >>