New York City implemented a regulation, according to which nobody under the age of 21 can buy cigarettes in the city.

The new rule announced on May, 13 that represents the latest in ten years of steps to regulate tobacco products in the country’s biggest city.

New York Council Speaker Christine Quinn talked about features of a proposed law that would limit the buying age for tobacco products from 18 to 21.

According to the law, only those aged 18 can buy cigarettes in the United States, however some states and counties have lifted it to 19. Texas authorities lately attempted to raise the legal tobacco buying age to 21, but the plan fell down.

Health officials point out a higher buying age prevents the younger generation from taking up cigarettes and starting smoking. But opponents of such actions have claimed those aged 18 should have the ability to make their own decisions.

Some counties, such as Needham, Massachusetts, have increased the cigarettes buying age to 21, but New York would be the largest city to do so.

Health advocates point out about 75% of New York smokers began smoking before age 21, and an approximated 20,000 New York City public high school scholars now are smokers. While it is already implemented a ban for buying tobacco products for many of them, this step would be the cause for them to buy cigarettes from slightly older friends. The greater part of people who do so are between 18 and 21, city authorities say.

Altria Group Inc., the owner of Philip Morris USA, which manufacturers the best-selling Marlboro cigarettes, indicated that the proposal would “limit adult consumers’ access to products”.

A spokesperson for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., producer of cigarette brands such as Camel, did not provide a response to phone and email requests.

In April, the Bloomberg administration presented a proposal to take cigarettes away from the shelves in shops, as well as stopping stores from using cigarette coupons and discounts.

Public health officials encourage the measures as strong steps to improve people’s heath. Adult smoking rates in New York have dropped from 19% in 2002 to 13% in 2011.

www.buycigarettes.eu

Over the past two years, demand for super slim cigarettes has grown by 12%. Developing this trend, the leading tobacco companies are launching ultra slim tobacco products.

In pursuit of the consumer, tobacco companies are developing the production of super slim cigarettes.

A market research shows a positive trend in super slim cigarettes sales. According to the company AC Nielsen, in January 2013, the proportion of super slim cigarettes on the Ukrainian market was 12.8%. Within two years, the volume of super slim cigarette sales increased by 11.5%.

The leading tobacco manufacturers have decided to further develop this trend and bring super slim cigarettes to the market. In particular, since the beginning of March this year Imperial Tobacco has introduced a new format for the premium brand Davidoff – Davidoff Boudoir cigarettes. The diameter of the new cigarettes is 4.7 mm, and length – 99 mm. New cigarettes will be produced in Russia, at the Imperial Tobacco’s cigarette factory in Volgograd.

“A consumer research confirms that in recent years more and more smokers prefer a more elegant and slim cigarettes (superslims and kingsize superslims). Diameter of the new cigarettes is by 0.7 mm smaller than super slim cigarettes, the length of which is 99 mm,” – says Natalia Mikolaenko, Imperial Tobacco’s public relations manager.

However, not only Imperial Tobacco produces super slim cigarettes, but also JTI Ukraine. In April 2012, in Russia, JTI introduced a new format of ultra slim cigarettes with a diameter of 4.7 mm and a length of 83 mm under the trademark “Winston XS Micro“. “Japan Tobacco plans to launch this cigarette format in the Ukrainian market and to represent it first,” – said Alexander Kogut, JTI Ukraine’s corporate issues director.

According to JTI Ukraine, the company is a leader in the super slim cigarettes segment with a share of 42%.

cigarette-deals.com

Japan Tobacco International, a cigarette manufacturing company, has “noted” the lack of proposed legislation related to the introduction of standardized packaging in the Queen’s Speech during this Parliamentary session.

Japan Tobacco International

Jorge da Motta, managing director of Japan Tobacco International UK, said: “The determination of the UK authorities not to involve standardized packaging in the Queen’s Speech displays the regulatory principles of evidence-based policy not policy-based evidence are being consideredю

“The tobacco control lobbyists have tried to motivate MPs that standardized packaging will help the younger generation stop smoking; they have attempted to use emotion to prevent the authorities’ own consultation process and to finish any debate.

“Regardless of the UK authorities having made the decision not to include standardized packaging currently, this hasn’t prevented a UK-based MEP from trying to change the Tobacco Products Directive to involve plain packaging and implement the measure via the back door. Regardless of Europe-wide economic problems it appears some are still in preference of ever-increasing ‘nannyism’, red tape and expensive but unsuccessful regulation.

“Greater investment in resources to stop the illicit trade in tobacco in our communities would be a main action forwards in blocking the access of tobacco to teenagers. Reinforcement of retail access prevention actions, such as the ‘No ID, No Sale’ programmes and the Scottish example, which penalises proxy purchasing by adults and the buying or attempted purchase of tobacco products by those under 18, are effective solutions.

“We would welcome discussion with authorities and enforcement agencies to talk about our proposals in more detail.”

cigarettesreporter.com

Even though smoking tobacco products is banned in public places such as restaurants, bars and public airwaves, it is still accepted by the majority of the country’s colleges.

Tobacco companies obviously have focused on higher education connections as one method of getting two key markets: teenagers and blacks.

Marlboro Red cigarettes

Altria, which is the manufacturer of Marlboro cigarettes, the top-selling cigarette brand in the United States, is a good example.

Execs and directors of the famous tobacco company collaborated with the United Negro College Fund, Howard University, the University of Richmond and other institutions.

Altria also gives huge amounts of money to colleges around the nation. Its list of 2012 grantees contains over 50 colleges, college-related foundations and scholarship funds.

Altria director John T. Casteen III is Virginia’s former education secretary, a director of the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education and former president of the University of Virginia, which obtained a $26 million gift from the cigarette maker.

College officials who hold board posts with cigarette producers reap some benefits personally, as well. Casteen’s pay package from Altria exceeded $275,000 in 2012. Other million-dollar-plus recipients of Altria’s largesse recently include Virginia Commonwealth University and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Philanthropy, whether it’s through grants or underwriting of the Altria College Opportunity Fund scholarship program, can be considered as an alternate advertising base for Altria, making it possible for the company to publish press releases with headlines such as: “Altria to Help Make Future Brighter for Richmond Public Schools Seniors.” The Virginia-based tobacco company, the maker of L&M and Red&White cigarettes, isn’t the only company creating educational ties. The map below provides connections of Reynolds American and Lorillard:

Regardless of the tobacco companies’ initiatives, more colleges are banning smoking. Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights indicates that no less than 1,159 colleges now have non-smoking policies, in contrast to 530 campuses two years back.

cigarettesreporter.com

Imperial Tobacco, the fourth-largest cigarette company around the world, demonstrates interest to developing Asia/Pacific travel-retail business at TFWA presentation.

Davidoff iD advertisement

Imperial Tobacco, which is the manufacturer of Richmond and West cigarettes, has made an announcement that the company will present a double-storey stand at this year’s Tax Free World Association Asia Pacific Conference & Exhibition in Singapore in May this year.

The stand will contain three meeting rooms, branded Davidoff iD, Montecristo and Gauloises, a bar area and a Davidoff-branded smoking area on the second level.

Imperial Tobacco general manager global duty-free Andreas Lemke said: “The Asia/Pacific area and its developing duty-free market represent great importance for Imperial. To prove the interest of the cigarette company to develop in this territory, Imperial has considerably improved its presence at this year’s TFWA Asia Pacific presentation. The tobacco company is hoping to meet its customers and business collaborators at its newly-designed stand.”

cigarettesreporter.com

One of the most well-known advertising campaigns in US history was launched in 1968 for the Virginia Slims cigarette brand.

“You’ve come a long way, baby” was the appealing slogan for a new, slimmer cigarette brand manufactured by the leading Phillip Morris Company and advertised especially to women smokers. The campaign, created by the famous Leo Burnett Agency, was extremely successful, both in commercial and cultural terms, turning into a national catch-phrase.

The campaign attracted the growing feminist awareness and the increase of “the New Woman,” a woman who was independent and enthusiastic to show her self-confidence.  On top of that, images in the advertisements associated this lively confidence with U.S. women’s history in contrasting the liberty and glamour of modern-day woman with the repression that women in the past had suffered.

Philip Morris sold a great number of their Virginia Super Slims cigarette packages so already by 1974 they could easily afford to hire super models for their triumphant “You’ve come a long way, baby” advertising campaign. Cheryl Tiegs, Christine Farrare, and Erin Gray had their first Virginia Slims advertisements published June 1974, July 1975, and March 1979 respectively. Sassy Dani Minnick was depicted in a purple dress for her first Virginia Slims advertisement November 1981. Kelly Emberg, Carol Alt, and Rosie Vela also modeled for Virginia Slims. None of these gorgeous ladies were recognized on any of the Virginia Slims ad, but each was recognized by her fans.

Phillip Morris acknowledged that Virginia Slims brand is the main key to company’s success.  Contrasting the brand with other women’s cigarette brands made by Philip Morris competitors, as for instance “Eve” and “Satin” Phillip Morris stated the Virginia Slims brand was “feminine but non-threatening. The women were women who could make their own choices and who had not lost their femininity.

The beautiful women who modeled for Virginia Slims weren’t always profitable in launching new line extensions. Virginia Slims Ovals were unsuccessfully test promoted in Rochester, Las Vegas, and Birmingham in June 1984. One more short lived idea was to arrange Virginia Slims 10 Pack.

In October 1975 Philip Morris was the first producer to extend the 120mm length to a major brand. Virginia Slims 120′s were advertised in Fresno, California, and consequently removed when sales were unable to meet objectives. It wasn’t until 1985 that super long Virginia Slims Lights 120′s became acceptable. One Virginia Slims line extension introduced in the late 1980s was approved by women, but disapproved by a competing producer.

Philip Morris introduced Super Slims from Virginia Slims beginning October 1989.

cigarettesguide.wordpress.com