Push to stop selling cigarettes to Australians born after 2000

A generation of Australians could be on the brink of living a tobacco-free existence if a move to ban the sale of cigarettes to young people is successful. The 'tobacco-free' generation bill is set to be introduced into Tasmanian parliament this year, which would make it illegal for people born after the year 2000 to buy cigarettes and for retailers to sell tobacco-laced products to them.

The law would come into effect in 2018 and would mean people aged 14 this year would not be able to buy cigarettes online once they turn 18. Harsh penalties would also be imposed on anyone caught supplying tobacco to the 'tobacco-free generation' whether they're a retailer or an individual.

Tasmanian Independent Member of the Legislative Council Ivan Dean is the brains behind the idea and will put the motion to the Tasmanian parliament in the next two months. He said the move is not designed to penalise individuals but to better the health of young Australians.

'What we are saying is that anyone who turns 18 in 2018 will not be able to buy cigarettes and eventually when older smokers die out in 20, 30 years time the sale will end,' he said.

'The important thing is that this is not about criminalising the smokers - it's ensuring retailers and suppliers can't sell to anybody born after the year 2000.'

The idea has received backing from the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Medical Association, whose president Tim Greenaway said any effort to reduce levels of smoking in the community is well supported.

Mr Dean will bring the private members bill before parliament in November, at the latest, and then open up the conversation for debate next year. If successful, the legislation would be implemented by 2018 making it illegal for people aged 18 and under to buy tobacco in Tasmania. Although this particular law would only imply to that state, Mr Dean said he hopes other Australian states and territories would follow suit.

New Bill Increasing Cigarette Tax in Philadelphia

On Monday, House of Representatives in Pennsylvania voted 114-84 a bill which gives the Philadelphia authorities the right to impose $2 per pack tax on cigarettes and direct these money to fund city schools. The bill was sent to state Senate for the approval and it will vote for it this week. If it passes

Reynolds hires PepsiCo exec as next president

Reynolds American Inc, the manufacturer of Winston Classic cigarettes. has raised the diversity level on its executive leadership team again with the hiring of Debra Crew as president of subsidiary R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., effective Oct. 1.

Crew currently serves as president and general manager of PepsiCo North America Nutrition, a job she had been appointed to earlier this year. She also has served as president of PepsiCo Americas Beverage and of the Western Europe region of PepsiCo Europe.

The company said Friday that Andrew Gilchrist, president and chief commercial officer of R.J. Reynolds, will become an executive vice president with the parent company, also on Oct.

1. The company said Gilchrist's future role on the 12-member leadership team will be announced at a later date.

Crew will make $620,000 a year, according to a Reynolds regulatory filing Friday. She will get a signing bonus of $525,000 after Jan. 1. She will be eligible for an annual incentive plan payment estimated at $162,750. She has been made eligible for a long-term incentive grant of $1.5 million, vesting March 3, 2017.

Another part of Reynolds' incentive to Crew is agreeing to make her eligible for up to $6.7 million in restricted Reynolds stock units, some of which become fully vested Sept. 30, 2016, and the others Sept. 30, 2018. The restricted stock units are offered "to offset forfeiture of equity incentive grants at your previous employer."

Reynolds has a history of placing female executives into the R.J. Reynolds president role.

Lynn Beasley retired from the post after five years in January 2007 at age 49. Beasley was the highest-ranking officer left from the R.J. Reynolds team thatbought Brown & Williamson Corp. in 2004 to create Reynolds American.

Susan Cameron, Reynolds American's president and chief executive, said in a statement Crew's experience with some of America's best-known consumer brands "is extraordinary."

Fewer Students Smoking Cigarettes in North Carolina

Latest Youth Tobacco Survey conducted in North Carolina found that fewer middle and high school students in the state are smoking cheapest cigarettes. The bad news is that more students use other tobacco products and here the talk is about pipes, snuff, hookah and e-cigarettes. The doctors are worried much about youth interest towards e-cigarettes

Calaveras County to Eliminate Tobacco Smoke from Apartments

In an attempt to protect its residents from secondhand smoke, Calaveras Multiunit Housing Workgroup in the state of California said it wants to make its apartments smoke-free. Last week, on September 10, they presented a 12-minute video called “Share Walls, Not Smoke” which features interviews with an apartment owner and several residents. The Workgroup includes

Philip Morris Products S.A. Celebrates 50 Years of History in Switzerland

Philip Morris International (PMI) today celebrated the 50th anniversary of Philip Morris Products S.A. (PMP SA) at their historic factory site in Serrières, Neuchâtel, Switzerland at an event attended by cantonal and local officials from Neuchâtel and Vaud.
“We are extremely happy to celebrate 50 years in Switzerland, notably here in Neuchâtel, where the PMP SA factory was founded in 1964. I am particularly grateful to our employees, business partners and the communities of Neuchâtel and Lausanne, who have always been an integral part of our success. We are proud of this track record which we look forward to continuing in the future,” stated André Calantzopoulos, CEO of Philip Morris International. “Few companies can take pride in such a history, growing from the family-owned Fabriques de Tabac Reunies founded in 1925, to a manufacturing facility at the forefront of technology, Marlboro production quality, industrial development and innovation, now standing next to our global R&D Center.”

“The 50th anniversary of Philip Morris in Neuchâtel highlights the heritage of one of the largest international companies in our region – proof that Switzerland, and particularly Neuchâtel, offers a positive environment for economic development. I would also like to commend the company for its excellent integration and economic, social and cultural participation in our Canton,” stated Alain Ribaux, President of the State Council of Neuchâtel.

With manufacturing and innovation in Neuchâtel, and at its global Operations Center in Lausanne, PMI in Switzerland employs over 3000 people representing roughly 50 nationalities. Since 2008, the company has invested approximately CHF 700 million in Switzerland, primarily in its global R&D Center. On an annual basis, PMI’s activities in Switzerland represent an economic impact of more than CHF 1.4 billion in terms of human resources expenditures and the purchase of goods and services, in addition to CHF 1 billion in excise tax on tobacco.

The company’s 50th anniversary celebrations will conclude on Saturday with a special event for employees and their families, as well as retired staff, all of whom have helped in making PMP SA a contributor to the Swiss economy.

Smoking Ban in Chicago Extended to Parks

Last week District Board of Commissioners in Chicago with the majority of votes adopted an ordinance which prohibits smoking in city parks and harbors. The ordinance comes into action immediately. Previously smoking ban ordinance was adopted in 2007 and it prohibited smoking on playgounds, beaches and buildings situated on Park District. The change came right