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.

Altria Group Launches Tobacco Rights Site

Altria Group Inc.'s tobacco operating companies launched a "Citizens for Tobacco Rights" Web site last week. The new site is geared toward "adult tobacco consumers who are interested in information and advocacy on tobacco-related public policy issues," according to a company statement. "Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company and John Middleton believe that it is important for adult tobacco consumers to make their voices heard on issues that affect them." According to the company, the new site, Citizens for Tobacco Rights, offers adult consumers information, tools and resources to help them "get informed, involved and active on tobacco issues."

New Plan to Ban Smoking in Public

Smoking could be banned in children’s playparks in Cumbria after the county council called on all districts to consider it. The health and wellbeing scrutiny committee made the call after hearing market research showed 70 per cent of people supported a ban on smoking in playgrounds. The research also indicated three quarters of those asked agreed children had the right not to be exposed to second-hand smoke outdoors. Councillor Bill Wearing, chairman of the committee, has raised the issue in the past and said he was in favour of a voluntary ban. “I’ve already come out in favour of a ban on smoking in children’s play areas – it’s clear that people find it socially unacceptable,” he said.

Tobacco Smuggling Seized in Belfast

Police seized 20,000 illegal cigarettes during raids in Belfast on Thursday morning. The cigarettes, which are worth around £4,500 in unpaid excise duty and VAT, were uncovered at a house and car in east Belfast. In a separate search carried out at the same time in the south of the city, officers seized a further 500 illicit discount Glamour cigarettes. The raids were carried out as part of a joint operation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the PSNI. John Whiting, Assistant Director Criminal Investigation for HMRC said: "Tobacco smuggling is organised criminality on a global scale and robs the taxpayer of millions each year in unpaid duty and VAT."

Civil Society Support Anti-Tobacco Legislation

The civil society organizations and medical practitioners announced all out support to the government of Khyber Pakthunkhwa for its endeavour to make necessary legislation against smokeless tobacco (naswar) and demanded strict laws against its use and selling to protect people from its dangerous health hazards. Dr Liaqat Ali, a general medical practitioner and Chest Specialist told APP that one of the causes of lung, stomach and mouth cancer is the use of naswar, which is also contributing to bronchitis, kidney, heart and other diseases.

Restrictions on Smoking Cigarettes, Sri Lanka

An expert said yesterday Sri Lanka had the potential to introduce legislation calling for the total ban on tobacco consumption by those born after 2000. Singapore National University Professor A.J. Berrick told a seminar on tobacco consumption that academics had submitted a research paper on the possibility of stopping tobacco consumption altogether by restricting the access to tobacco by individuals born after 2000. Deputy Solicitor General Vijitha Malalgoda said there were practical difficulties in introducing such legislation but said it was a step in the right direction as it could make a significant impact on the reduction of tobacco consumption in the country.

Smoke-Free campus in USM

The University of Southern Mississippi started its new smoking policy Tuesday on its Hattiesburg campus. The policy bans tobacco use inside all university buildings, facilities and vehicles. Advertisement, distribution and sale of tobacco products and discount OK cigarettes are also banned from the campus and all publications. Littering of tobacco-related products is also prohibited. Violators could face fines or other disciplinary action. The stricter smoking policy does not affect the Gulf Park campus, but will soon change.

Smoking Ban Could Affects Business

A local smoke shop owner worries the state-wide smoking ban could eventually kill his business. Pipes, cigars, and ashtrays line the walls of Riegel's Pipe and Tobacco in Fort Wayne. Riegel's started as a saloon and cigar store back in 1874. Owner Al Riegel jumped from one location to another downtown, but in 1969 landed at today's infamous South Calhoun Street location. Now Riegel's has three locations across Fort Wayne: one in Covington Plaza, one in Georgetown Square and one at 624 S. Calhoun. Despite the success, the future of this family-owned business is a bit hazy.