Cops warn of counterfeit cigarette coupons in Pa.

Police in one northwestern Pennsylvania township say someone tried to pass a counterfeit cigarette coupon at a convenience store.
Vernon Township police say a 20-year-old man tried to use a phony coupon for $4 off a pack of Marlboro cigarettes at a Sheetz store near Meadville on Sunday.
Police say the coupons are made to appear as though they are from a company called Smartsource, which offers coupons online and in mailed circulars.
But police say the coupons are bogus and that the computerized bar codes on the coupons can not be read by cash registers.
Police haven't charged the man in Sunday's attempt, but are investigating leads that suggest the coupons were produced locally. Vernon Township is about 85 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Altria spent nearly $2.7 million in 3rd quarter lobbying on health care, cigarette trafficking

Altria Client Services Inc., on behalf of the nation’s biggest cigarette maker, spent nearly $2.7 million in the third quarter to lobby the federal government on legislation involving health care issues and cigarette trafficking, according to a recent disclosure form.
Altria also lobbied on legislation involving taxes, and a climate bill to create clean energy jobs and reduce greenhouse gases in the July-September period, according to the report filed Oct. 20 with the House clerk’s office.
Richmond, Va.-based Altria Group Inc. owns Marlboro maker Philip Morris USA and UST Inc., the U.S. leader in smokeless tobacco with brands such as Copenhagen and Skoal.

Electronic ciggies set to give agents a healthy income

A Long Crendon man is looking for local agents to sell healthier alternatives to tobacco products called 'electronic cigarettes', which he believes are set to take off in Britain.
Martin Whelan is an independent distributor for inLife, an American company now looking to expand in Europe.
He said the firm's e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine without the harmful toxins found in tobacco smoke, present a golden business opportunity for people.
He claims part-time agents can earn up to £500- £1000 per month, while full-timers can make as much as £10, 000 in the same period.
"I am looking for people to work with me, I help train them up to promote it to wider people and establish their own business," he said. 
Electronic cigarettes are not tobacco products, although they are designed to look and feel like conventional cigarettes.
As they do not produce any smoke, they can be consumed in pubs and other places affected by the smoking ban. Health charity ASH says they 'are likely to be a safer alternative to smoking'.
It is also claimed that inLife's e-cigarettes can save a 20-a-day smoker around £700 a year. 
Mr Whelan, who is a non-smoker, said: "There's ten million smokers in the UK so there is a lot of business opportunity here. 
"With all the smoking bans and everything like that, but there is no problem with electronic cigarettes. Places like bingo halls are a massive market for the business. They will bring trade back into pubs.
"We are right at the beginning of something. It is not going to have the scale of the mobile phone, but it's that kind of thing. And we have got a few celebrities using them now which is useful, it really, really helps."
Amanda Sandford, research manager at ASH, said: "We are hesitant to recommend e-cigarettes, we are not going that far, but on the face of it they do seem a less hazourdous option than smoking. "

MSMC campus store ceases sale of cigarettes

The campus store at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh is ending the sales of cigarettes permanently. The termination coincides with the Great American Smokeout today.
College Vice President for Student Development Harry Steinway said stopping the sales makes an important statement to students.
Removing the butts from the shelves may impact the store’s bottom line, Steinway acknowledged.
“There are a fair number of students, but not only students, there are employees who purchase tobacco products, so I think it will put a little dent in daily sales, but maybe candy bar sales or granola bars will pick it up and we’ll see what happens,” he said.
The health benefits far outweigh any potential economic costs to the store, Steinway said.
The college’s health Services and community health nursing students will be providing information to help students stop smoking during the Great American Smokeout.

Fewer minors purchasing cigarettes

A sales compliance survey shows a decrease in tobacco sales to Wisconsin minors, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Monday.
The 2009 Synar survey shows the number of retail outlets that sell tobacco illegally to minors went down by 20 percent. In 2008, roughly 7.2 percent of stores sold tobacco to minors; in 2009, only 5.7 percent did not comply with the law.
Doyle thanked retailers for their work against minor consumption and possession of tobacco products.
"In Wisconsin, we are working hard to protect our kids from the scourge of tobacco," Doyle said. "Our state has a long history of preventing youth tobacco sales and I'm pleased our efforts are paying off."
The Synar surveys randomly selected retail outlets throughout Wisconsin to try to get an accurate snapshot of statewide compliance.
2009 is the seventh straight year that Wisconsin has been below the target rate of 20 percent noncompliance.

Officials bust two stores for selling cigarettes to minors

Employees at two stores were ticketed Tuesday for selling tobacco to minors after town and state officials conducted an undercover operation.
An employee from the Tobacconist of Greenwich, at 8 Havemeyer Place, and the Oriental Market, at 214 Sound Beach Avenue, were cited for sale of tobacco to a minor under 18, an infraction that comes with a $200 fine.
The employee cited at the Oriental Market was Linda Chan, 54, of 403155 Henry St., New York, N.Y. Michael Cafagno, 23, of 560 Locust Ave., Port Chester, N.Y., was cited for selling to a minor while working at the Tobacconist of Greenwich.
Nineteen other establishments were subject to announced visits Tuesday and passed, police said.
The operation was managed by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement program, who utilized an underaged youth, employed by the program, to enter establishments and attempt to buy tobacco.It is against state law to sell tobacco products to minors.
It is also against the law for minors to possess, smoke or use tobacco products in public as of Oct. 2008.
The two stores that failed the test will also be subject to administrative sanctions from the Department of Revenue Services, the state agency that issues cigarette dealer licenses.
Police said these types of undercover checks take place periodically throughout the year in town.

Two arrested in illegal tobacco swoop

TWO people have been arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle enough tobacco to make 800,000 cigarettes.
The suspected contraband – weighing 400 kg – was discovered in the back of a people carrier at Plymouth Ferry Port. 
A 46-year-old man and a 71- year-old woman, both from the Durham area, were arrested at the scene and interviewed by investigators from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
They have been released on police bail until January 26.The case is being handled by HMRC criminal investigators and enquiries are ongoing. 
The revenue evaded is estimated at about £46,000. UK Border Agency officers swooped on Saturday night, after the people carrier disembarked a ferry arriving in Plymouth from Roscoff, France. 
Due to the size of the haul, HMRC agents were called in to investigate and interview the pair.
Bob Gaiger, of HMRC said the seizure was probably the biggest seen in Plymouth so far this year.

Health Commission Re-elect Previous Chairman Amid Tobacco Scandal

The previous chairman of Health Commission of the House of Representatives, Ribka Tjiptaning, of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle, whose name has been mentioned in the report of the missing tobacco section in the new health regulation, had been re-elected to chair the commission for the next 2009 – 2014 term.
In the first meeting of the commission on Thursday, Ribka said “i have been officiated as the chairman.” 
The commission's 46 members also picked three deputies Ahmad Nizar Shihab (Democratic Party), Irghan Chairul (United Development Party), and Sumaryati Harjoso (Great Indonesia Movement Party). 
Former member of the commission have revealed earlier this month about the missing sectin to the public prompting bigger moves by consumers right and anti-corruption groups to attack stakeholders involved in the legislation.

Online Sales of E Cigarettes Expected to Rise Over the Holidays

As the holiday season approaches, many consumers are considering e-cigarettes
as an option for their loved ones who smoke.
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Previously e cigarettes sales have
generally been tobacco smoking individuals purchasing the product for
themselves. However, Teresa Peach, an online sales associate for E-Cigarettes
National, reports an influx of callers wishing to purchase the product for
their loved ones that smoke. "Some of these callers are stating that they wish
to buy the electronic cigarette starter kit for their spouses or partners that
have been smoking for thirty or forty years." She has reported that many of
these callers believe that the electric cigarette might be last hope for them
to get their loved ones to switch from using tobacco.
Of course, this at least is not new knowledge. Many tobacco smokers have tried
to stop smoking many times and have failed over and over again. The electric
cigarette offers them an alternative to smoking tobacco, yet still allows them
to have the nicotine they want and to engage in the most realistic mock
smoking act available. "When smokers have tried everything they know of and
still continue to smoke, the e-cigarette might be the best bet for them to
reach that goal."
Many consumers are considering purchasing an e-cigarette kit for the holiday
season, according to Teresa. Because there are more choices of this product
available online than ever before, including different styles and different
strengths of nicotine liquid (including zero nicotine), it is making it easier
to pick a gift for a smoker than ever before.
Instead of giving a smoker they know and love another ugly tie or sweater that
they might never even use, some people claim they are giving their loved ones
a gift of a better life - one without tobacco.

Social-conscious fund added to Virginia 529

The Virginia College Savings Plan is adding an investment option under its VEST program that only invests in companies that meet specific social criteria.
In addition to financial health and growth potential, the Parnassus Equity Income Fund takes social factors into account when choosing companies to invest in. The fund avoids companies that manufacture tobacco and alcohol or are associated with gambling. It also avoids companies that make weapons or earn revenues from electricity generation from nuclear power.
“A growing number of our Virginia Education Savings Trust account owners have indicated an interest in a socially targeted investment option,” Virginia College Savings Plan CEO Mary Morris said in a statement. “After reviewing socially targeted funds, the board selected the Parnassus Equity Income Fund because of its history of solid returns, active management and low expense ratio in conjunction with its social criteria screens.”
The VEST plans offers 16 different investment options, including a mix of equity and fixed-income investments. The plan allows account owners to save for qualified higher education expenses, including tuition, textbooks, room and board, fees and computers.

Nepal border village tense as Indian BSF men torture a local to death

Situation in bordering Bankul Bazar in Rautahat district remained tense on Sunday after a local died allegedly due to excessive torture of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel.
Locals in the areas adjoining to India shut down Bankul Bazar village and staged demonstration against the alleged torture and subsequent death of Mukul Raya Yadav, 35. They also chanted strong slogans against the BSF and demanded compensation to the victim´s family and punishment for the guilty involved.
Nepali Security officials said that BSF personnel from Sitamadhi Base Camp at Jamuniya allegedly arrested and tortured Yadav of Surmajuwa VDC-8 in Rautahat district when he was on way to bordering Indian town of Ghodasan to sell tobacco on Saturday afternoon.
Family members said Yadav died a few hours after he arrived home following torture by the Indian border security personnel on Saturday night. He arrived home late night in critical condition after the BSF men set him free.
Yadav, before breathing his last, had told family members that BSF men detained him for four hours and beaten up severely for no apparent reason. The dead body has been taken to the district headquarter Gaur for post mortem.
Nepali authorities in Rautahat district has taken up the issue with the local Indian authorities over the incident.
Officials at Home Ministry said Indian authorities have assured that they would investigate the incident.
Locals in bordering villages have alleged that the BSF personnel have stepped up their excesses in recent months. They complain that BSF men often beat up and manhandle locals living in bordering areas of Bara, Parsa and Rautahat.

Big Tobacco Fights Disclosure of Low-Tar Dangers

Major cigarette makers plan to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider a May ruling that banned using words such a “light” and “low-tar” to sell cigarettes, and required them to disclose the dangers of smoking.
Altria Group Inc., Reynolds American Inc., and other makers want a federal court in Washington to delay implementing a May 22 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington which upheld a 2006 ruling which found the companies were guilty of violating federal racketeering laws by conspiring to lie about the dangers of smoking and were likely to do so in the future unless the court intervened.
The appeals court also wants the tobacco companies to publish statements that correct previous misstatements about addiction, smoking dangers, second-hand smoke dangers, and the dangers of “light” and “low-tar” cigarettes.
Omitting the descriptors would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and would “fundamentally alter the business landscape,” the cigarette makers argued.
This is the second time Big Tobacco has made that request to delay implementing the lower court ruling. On September 22, the appeals court denied the request, reports Reuters. 
Corporate Free Speech?
The major tobacco companies say the high court should consider open issues – The First Amendment free speech rights they enjoy; whether they should have been charged with racketeering; and whether the FDA’s takeover that now regulates tobacco deprives the court of jurisdiction.
The companies appealing to the high court include Altria Group Inc and its Philip Morris USA unit, British American Tobacco Plc, Lorillard Inc, and Reynolds American Inc and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co.
The Clinton Administration originally filed the case a decade ago.
It was seeking nearly $300 billion in damages. Ontario, Canada has sued to recover about $46 billion in damages to taxpayers’ health and the associated costs over the last 50 years.

Cigarette linked to house fire

TOWN OF MAINE --Firefighters extinguished a fire in a Wausau-area home early Friday that investigators think was caused by a cigarette, according to the Marathon County Sheriff's Department.
Firefighters from the towns of Maine and Rib Mountain and the city of Wausau were called after the fire was reported at 12:57 a.m. at 3318 Elk Drive in the town of Maine. Roy Nowak, 61, who rents an upstairs bedroom at the two-story home, told investigators that he had been smoking in the room prior to discovering the fire, Sheriff's Lt. Dale Wisnewski said.
Nowak said he was watching television in the lower level of the home and when he returned to the upstairs room, he saw smoke and used a water hose to water down a mattress and box spring, Wisnewski said. Over the course of two hours, Nowak told deputies that he used the hose several times on the smoldering mattress before discovering a stairwell was on fire, Wisnewski said.
Nowak and the owner of the home, 54-year-old Beth Schwartz, fled from the home and reported the fire, police said. The blaze caused an estimated $50,000 worth of smoke, fire and water damage, Wisnewski said.
Both Nowak and Schwartz suffered from minor smoke inhalation, Wisnewski said.