Thailand to Increase Taxes

Thailand should step by boost excise tax on smoking products as part of attempts to decrease the actual number of cigarette smokers, as taxes on cigarettes do not have positive effect, according to Prakit Vathesatogkit, a leading tobacco advocate. He explained that the improper tax structure between cigarette and tobacco was the most fragile factor in the country's unsuccessful initiatives to minimize the rate of smokers.
The small tax charged on tobacco lead to price discrepancy between cigarettes and tobacco. Thus, anytime the government increases the tax on cigarettes, many cigarette lovers switch to smoking products that are much cheaper or roll their own. The latest review stated that cigarette users spend approximately 586 baht per month purchasing cigarettes manufactured by tobacco companies, but smokers who roll their own smokes spend just 37.5 baht a month. "This is a key aspect in the fiasco over the many years of attempts to decrease the rate of smokers, who currently constitute about 14 million, and half of them roll their own smokes," stated Dr. Prakit, representative of the Bureau of Tobacco Control.
The government's most recent increase in the tax on tobacco products in August resulted in imported tobacco products rising in price by 9-10 baht per package of 20, and 5-6 baht for domestic brands. Imported brands are sold at 90 baht per package while Thai brands are available at 37-85 baht a pack. The government has increased the excise on cigarettes to one satang for every gramme of tobacco. Moreover it lifted the tax on tobacco products to approximately 87% of cost plus one baht per gramme of the cigarette. Nevertheless, the latest rate is still smaller than the upper limit established at 90% of value and three baht per a gramme per cigarette. For instance in 2011, excise on tobacco products and alcohol resulted in 57 billion in earnings based on a single-phase.
A week ago Dr. Prakit joined the Fifth Session of the Conference of Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Seoul. He stated that the 175 participants agreed to establish a requirement to implement tax and price procedures for tobacco regulation requirements under the guideline that an efficient tax program will help minimize tobacco use as well as aid stop dependency among teenagers. It was decided that all participants should increase the efficiency of tax collection on tobacco, mostly to avoid the cigarette industry intervening in tobacco tax policy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin to Pass the Largest Crackdown on Cigarettes

Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering to pass the largest public health drive in the history of tobacco industry since former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev didn’t realize to break his county of the habit to consume alcohol with a strong crackdown on tobacco and drink.
An anti-smoking regulation presented to parliament on Friday will prohibit smoking in public places, any tobacco advertising and kiosk sales. That follows the actions to restrain the world’s fourth-highest alcohol use per capita with tax increases and by reducing trade. Russia is the world’s second-leading market for cigarettes and alcohol, according to recent estimates. The country with a population of 143 million is 5 million less than it was registered in 1991, when the Soviet Union ruined. Alcohol and tobacco use costs the Russian economy approximately $104 billion per year, or about 5% of gross domestic product (GDP), according to the government estimates.
The crackdown risks encouraging Russians to look for counterfeit cigarettes and drinks, according to cigarette manufacturers and alcohol industry experts. Illicit sale of vodka which is priced as little as $1 for a half-liter (0.13 gallon) will increase to about 60% from 30% of the market by 2014, according to the Center for Federal and Regional Alcohol Market Studies. Illegal cigarette trade may expand to about 45% of the market from 1%, the lobby group Tabakprom informs.
This year, Russia boosted the minimum price of a half-liter of vodka to about 125 rubles or $4 and plans to increase it further to 200 rubles by 2015, according to the government representative Dmitriy Fedorov. As about beer taxes, which were raised in 2010 they should be six times higher in 2015 than in comparison to 2009. “We are already used to smoke, drink and eat poor diet and doing less sport and then falling ill, and take pills in order to get better. But all these should be stopped, and as sooner as better,” stated Nikolai Gerasimenko, deputy head of the lower house of parliament’s ministry of health.

Info - Main Cigar Accessories

• Cigar Cutters is used to assure an adequate and smooth opening in the cigar, which would help smoking. Nowadays there are a lot of varieties of cigar cutters; each of them cut the cigar in a particular way. Among the most spread types are cigar guillotine cutters, cigar v-cutter and cigar double-blade. Cutting cigars properly is very essential, as it directly affects the smoking process. 
• Cigar Lighters Even if your cigarette was kept in a humidor and properly cut, what use of it if you do not have a lighter. Cigar lighters are a must have accessory and also a pleasant gift for cigar connoisseurs. At present you may find a great range of cigar lighters, including disposable lighters, butane gas lighters, all-purpose lighters, windproof lighters, candle lighters and of course the well-known matches. The choice mostly depends on your preferences. 
• Cigar Ashtrays So, we came to the last accessory that shouldn’t miss from a cigar smoker. The ashtray is one of the essential, but too often forgotten cigar accessories. Once you have taken several draws from your recently cut and lit cigar, you will have to put the ash somewhere. The ashtray can be stainless, ceramic, wooden or even made of glass. Ashtrays are the most used cigar accessories.

Smoking in the 70s

Cigarettes occupied a great part of life in the 70s. People lighted them up in great numbers. To quit or not, and to smoker of not were the most spread topics. In 1969, the most popular cigarette brand was Embassy Filter, which was launched in 1962 and took an astonishing 25% of the tobacco market in 1968. By 1971, it was displaced by the Players No 6. In 1972 the below listed cigarette brands constituted 95% of all tobacco products sold:
 • Sovereign (filter)
• Silk Cut (filter)
• Player No 6 (plain)
• Benson & Hedges King Size (filter)
• Rothman's King Size (filter)
The majority of the most famous brands contain filter. At those times smokers considered that the cigarette filter would protect them hazardous effects of smoking. However, various medical studies have demonstrated the contrary.
 In 1970, 55% of men and 44% of women lighted up. The number of smoking cigarettes had declined from the peak of 60% in 1948 and the effects of smoking on health were starting to slowly sink in. In spite of the study presented by Professor Sir Richard Doll, which linked smoking with various illnesses, cigarette smoking a great part of life that the habit was too difficult to eradicate.
In 1971, cigarette producers agreed to place health warnings on the packages – “Warning by HM Government Smoking Can Affect Your Health”. The organization has never published any report in which it would compare one cigarette brand with another. They acted only in the interests of consumers and advised only that people should think about giving up this habit. Also there were many stories regarding the safety pg other forms of smoking as cigar smoking or hookah.
So, the 70s was namely that period when people accepted the hazards of smoking and the number of the population who lighted up dropped greatly. The first anti-smoking group, ASH, was created in 1970 and had the objective to inform the public about the hazards of smoking. The rate of men and women smoking cigarettes declined during the 70s. Already by 1980, about 40% of men and 35% of women consumed tobacco products. Current figures are: 25% and 23% respectively.

Women Smoking Style

Cigar vs. Cigarette

Despite the fact that both cigars and cigarettes possess tobacco the main difference is that a cigar is wrapped in tobacco leaf, or any other material containing tobacco. But tobacco in cigarettes is wrapped in paper. Generally cigars are bigger and thicker than cigarettes, they last longer and posses more tobacco and of course costly. 

Tobacco and Nicotine Content 

One cigar can possess as much tobacco as a whole cigarette pack. Cigars generally have between 100 to 200 mg of nicotine each while a cigarettes about 10mg. 

 How to Smoke a Cigar and a Cigarette

 Before smoking a cigar, you should cut it appropriately by inserting the cigar into special cutter and cut it about 1/16 to 1/8 inch from the end. When lighting the cigar, hold it around the band with your fingers and place into your mouth. While puffing rotate the cigar without allowing it to touch the flame. Rotate it for at least 10 to 15 seconds. Cigarettes are easier to smoke, a single puff is usually enough to light a cigarette. The smoke is inhaled when smoking a cigarette.

The main difference is that when lighting a cigar, the smoke is not inhaled. Unlike cigarette smoke, you are able to enjoy the taste of a cigar smoke only in your mouth without taking it into your lungs.

What the Future Holds For Lorillard

In 1760 French Protestant Pierre Lorillard starts to sell tobacco products, which in order to keep fresh she wrapped in dried animal bladders. Pierre Lorillard produces these smokes on Chatham Street, at present Park Row in a small factory. Lorillard directs all profits from this business to support the Revolutionary War and also funded George Washington’s army.
At present approximately 250 years after the appearance of Lorillard Incorporated, the cigarette company is planned to pen at about $127.00 per share, and is the world’s third giant tobacco company, with a market capitalization of 16.63 billion. A small plant of the 1760’s has become an internationally recognized name. Despite such a great success, current events have made several attempts to prohibit menthol, an essential component in Lorillard’s best selling Newport cigarettes, that accounts for around 90% of all Lorillard’s sales. So will Lorillard be able to continue grow, or will this so old business disappear with time? According to estimates, in 2010 Lorillard announced profits per share of $6.78. In 2011, Lorillard declared that profits per share had lifted $1.21, to $7.99. In 2012, Lorillard’s profits per share have risen to $8.58, showing weakening shares’ growth. It is estimated that the growth will stabilize in 2013. The cigarette manufacturer is planning to expand these profits in the coming future and gain bigger share of the United States tobacco industry.
The cigarette industry is well known for its largest dividend payouts, and Lorillard doesn’t infringe this process. At present Kent cigarettes manufacturer pays out one of the biggest dividends in the industry. This dividend has significantly increased from $5.20 per year, in 2011, and is estimated to proceed to boost in the future. In comparison with the main tobacco rivals, as for instance Reynolds American, Altria Group, Philip Morris International, and British American Tobacco, Lorillard has better performance.
Currently, Lorillard is in the middle of the road regarding the growth, while Reynolds American occupies first position, increasing its profits per share in six years. Lorillard’s dividend growth is the fastest in the industry. As about the net profit margin, Lorillard occupies second position after the Phillip Morris, which tops the industry.

Slogans for new anti smoking ads

The believing we do something when we do nothing is the first illusion of tobacco.

• Be Cool - Don't Be a Smoking Fool.
• Be smart don't start.
• Breathe healthily, live happily.
• Cancer cures smoking.
• Cigarettes burn holes in your pocket.
• Cough twice for Philip Morris.
• Did you know your mouth is on fire?
• Don't be a butthead. Smoking kills.
• Don't be a Kool Fool.
• Don't puff your life away.
• Don't smoke you will choke!
• Don't smoke - there are cooler ways to die.
• Everyone has a right to clean air.
• Hang Tough, Don't Puff!
• Health is wealth.
• How the Tobacco Industry Killed American Soldiers
• I like smoking. It kills off a lot of stupid people.
• I quit because my kids love me.
• I would give up smoking but I’m not a quitter.
• If God had wanted us to smoke, he would have given us a separate hole for it.
• If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action. (in a non-smoking area)
• If you can’t stop smoking, cancer will.
• If you don’t smoke, I won’t fart!
• If you smoke, you're a joke.
• If you think smoking is cool, you're a fool.
• Is smoking good for business? Not if you want long-term customers.
• Kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray.
• Live it or Burn it...
• Make your choices, it's your life.
• No smoke no life, but No life with smoke.
• Please keep smoking. Our planet is overcrowded.
• Put it out before it puts you out.
• Put your money where your butt is.
• Quit smoking. It kills!
• Quit smoking before smoking quits you.
• Save Money - Quit Smoking!

 

Movies with Smoking Scenes Should Have R- rating

Brad Pitt’s personage in Snatch, Mickey O'Neil, possesses all traits of classic Hollywood film. He is fully confident and attacks as a real professional, and as Al Pacino in Scarface, he smokes. It is already proved that children imitate media. The Surgeon General declared that smoking really makes teens smoke. It is prohibited to light up in TV commercials, so why can we smoke in movies?

Actions to prohibit smoking in movies have started several years ago; however no formal policy is currently in place. James Sargent, representative of the Cancer Control Research Program at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, analyzed the consequences of exposing teenagers to any movie showing smoking scenes. The results demonstrated that after watching such films, children were more likely to pick the habit. There was an evident link between the film industry’s use of smoking scenes in films and the increasing number of youngsters trying as well as regularly smoking. And after another study, Mr. Sargent and his team found all answers – the movie rating.

Film smoking exposure (FSE) was evaluated basing on the monitoring of 530 block busters. Each movie was divided according to the respective ratings fixed by the Motion Picture Association of America as: G/PG, PG-13, and R respectively. Despite the fact that median FSE was higher for PG-13 movies in comparison to that of R-rated films, their relation to smoking was similar. All these results provided scientists with an amazing conclusion – it was the smoking itself that prompted teenagers to smoke, and not the vulgar behavior often associated with adult movies. Thus, Mr. Sargent and his colleagues concluded that allowing R rating for any movie depicting smoking “could significantly decrease adolescent smoking.” He adds that it might even guarantee a 16% drop. So, Mr. Sargent calls on the film industry to undertake similar actions as they did in considering scenes of violence and sex.

A new R rating could decrease smoking among youngsters, but wouldn’t it just delay the eventual affirmation of tobacco use? Such a rating might prevent some things, but it is unable to prevent the inevitable. Mr. Sargent agreed with the above statement; however he added that older teens of 17 years old and higher are more likely to make right choices, than children at 12 or 14, as they have a higher maturity level.

The Right to Free Speech

Altria Group and Reynolds American both cited liberty of speech to the U.S. Constitution as the reason behind a civil legal proceeding looking to reverse a coming ban on displaying smoking products in stores in the Rockland County, N.Y. According to a source, Lorillard, Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco have filled the suit on June 27.
Respondents in the legal proceeding are the village agencies and representatives that were attributed the responsibility for introducing the cigarette display ban once it becomes effective in October 2012. Calling the ban as “an evident attack on the content of tobacco advertising” that infringes their First Amendment right to free speech, they required the court to name the local law unconstitutional and prohibit the Hudson Valley village to implement it. The village board passed similar ban in April, declaring that the sight of packages of cigarettes on a store shelf attracts teenagers to this habit.
According to the law, retail stores could proceed to sell tobacco products, without displaying it, and instead giving age-verified clients, only after request, a price of tobacco products to order from. “Philip Morris and Reynolds American are trying to challenge a currently adopted local law that stops retailers from displaying smoking products in their stores. If passed, this local law would infringe free speech rights by prohibiting cigarette manufacturers and retailers from advertising adult smokers about the varieties, prices of their tobacco product brands,” David Sutton, representative of the Richmond, Va.-based Altria, declared in an interview.
Bryan D. Hatchell, representative for R.J. Reynolds stated that: “We think that this new law prohibiting the display of smoking products is not concordant with monitoring Supreme Court decisions under the First Amendment, and we starting this legal proceeding first of all to protect our First Amendment rights. This law is not about keeping youngsters from smoking, but it is probably about banning advertisement of a legal product to adults who enjoy smoking.” “All retailers have a full right to communicate with their customers about the brands they offer by displaying those cigarettes within their own premises,” added James Calvin, the New York Association of Convenience Stores president.