Cigars Taxed, Senators Smokers

More than a dozen lobbyists for retailers and tobacco companies argued Tuesday before state senators considering whether to seek an estimated $15 million or more in improved tax collections by changing how cigars are taxed. The Department of Revenue testified before the Tax Collection Technology Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee that 7-23 percent of tobacco sold in the state is not taxed as required by law. That’s because cigars are usually sold separately, unlike cigarettes and chewing tobacco, which come in packages that carry a tax stamp.

Tobacco Sales in Iceland Increased

Sales in loose tobacco in Iceland have increased by 34 percent during the first nine months of this year compared to the same period last year, according to data from the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland (ÁTVR). At the same time, sales in cigarettes, the price of which has risen to over ISK 1,000 (USD 8, EUR 6.30), have decreased. Arnþór Indriðason, staff member at tobacco store Björk, says a lot of his customers have started to roll their own cigarettes over the last year since the price of a pack of cigarettes increased.

Tobacco Stores Banned to Sell Cigs

Four London variety stores and a Strathroy retailer are barred from selling tobacco for six months after they were convicted for the second time of selling tobacco products to minors. The London stores under prohibition are OK Variety on Hale St., Beckworth Mini Mart on Beckworth Ave., Hasty Market on Belmont Dr. and Dundas Convenience on Dundas St. McRobert Fuels Ltd. on Egremont Dr. in Strathroy also is prohibited from selling any form of tobacco for six months.

Tobacco Sales Season

The 2012 tobacco-selling season and cheapest Monte Carlo cigarettes smoking opened in Harare yesterday with the price averaging US$4 per kilogramme. The bulk of the crop was bought for more than US$ 4per kg, a price that many farmers feel was fair while the industry expressed satisfaction with the quality of the leaf. Most farmers at all the four auction floors expressed satisfaction at the state of the infrastructure and the service they were getting. Boka Tobacco Auction Floors, Millennium Tobacco Floors, Tobacco Sales Floor and Premier Tobacco Floor are the licensed floors. Farmers said they were happy with the ablution, water and health facilities. Marondera farmer Mrs Faith Chibare said farmers were now being treated in a decent way.