Proposed increase could leader to higher security and operating costs. Fearing that a new federal tobacco tax will hurt overall store operations for a lot of retailers, the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa has stepped up and taken an open stand against the proposed legislature. The group feels that another increase in tobacco [...]
New research shows which types of clerks are selling to young smokers. Even though most states stipulate that consumers be 18 years old to buy tobacco products, a new study finds that clerks who work in convenience stores that sell gasoline are the most likely to sell tobacco to minors. When compared to other retailers [...]
New York convenience store operators are taking to the airwaves to voice their frustration with Governor Eliot Spitzer’s inaction on the tax fairness issue. A 60-second TV commercial will begin airing in Syracuse, Albany, Buffalo and possibly other markets on July 5, 2007, demanding that Governor Spitzer begin collecting taxes on the vast amounts of [...]
Citigroup tobacco analyst Bonnie Herzog revealed a new survey that suggests Marlboro Snus, Phillip-Morris’s new entry into the smokeless tobacco market, may already be a success. The survey questioned both retailers and wholesales, who revealed that they feel the new product will be a hit among both smokers and moist smokeless tobacco (MST) users alike. [...]
Tax hike pushes smokers to Kentucky for cheaper products. Hoosier smokers will have to pay more for their cigarettes. A new Indiana law went into effect Sunday that boosts the price. It’s always been cheaper in Kentucky. Indiana’s cigarette tax was 55 cents a pack. Now that’s it’s jumped to 99 cents, many more smokers [...]
Proposed 60-cent increase could threaten out-of-state business. Retailers in Delaware are preparing for a debate over a proposed 60-cents-a-pack increase in the cigarette tax–a tax lawmakers expect to be approved this week, stating it’s for the greater good of the state. “We have committed that it will go to help school construction and to help [...]
NYACS and FIANY hold tobacco and alcohol education classes to prevent underage sales and use. The Responsible Retailers of New York, a joint educational initiative of the New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS) and the Food Industry Alliance of New York (FIANY) State, has scheduled an upcoming training session for retailers of tobacco and [...]
Payments and new regulations enforced to regulate sales. Cumberland Farms Inc. has reached a settlement with the Mass. Attorney General’s Office of allegations that the company’s convenience stores “lacked proper procedures to curb tobacco sales to minors,” according to the Providence Business News. According to testing conducted by the Mass. Department of Public Health’s Tobacco [...]
New Phillip Morris product set for limited release to compete in growing OTP market. by Michael Ferrari ____________________________________________ In a move long anticipated by tobacco industry observers, Philip Morris USA yesterday said it would begin test marketing a smokeless tobacco product bearing its flagship Marlboro brand. Marlboro Snus, a tobacco pouch product that is neither [...]
Cigarette tax increases in Oregon and Tennessee. Oregon and Tennessee state lawmakers are combating the proposed rate increases on cigarette taxes. Oregon House Republicans are raising questions about using a state cigarette tax to pay for children’s health insurance. In response, Oregon Senate Democrats are turning to voters and proposing a ballot measure under which [...]
Pennsylvania looks to collect taxes from Internet tobacco buyers. Thousands of Pennsylvanians who purchased cartons of cigarettes over the Internet or by mail order have been sent letters by the state Revenue Department informing them they owe taxes. The first batch of letters went out about two weeks ago to 4,300 people who are believed [...]
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Ad valorem state taxation maintains a growing and competitive marketplace for moist smokeless tobacco. by Joseph R. Augustus, Senior Vice President of External Affairs for Swisher International Inc. Tobacco Taxation Counterpoint — This is the second of a two-part series on smokeless tobacco taxation.Part one ran in the Dec. 2006 issue of Convenience Store Decisions. [...]
Weight-Based Taxes Level the Playing Field and Preserve Retailer Profits By Robert L. Shepherd with Shepherd, Williams & Associates LLC Without question, moist smokeless tobaccois a profitable, growing and dynamic category.However, category and retail profits are at risk due to customer down-trading from premium to price-value products.Opponents of weight-based taxes have done much to muddy [...]
Industry experts will come together Nov. 30 to discuss the current state of tobacco and its outlook for 2007. Prior to the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement, tobacco held a more than 40% share in just about every market in the U.S. Since the agreement, the numbers have slowly faded as regulation and taxation have taken [...]