On Thursday, Wrightsville Beach will be considering a smoking ban on the beach. The issue is really about liter and folks from groups like FreedomWorks have argued that the city should focus on liter enforcement and education rather than an assault on smoking. <br />
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There are laws on the books for littering, why don’t they just enforce them? What a waste of time.<br type="_moz" />
<p>A new study from six European countries suggests that teens who see more boozy scenes in movies are more likely to binge drink. <br />
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Although the study doesn’t prove that watching drinking on screen directly leads to alcohol consumption in real life, the authors believe that media influence does come into play, suggesting that teens who watch drinking scenes in movies may be more likely to imitate movie stars or view binge drinking as socially acceptable.<br />
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Just because it doesn’t prove it will turn into it does prove it because I said so. Wondering how they were going to stop adults from drinking, by saying it is "for the children" naturally.</p>
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Australia may face a complaint at the World Trade Organization over its decision to ban trademarks and logos on tobacco products, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.
<p>The complaint, which says the plain-packaging law violates global intellectual-property rules, will probably be lodged with the Geneva-based trade arbiter this month, as soon as this week, said one person. At least three governments including the Ukraine will be involved, said the other person. They declined to be identified because the complaint isn’t public.<br />
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The Anti-smoking movement has gone too far as usual, nice to see them smacked down.</p>
<p class="storyIntro">Smokers who indulge in large cigars will be paying a quarter more in Cook County starting Thursday. That’s when new taxes on cigars, loose tobacco and chew take effect. Small cigars will cost a nickel more.</p>
<p>Loose tobacco and smokeless tobacco, known as "chew" will carry a new 30-cent per ounce tax.</p>
Alabama residents should be concerned that the state House of Representatives is considering two bills to increase the cigarette tax by 32.5 cents to $1 per pack. That’s because "sin tax" increases like these are easy targets for those looking to mask spending problems, and ultimately are very ineffective at increasing revenue.<br />
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Contact your legislators and voice your opinion.<br type="_moz" />
The West Virginia Senate passed a bill Monday to apply the 55 cent tax to “roll your own” cigarettes rolled at retail shops. Currently smokers pay a 7 percent tax on the wholesale value of loose tobacco, which is less than the cigarette tax.<br />
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Still cheaper than buy premium cigarettes.
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The Senate passed the anti-smoking ban with exemptions. Those free from the smoking ban are casinos, cigar bars, retail tobacco shops, private clubs, home-based businesses; bars and taverns serving only those 21 and older; charitable gaming facilities such as bingo halls and residential care facilities such as nursing homes, group homes and mental health centers.<br />
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This still has to go to conference with the House who had only a few exemptions. If you smoke and haven’t contacted your state legislator there still is time. We encourage you to do so.
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<p>(Reuters) – A U.S. judge sided with tobacco companies on Wednesday, ruling that regulations requiring large graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging and advertising violate free-speech rights under the U.S. Constitution.</p>
<p>We have not seen the last of this. This administration will take it to the Supreme Court were they will lose again.</p>