Smoking ban Changes Bars And Restaurants Business

A Sioux Falls businessman plans to tap into food sales in hopes of making up for bar patrons he lost to the Kent smoking ban. John Herrmann, president of SRS Inc., which owns Poppadox Pub, will open a restaurant in May in the former Coyote Canyon space.

The move is in response to the statewide smoking ban that went into effect Nov. 10 that officials say has cut into bar revenues.

Ban Sales of Electronic Cigarettes to Minors

A state senator wants to keep electronic cigarettes out of kids’ hands by making it a petty offense for merchants to sell them to minors and for minors to buy them. “If we’re going to say minors can’t buy Virginia regular cigarettes, it doesn’t seem valid to say they can have access to electronic cigarettes,” said Sen. Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler.

“Hopefully a few less young people will suffer nicotine addictions with this ban.”

The so-called e-cigarettes are battery-powered plastic and metal devices that heat a liquid nicotine solution that users inhale as a mist. They’re available in hundreds of flavors, including cherry, chocolate and beer, as well as the flavors of popular cigarette brands.

Fairfield City Council Deny Smoking Ban

The Fairfield City Council voted 4-2 tonight to deny a request from eight private clubs and organizations to be exempted from the city's smoking ban. The council's vote drew applause from anti-smoking proponents, who again turned out in large numbers to urge council members to not allow any exemptions of what is considered Jefferson County's most stringent smoking Marlboro ordinance.

Council members Ronald Strothers, Jerry Yarbrough, Ves Marable and council President Eldridge Turner voted to keep the ban in place. Councilmen F.D. Scott and Primus Mack voted to allow the exemptions.

Under Fairfield's ordinance, which passed in 2006, smoking is banned in restaurants, public places and clubs and businesses.

Smoking Ban Cause Big Problems

An outright smoking ban across NHS Grampian sites would cause “enormous problems”, according to the board’s medical director.

Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen, who is reviewing the effectiveness of the board’s tobacco policy, said patients addicted to smoking could not be expected to “take their drip and go and stand at the bus station” to have a Hilton cigarette.

Berrien County Had a Perfect Smoke-Free Business

Smoking Focus compliance checks are showing that communities locally and across Michigan are responding well to the statewide smoking ban that took effect May 1.

Results of an August observational compliance check released this week show Berrien County had a perfect 100 percent score in regards to businesses being smoke-free and posting “no-smoking” signs.

Reynolds American Sold a Part of Its Company Based in Denmark

Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) said that it has reached an agreement to sell Lane Ltd. to Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S (STG), a global company based in Denmark. Under terms of the transaction, STG has agreed to pay $205 million in cash for Lane.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2011, pending anti-trust review and approval.

Cigarette Sales Decreased in Bulgaria

Bulgaria's cigarette market decreased by more than 35 per cent to 10.6 billion pieces in 2010, according to domestic tobacco companies' figures.

In 2009, sales were 16 billion pieces, and in 2009, 19 billion.

"The main reason behind the sharp shrinkage of the market is smuggling, followed by restrictions on smoking Classic," representatives of major tobacco producer Bulgartabac said.