Nine out of twenty top brands sold in the UK are cigarettes

A new report has found that cigarettes and alcohol make up thirteen of the top twenty brands sold at UK supermarkets and grocery stores.

Shoppers spent the most money on Lambert & Butler King Size at £1.379 billion during 2007, putting it in the number one spot.

Cigarette brands Marlboro King Size Gold, Mayfair King Size and Benson & Hedges King Size Gold took third, fourth and fifth places in the ranking.

Total cigarette sales increased by 4.4% in value this year to £9.75 billion, but the volume of sales fell by 2% as people smoked fewer cigarettes.

The Grocer magazine ranked products sold across 72 product categories according to their retail sales value. Figures were gathered by using a Scantrack service which monitors sales at tills of major supermarket chains, off-licences, Co-ops, independent stores, garage forecourts and other grocery shops.

Source: The Guardian Unlimited, 15 December 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/32fqbk

China: 540 million people exposed to secondhand smoke

540 million Chinese people suffer from exposure to secondhand smoke, including 180 million youths under 15 years of age.

These findings led to a high level conference which focused on tobacco control.

The delegates called for a national law banning smoking in all public places, similar to measures that have been introduced in parts of Europe and North America.

Other statistics released at the conference show that China now has 350 million smokers.

China has already ratified the global Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and has been implementing its policies for two years. Now the country hopes to achieve a complete non-smoking indoor environment in the next three years.

According to the World Health Organization, tobacco is the second leading cause of death in the world. It is currently responsible for the deaths of one in ten adults worldwide, or about 5 million deaths each year.

Source: Xinhuanet News, 16 December 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/2yj3mu

Japan Tobacco and EU to jointly fight smuggling

In return for legal immunity, Japan Tobacco International will pay the European Union 400 million US dollars in a deal to tackle the trade in smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes.

JTI will give the EU the sum over 15 years, while the European Commission and member states agree not to bring civil claims against JTI linked to its past behaviour over the manufacture, sale, distribution or storage of cigarettes.

The European Union loses an estimated €6 billion a year in revenues as a result of the illicit market in cigarettes and the union last year accounted for three quarters of worldwide seizures of the illegally traded product.

In 2004, the EU dropped money laundering and smuggling claims against Philip Morris International, maker of Marlboro cigarettes, in a 1.25 billion dollar settlement spread over 12 years. 

They also agreed that JTI will improve tracking measures and commit to making payments in the event of seizures of genuine products above certain quantities.

Pierre de Labouchere, chief executive, said of the agreement: “It is our investment to protect our brands, our relationship with legitimate wholesalers and retailers, but first and foremost our consumers.”

Siim Kallas, EU anti-fraud commissioner, said the European Commission was always open to negotiations with other cigarette companies on similar agreements.

JTI is a subsidiary of Japan Tobacco, the third biggest international manufacturer of tobacco products after market leader Altria, parent of Philip Morris and British American Tobacco.

In the year ended March 31, JTI had total tobacco net sales of 14.4billion dollars and it acquired UK based Gallaher, maker of Silk Cut, this year.

The UK was the only EU member not to participate in the deal. They say that they already have legislation to address illegal trade in cigarettes.

Editorial Note: This article also featured in the Guardian

Source: The Financial Times, 14 December 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/yommfp

Scotland: Campaigners fuming over sweet cigarettes

Health campaigners have hit out after it was revealed that chocolate cigarettes are among the biggest selling sweets this Christmas.

As the trend for buying retro candy increases, there are concerns that buying the cigarettes could encourage young people and children to smoke.
Packs which look remarkably similar to the real thing are emblazoned with names such as 'Old Toad', 'Everest' and 'Krakatoa' and they are proving very popular and sell for 99p for three packs, with each containing eight 'cigarettes'.

But anti-smoking campaigners fear that if the cigarettes are passed on to youngsters or if children see adults 'smoking' them, it will entice them into trying the real thing.

Sheila Duffy from ASH Scotland said she was disappointed to hear of the return of chocolate cigarettes and urged parents not to allow their children to have them.

She added: "While sweetie cigarettes look like harmless fun, research shows that children playing with them are more likely to go on to experiment with real cigarettes. Tobacco is highly addictive and we need to keep these products well away from children."

The World Health Organisation has been so concerned with the issue of chocolate cigarettes that it suggested a total ban on their sale. 

Neil Rafferty, a spokesman for pro-smoking group Forest, described the fears as "alarmist".

He added: "I would assume that children like chocolate cigarettes because they contain chocolate."

Source: The Scotsman, 16 December 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/ytb6ty