BAT-Imperial deal ‘likely’

Wells Fargo Securities believes a deal between British American Tobacco (BAT) and Imperial Tobacco Group (ITG) is “very probable,” based on a detailed market share and leverage analysis it performed.

The most likely scenario, according to the financial services firm, is that BAT acquires Imperial but divests its U.S. assets, ITG Brands, in a tax-free spin-off to shareholders, and sells some of the companies’ brands in certain markets to address anti-trust concerns.

Wells Fargo believes Philip Morris could play a key role in this transaction since it would likely be interested in brands such as Davidoff.

Neither PM nor JTI would be interested in buying ITG, according to Wells Fargo.

The firm believes ITG Brands could be valued at as much as $12 billion.

A BAT-Imperial deal would result in a stronger, more rational global competitive environment, according to the bank, ultimately driving better industry pricing.

Smoking Rates High in Lubbock and Amarillo Refions

Tobacco Prevention & Control Regional Coordinator for region 1 with the Texas Department of State Health Services Jennifer Hasty confesses that for several years she was starting a new day with a Winston Blue cigarette and a cup of coffee. She wanted to quit the habit but did not know how to do it. Soon

Kansas City Raised Tobacco Buying Age to 21

Kansas City and Wyandotte County decided to prohibit sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to young people under 21. The change aims to curb youth smoking by keeping teens and kids from picking up the habit Kansas was a leading city in the metro area and it with the majority of votes approved a

Boston Mayor Aims to Raise Smoking Age to 21

Boston could become the latest in a string of large U.S. cities to ban smoking and tobacco use by people under the age of 21 under a measure proposed on Wednesday by Mayor Marty Walsh.

The move to raise the minimum smoking age from 18 follows similar steps taken by some 90 U.S. cities and counties including New York. Hawaii in June became the first state to ban tobacco use by people under the age of 21.

"We know the consequences of tobacco use are real and can be devastating," Walsh said in a statement. "These proposed changes send a strong message that Boston takes the issue of preventing tobacco addiction seriously, and I hope that message is heard throughout Boston and across the entire country."

The proposal is subject to the approval of the city's Board of Health. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths annually, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Smoking has been on the decline among Boston teens, with just 7.9 percent reporting cigarette use in 2013, down from 15.3 percent in 2005, Walsh said. But use of e-cigarettes and inexpensive cigars has risen among teens over the past few years. The proposed ban would apply to e-cigarettes, cigars, snuff and all other tobacco products.

Walsh, a recovered alcoholic, earlier this year banned the use of chewing tobacco in public spaces in Boston, including the historic Fenway Park ballpark. The ban also applies to professional ballplayers, both the Red Sox and visiting teams.

Walsh has also been one of the most outspoken Democratic opponents of proposed statewide ballot initiatives that would legalize recreational marijuana use in Massachusetts. Proponents of those measures aim to put them to a vote in November 2016.

Young people under 21 choose to buy cheap LD cigarettes online http://www.cigarettesplace.net/ld

Bellingham Bans Smoking in City Parks

New smoking ban in Bellingham to be adopted and smokers will no longer be allowed to use their tobacco or electronic cigarettes in any city park. The ban includes also cigars. The Council took the decision on November 9 with six votes for and one against. However, it needs a final voting before the rule

Councillor Disappointed after Smoking Ban Trial Fails to Gain Support

 The man proposing a 12 month trial smoking ban in Wagga Wagga's CBD says the business lobby is wrong to think the ban would cost trade.

On Monday, Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) rejected the proposed trial, instead voting to implement the state's July 2015 policy on managing outdoor smoking.

The meeting received a petition opposing the trial.

Councillor Greg Conkey says there was strong support for the ban, but he doubts there will be a change in the vote when it comes back to council in a fortnight.

"I don't think so unfortunately," he said.

"I think the business lobby got to a number of the councillors and a number of business groups approached certain councillors, and I think they were swayed by their arguments, and their argument was they believe they would lose business which I dismiss.

"I don't believe that's a strong argument whatsoever."

Councillor Conkey does not believe the new policy managing outdoor smoking, will stop offenders.

"People cannot smoke within, I think it's four metres of an entrance to a shopping mall," he said.

"People are no longer allowed to smoke in alfresco dining areas associated with hotels, already there's a ban in place about smoking within 10 metres of alfresco dining areas within the main street of Wagga.

"Problem is that people are smoking cheapest Camel Full Flavour http://www.cigarettestime.com/camel/full-flavour, and they walk straight past these areas, certainly within 10 metres, certainly within one or two metres.

"That's an issue which would have been resolved with this motion."

Councillor Conkey says Wagga Wagga City Council's missed an opportunity to take a lead on the issue in New South Wales.

He says the smoking ban proposal was to make the city safer, especially in Wagga, which he dubs the asthma capital of Australia.

Councillor Conkey says it is likely Wagga will eventually be forced by the state to enact a ban on smoking, when it could have been first.

"Wagga led the charge some years ago, in 2007 when Wagga City Council banned smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds," he said.

"The state government subsequently picked that up.

"The City Council also banned smoking within council controlled alfresco dining areas, and again the state government picked that up."

Teen Users Start Smoking with Flavoured Tobacco

A newest survey reveals that teenage smokers younger than the legal smoking age.  are attracted by flavoured tobacco products. These include especially cigarettes with menthol flavour and hookah with sweet fruit flavours. The author of the study is Bridget K. Ambrose of the Center for Tobacco Products at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in