Tobacco Products Sales Banned

A clause in Section 6 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) prohibits sale of tobacco products within 100-metre radius of educational institutes, but there are several areas in the city where the rule is being defied. Even after complaints by some colleges, many stalls within this radius are openly selling items like cigarettes and gutkhas. However, most of the colleges are taking all necessary steps to ensure that students do not smoke on the campuses. Places like Fergusson College (FC) Road and Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) Road have several shops and stalls selling tobacco products. The police department and Pune Municipal Corporation have not taken any action in spite of colleges sending letters to them to remove such stalls. So now the colleges are trying their best to control the menace at least on the campuses. FC principal Ravindra Pardeshi said, "We had written to the police department and PMC about a year ago, but did not get a reply and the stalls are still functioning. However, we have kept our campus completely smoke free.

Lack of Knowledge Kill a Lot of Smokers

Ignorance is a harsh word. But imagine reaching for that next cigarette until it kills you, without ever really understanding why. Imagine wanting to stop yet not knowing the only rule needed to succeed. And imagine never once investigating the truth as to how most ex-smokers quit. Half of adult smokers smoke themselves to death. More than five million smoking deaths annually, with one billion expected by century's end, why don't smokers take their self-destruction and slow suicide more seriously?

Korean Tobacco Maker Urged to Cut Illegal Cigs

Billions of pine brand cigarette sticks have long been smuggled into Pakistan, most likely from the neighboring Afghanistan, revealed industry sources latest data here on Tuesday. They told Business Recorder that the amount of smuggled pine cigarettes was so substantial that it prompted Pakistani authorities to formally complain to the Korean government and KT&G last year. The KT&G, the nation's leading tobacco maker, exports to 45 countries, including four countries in the Middle East - Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq and Iran - through the firm's regional offices and UAE-based importer Alokozay International. The company does not have any official dealer or representative office in Pakistan. A pack of 20 cigarettes is said to be sold at around Rs 30 (400 won). Sources said tobacco maker was made aware of the smuggling when Pakistan Embassy in Seoul raised the issue with Korean Ministry of Strategy and Finance in April 2011.

Smokers Responsability, Councils Decision

Regarding the non-smoking OAP who was fined for dropping a cigarette (Post, April 28), I am not a big fan of Swansea or Neath Port Talbot councils but in their defense I have to point out the council did not throw that butt on the ground an irresponsible smoker did. Councils are spending thousands of our taxes to clean up the disgusting mess made outside all buildings where employees and customers step outside to smoke. A few places have bins for stubs but many smokers don't use them.

Japaness Tobacco Companies Tax

British American Tobacco, the world’s second-largest cigarette maker, has asked the government to remove the preferential treatment the products of PMFTC Inc. and other old cigarette brands to level the playing field in the Philippines. James Lafferty, general manager of British American Tobacco Philippines, said the company was open to any increase in the excise tax rates and a change in the structure of the so-called sin taxes if it would allow new entrants like BAT to do business in the country.