Tobacco.org

• SMOKE2U 

There's something odd about PO Box 365, Irving, New York. Located on the Seneca Nation -- nestled just at the Empire State's southwestern tip -- the box is the mailing address for at least 10 online vendors registered in far-flung locations, from New York City to Ankara, Turkey. Boasting names like BigChiefCigarettes.com, Smoke2U.com, and EZTobacco.com, the sites bear no apparent affiliation to one another, except that they all sell one product: untaxed cigarettes. . . .

Over the past decade, as cigarette taxes have soared throughout the United States -- rising an average of nearly 90 percent between 1998 and 2002 alone -- websites catering to tax-dodging smokers have proliferated. In 2006, an estimated 772 sites were selling to U.S. consumers, up from just 88 in 2000. According to Jeff Cohen, associate chief counsel for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) Northeast division, it's common for entrepreneurs to maintain five or six differently branded websites to drive traffic, "even though they're just shipping from one address."

Some sites are based in low-tax states such as the Carolinas; others sell duty-free packs from overseas. Increasingly, overseas cigarette vendors drive traffic: The number of sites based overseas jumped from at least 10 percent in 2003 to over 45 percent by 2006, according to Kurt Ribisl, an associate professor at the University of North Carolina's Gillings School of Global Public Health, who has extensively studied online sale patterns.

In the United States, the real action is taking place on Indian reservations. . . .

Thus, even with states' best diligence, cigarettes continue to slip through. "They [the Internet sellers] are resourceful," said California Deputy Attorney General Laura Kaplan. "They always seem to be one step ahead of us." In the latest development, she said, California secured an agreement with First Regional Bank to stop processing unlawful cigarette purchases -- to her knowledge, the first of its kind in the nation. But as Kaplan notes, there are thousands of other banks out there who have yet to sign on.

Online sites are also moving offshore, beyond the reach of effective U.S. law enforcement. In one high-profile 2004 case, the ATF raided a cargo plane that touched down at John F. Kennedy Airport bearing 60 million duty-free cigarettes from a Switzerland-based company, Otamedia. The company's original URL Yesmoke.com was shut down, but its operators simply packed up shop and today continue to do business from Italy. . . .

But given how one site can pop up as quickly as another is shuttered, suppressing the trade has become something of a global game of "whack-a-mole." "We see a lot of sites operating outside the country: Moldova, Israel, Russia, Ukraine," Kaplan said. Despite states' best efforts, she said, "We haven't noticed a real reduction in sales." . . .

To that end, advocates such as Representative Anthony Weiner, Democrat of New York, and the National Association of Attorneys General are actively pushing the optimistically titled Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act

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• Cigarillos are becoming very popular with teenagers in Canada.  

Flavoured cigarillos are attracting kids who are getting hooked on tobacco, according to the provincial NDP's health critic.

Adrian Dix said the cigarillos are popular because they are packaged individually, making them cheap, and they are flavoured to taste like fruit or candy, but they are as bad as smoking cigarettes.

He said they came in flavours like tangerine, peach and chocolate and spearmint and were aimed at teenagers.

"Now they won't smell like smoke if they come back to school. They just smell like raspberry and vanilla," said one teenage girl who was interviewed about her smoking habits. . . .

A popular brand called Prime Time has a cult following on Facebook, he added.

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• How does increasingly plainer cigarette packaging influence adult smokers' perceptions about brand image? An experimental study  

Method: A 3 (brand types) x 4 (degree of plain packaging) between-subject experimental design was used, using an internet online method, to expose 813 adult Australian smokers to one randomly selected cigarette pack, after which respondents completed ratings of the pack.

Results: Compared with current cigarette packs with full branding, cigarette packs that displayed progressively fewer branding design elements were perceived increasingly unfavourably in terms of smokers' appraisals of the packs, the smokers who might smoke such packs, and the inferred experience of smoking a cigarette from these packs. For example, cardboard brown packs with the number of enclosed cigarettes displayed on the front of the pack and featuring only the brand name in small standard font at the bottom of the pack face were rated as significantly less attractive and popular than original branded packs. Smokers of these plain packs were rated as significantly less trendy/stylish, less sociable/outgoing and less mature than smokers of the original pack. Compared with original packs, smokers inferred that cigarettes from these plain packs would be less rich in tobacco, less satisfying and of lower quality tobacco.

Conclusion: Plain packaging policies that remove most brand design elements are likely to be most successful in removing cigarette brand image associations.

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Lots of TV and Web harms kids' health 

Spending a lot of time watching TV, playing video games and surfing the Web makes children more prone to a range of health problems including obesity and smoking, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

U.S. National Institutes of Health, Yale University and the California Pacific Medical Center experts analyzed 173 studies done since 1980 in one of the most comprehensive assessments to date on how exposure to media sources impacts the physical health of children and adolescents.

The studies, most conducted in the United States, largely focused on television, but some looked at video games, films, music, and computer and Internet use. Three quarters of them found that increased media viewing was associated with negative health outcomes.

The studies offered strong evidence that children who get more media exposure are more likely to become obese, start smoking and begin earlier sexual activity than those who spend less time in front of a screen, the researchers said.

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• Anti-smoking work lauded  

Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna said Monday to keep cigarettes out of the hands of kids, he will ask the 2009 Legislature to ban the shipment of cigarettes from mail order or Internet sales to anyone other than licensed wholesalers or retail stores.

A state law that had required shipping companies to verify the age of someone receiving an order of cigarettes was negated by the U.S. Supreme Court, he said, which struck down a similar Maine law in February.

"So, we're just going to make it illegal to sell it online altogether," he announced to students at Bush Middle School in Tumwater, where he, Gov. Chris Gregoire and Health Secretary Mary Selecky led an assembly to mark the 10th anniversary of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. . . .

Students at Bush also got a chance to participate in the Department of Health's anti-smoking advertising campaign "No Stank You."

Each television commercial in the campaign uses about 100 photographs of students in various poses, made to look like animation.

Seventh-grader Shawna Ledgerwood, 12, who volunteered to have her picture taken, said the commercials are memorable.

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A New Way to Buy Premium Cigars 

SheepCigars.com, a company of Levinson Marketing, LLC, is a brand new website catering to the needs of cigar smokers everywhere by offering the lowest prices on many different boutique brands and brands not normally found on the Internet. Their policy, unlike many other websites, states: "No Spam - We won't fill your inbox with 'daily deals' or we miss you 'sales' etc.

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Quit and Stay Quit Monday! 

Commit to QUIT with the Great American Smokeout� Thursday, November 20 then Quit & Stay Quit Monday!

Quitting is hard - but staying quit may now be easier! Quit with the Smokeout - then recommit on Monday and each Monday thereafter.

Every Monday you reach is a step to staying quit! Why Monday? It's a fresh start - the January of each week. A day to refocus and recommit, celebrate your progress, or to quit again if you relapse. See the helpful resources below, including the American Cancer Society's QUITLINE at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Quit & Stay Quit Monday TIPS Quit & stay quit with a friend, family member, co-worker - success loves company.

Quit & stay quit with helpful quitter hotlines. . . .

Quit & Stay Quit Mondays is a Healthy Monday campaign in association with Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications.

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• Online Sale of E-Cigarettes Banned  

The Ministry of Government Legislation on Wednesday declared illegal the online sale of so-called electronic cigarettes designed to help users give up smoking. Since electronic cigarettes fall under the category of tobacco prescribed in the Tobacco Business Act, they can be sold only at retailers and thus their online or telesales are illegal.

Electronic cigarettes are electronic devices in the shape of a normal cigarette that allow people to inhale a gasified liquid comprising various ingredients including nicotine.

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• Innovative new Web site empowers young girls to live smoke-free 

A new Web site designed to emphasize smoking prevention for young girls has been launched through Children's Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD) and Dartmouth Medical School (DMS). The safe, online patient education site was created by Dartmouth pediatrician Henry Bernstein to help prevent smoking in young girls 8-11 years old).

Funded by Pfizer Inc. through an unrestricted educational grant, the site--No Smoking Room.Org (www.nosmokingroom.org) is designed to empower young girls to say "no" to smoking and to encourage those who are smoking to quit. Bernstein says the No Smoking Room team is looking for partners to spread the "no smoking" message to as many young girls and their health influencers, such as parents, as possible. . . .

The Web site engages 8-11 year old girls through high-quality multimedia features, including "the girlz lounge"

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Offline Bingo Halls See Their Profits Go Up in Smoke! 

Over a year into the smoking ban in the UK and more than 53 land based bingo halls have closed, bringing the number of clubs still open to about 550. Yes, the credit crunch is partly to blame, but this has certainly not stopped bingo players joining (and spending in) online bingo halls such as JackpotCity.com Online Bingo.

In fact, since its launch in December 2007 JackpotCity.com online bingo has gone from strength to strength, with a monthly increase of new players measured in the thousands and a 60% increase in earnings. The up side for the player? The more people in the bingo network, the bigger the prize money. This means that smokers can still legally puff away while winning bingo prize pools that are as large, or even larger, than what they are used to. The move to online play has been so dramatic in fact, that even the large well known land based bingo companies such as Gala Bingo and Mecca Bingo have been operating their own online bingo sites for some time.

Did this come as a surprise to the bingo industry? Not really, because in Scotland the smoking ban has been in effect since March 2006 and all reports showed that it has been an absolute disaster for all the top bingo clubs. Income (which effects prize money) dropped by as much as 50% and many clubs were forced to close their doors.

So what is the result of all this turmoil in the bingo industry, and who is the ultimate winner? That's simple; the bingo players themselves are the ones who benefit. It has forced the offline bingo companies to modernise and it has brought legitimacy to the online environment. It has offered players a choice of where they can play and more importantly it has given everyone the chance to play one of the world's favourite games - BINGO!

Carmen Media owns many of the world's oldest and most respected online gaming sites including

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Smoking ban opposition group launches Web site  

A group that opposes the statewide public smoking ban has launched a Web site that lists the names of state lawmakers the group says voted in favor of the ban in the hope Iowans won't re-elect those legislators on Nov. 4.

Choose Freedom Iowa's Web site lists 19 state senators and 65 members of the Iowa House of Representatives as having taken at least one vote "to oppose freedom for the people of Iowa."

The Web site encourages voters to print the list and carry it with them to the polls.

Jonathan Van Roekel, a board member of Choose Freedom Iowa from Clinton and a Republican running for a seat in the Iowa House, said incumbent lawmakers who voted for the ban could see a backlash from voters this election. . . .

The Web site lists Van Roekel's opponent, Rep. Polly Bukta, D-Clinton, as one of the lawmakers who supported the ban, but he said he isn't using the site to advance his own candidacy.

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• Anti-Smoking Web Site Helps Parents Plug Into Prevention 

Is there a doctor in the house?

Yes, there is, thanks to the sponsorship of Lorillard Tobacco Company. Families throughout the country who'd love to have the help and advice of a real doctor when it comes to communicating an anti-smoking message to kids can now have electronic access to Dr. Michael Popkin, psychologist and founder of Active Parenting Publishers and author of video-based parenting education programs.

Parents can plug into two new educational audio podcasts, hosted by Dr. Popkin, on http://www.realparentsrealanswers.com . On the podcasts the doc gets personal with parents, answering their questions about everything from setting up expectations with children to dealing with rebellion to peer pressure. As the longtime spokesperson for Lorillard's Youth Smoking Prevention Program, Dr. Popkin understands that parents need feedback specific to their children's age group, peer group, and even family dynamic, and the Q&A format keeps the focus on exactly what parents want to know. . . .

Real Parents, Real Answers, Lorillard Tobacco Company's Youth Smoking Prevention Program, is a voluntary effort designed to enlist parents in the fight against underage smoking.

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Another nail in the coffin for smokers 

Tobacco kills 650,000 people in Europe every year, 19,000 of whom have never smoked themselves. Now, an extensive new study has proved beyond doubt the link between smoking and high levels of carbon monoxide pollution in non-smokers. CO, the so-called 'silent killer' is plentiful in cigarette smoke and has multiple negative effects on health, particularly on the heart and circulatory system. Non-smokers don't need to be directly in the path of tobacco smoke to pick up these effects; CO stays in the atmosphere, effectively exposing everyone to CO pollution. This demonstrates the success of smoking prevention efforts in the UK. But more needs to be done. . . .

Kawaldip Sehmi from QUIT and Daniel Clayton from ASH Wales join us live online at http://ww.webchats.tv/chat/another_nail_in_the_coffin_for_smokers on 30th October at 12.30 to discuss the HELP-COMETS report and to offer advice and help for anyone interested in giving up smoking.

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CIGARETTE TRAFFICKING ON WEB, 1,000 REPORTS TO POLICE  

The Cuneo Financial Guard have reported 1,000 people involved in illegal cigarette selling over the internet to the police and arrested three. An international arrest warrant has also been issued. As found by the Financial Guard, they had used the internet for orders and payment of tobacco. In

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• NEW JERSEY v. RED JACKET TOBACCO, et. al. (PDF) 

10. On or about April 8, 2008, Defendants sent advertisements to consumers in New Jersey stating, “TAX FREE CIGARETTES DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR.”

11. The advertisement also proclaimed “IF WE DON’T HAVE IT, WE CAN ORDER IT”.

12. On or about June 26, 2008, Defendants mailed five (5) cartons of cigarettes (50 packs of 20 cigarettes or 1,000 cigarettes total) which did not bear the required New Jersey tax stamps to a New Jersey consumer (“Consumer A”).

13. Consumer A purchased cigarettes from Defendants and was not charged any New Jersey taxes.

14. Consumer A was not asked by Defendants for confirmation that s/he was at least 19 years old. . . .

COUNT I

Sale of cigarettes to a New Jersey consumer without a license . . .

COUNT II

Sale or Distribution of Cigarettes Not Included on the New Jersey Attorney General Tobacco Manufacturer Directory . . .

COUNT III

Violation of Cigarette Sales Act

37. Plaintiffs repeat and allege each and every allegation set forth in paragraphs 1 through 35 of the Complaint and incorporate said allegations as if fully set forth herein.

8

38. The Cigarette Sales Act, N.J.S.A. 54:40-46 et seq., requires out of State cigarette sales to conform with the Jenkins Act, 15 U.S.C. §375 et seq. . . .

COUNT IV

Violations of the Consumer Fraud Act . . .

COUNT V

Violations of the Advertising Regulations . . .

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs request judgment in their favor affording the following relief:

A. Assessing the maximum statutory civil penalties against Defendants for the violation of the Advertising Regulations, N.J.A.C. 13:45D-1.1 et seq., in accordance with N.J.S.A. 56:8-13

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