Legal
National
States sue R.J. Reynolds over Camel ads
At least eight state attorneys generals are suing R.J. Reynolds for violating 1998 tobacco settlement with the company’s recent Camel cigarette advertisements in Rolling Stone magazine. The tobacco settlement between 46 states and the tobacco industry included stipulations that the tobacco industry stop marketing to minors and cease the use of cartoons in advertising. The states are seeking a $100 fine per magazine sold within state borders with the offending advertisement. If all 46 states in the settlement joined the suit, over $100 million in fines could be collected. Read more here. Click here for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids article, “Tobacco-Free Kids Welcomes Action by State Attorneys General to Stop R.J. Reynolds' Marketing to Kids.”
Supreme Court argument report: Justices examine state law on internet tobacco
sales
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard a case to determine whether the State of Maine has the right to require internet tobacco sales to be regulated by the postal carrier when they are delivered. The New Hampshire Motor Transport Association has disputed the Maine law which requires that the postal carrier first verify that the package containing tobacco products has been sent by a license tobacco retailer, and then check the recipient’s age. Major problems with the state’s law are difficulties in enforcing shipping laws that differ by state, and the cost of sorting and delivering the packages according to the regulation. Read more on the case here, or view the Cornell University Law School’s write-up of the case here.
Health and Social Services lauds decision as Alaska Supreme Court upholds state’s duty to protect public from harm
Alaska’s Supreme Court recently ruled to uphold a statute that store owners whose employees sell tobacco to minors may be held legally responsible for their employees’ actions, regardless of whether the store owner was found to be at fault for the transaction. Because the public can potentially be harmed by the actions of the business, the business owner must be held responsible for the management of their store. Read the full story here.
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International
Landlord fined over smoking ban
The first fine for flouting the British smoking ban has been dealt to a pub owner named Hugh Howitt of Blackpool. Mr. Howitt pled guilty and was fined a total of500£ for five offenses, plus over 2000£ in legal costs, and had seven offenses discharged for the month of July. Fines are in place for both smokers and restaurant owners who disobey the new smoking law. Click here to learn more.
Nigeria sues over child smokers
The Nigerian government is suing British American Tobacco (BAT) and Philip Morris International to seek $40 billion in compensation for the companies’ promotion of smoking, especially in children under the legal smoking age. Furthermore, the country is working toward an injunction for tobacco companies to stop marketing, sales, and distribution of cigarettes to minors. The government maintains that despite the country’s efforts to decrease smoking by imposing regulations on tobacco advertising and sales, tobacco companies have remained aggressive in their marketing of their products. Read about the lawsuit here.
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