Bite-sized dissolvable “orbs” that look like breath mints and melt in your mouth are the tobacco industry’s latest attempt to fight falling U.S. cigarette sales. Charlotte is one of two test markets for Winston-Salem-based Reynolds American’s newest products: dissolvable, smokeless tobacco lozenges that come as orbs, sticks or strips. The products all contain less nicotine than cigarettes, between .5 and 3 milligrams instead of 12 to 15 milligrams. And, Reynolds spokesman David Howard said, they meet a “societal expectation. “There’s no secondhand smoke, no spitting and no cigarette butt litter,” Howard said. But health officials still worry about the risks of smokeless options. Smokeless tobacco users may not get lung cancer, health experts say, but they risk mouth cancer, gum disease and tooth loss. Prenatal dangers for pregnant women also still exist. “There are no safe … Read entire article »

Leave cigarette smugglers alone. That’s pretty much the message that went out last week from the New York State Department of Taxation to its investigators. A two-page e-mail from Peter Persampieri, head of investigations, to underlings gave 11 possible scenarios under which they might encounter untaxed cigarettes being transported throughout the state. Most of the times Persampieri tells investigators to let the load of untaxed butts continue on its way — “don’t seize” is the way he puts it. In only one of those scenarios does the Tax Department suggest seizing the entire shipment of cigarettes. That’s when “non-native American, Middle Eastern and foreign nationals [are] running a business in NYS and who are found selling untaxed native American made cigarettes at retail outlets such as bodegas, etc.” In that case, Persampieri orders “seize the untaxed … Read entire article »

Thus urged Malacañang as it admitted it is a tall order to ban smoking scenes in movies notably entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this year.Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte,  however, said that while it understands the wisdom in the plan of MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, it is better that the issue be discussed among themselves.“I don’t know how they would implement it. I suppose they have to talk to stakeholders. We will have to see what the reactions of the producers, directors and film makers would be. It is better that it pass through discussions. They should hold dialogues first although we understand the MMDA’s reasons,” Valte said. Valte reacted to an appeal of Tolentino to exclude scenes that show  showbiz luminariessmoking cigarettes. Tolentino said such scenes in films entice people to crave for a cigarette. “Studies have shown … Read entire article »