Will the new tax rise on cigarettes pass?

The Senate Health and Human Resources Committee is trying to pass a bill that will raise the tax on cigarettes by more than a dollar.

PRINCETON --  A recent proposed legislation from the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee could have taxes on cigarettes rise to more than $1.50 a pack.

Smokers in West Virginia are not happy.

"I think it's crazy," said Princeton resident Amanda Henderson.

Henderson is an active smoker, and she said it's hard enough to afford cigarettes nowadays, but if the proposed tax increase passes, she said it will make it financially unhealthy for smokers.

"There's so many people that smoke," said Henderson, "and people in this economy, people don't have the money to pay more on cigarettes really, I mean they're high enough as it is."

The possible tax increase on cigarettes in West Virginia could send a lot of business out of West Virginia, through the East River Mountain and into Virginia.

"It's going to increase our business obviously," said Pop Shop Owner Raymond Walker. "Our tax right now is less than West Virginia's tax per pack."

Raymond Walker owns the Pop Shop store right along the Virginia, West Virginia border. He said 90 percent of his business already comes from West Virginians.

Walker said his store and others along the border are waiting to capitalize on even more business if the bill passes.

History of Camel cigarettes

You might not believe, but there was a time when cigarettes were considered to be women’s prerogative, while the real tough guys preferred to smoke cigars, pipe tobacco and roll-your-own smokes. Yet, “nicotine cancer sticks” appeared to be very comfy in production and consumption, so the owners of major tobacco companies started looking for strategies that could help to increase cigarette sales among male smokers. And the so-needed image was soon found. It was based on those eternal men’s values – passion for freedom and adventures, dignity and courage. Today the majority of tobacco brands use this theme. But Camel was the pioneer in that field.

Camel Rise

It all began in 1913. It was the time of multiple experiments in tobacco industry, since smoking was becoming a trendy habit, and the manufacturers were trying to create new way of consuming tobacco. Among other new tobacco products, there were some tiny cylinder-shaped things in white paper, which were becoming more and more popular among smokers. These cylinders were called cigarettes. And namely these cigarettes became the focus of attention of Richard Reynolds, the founder and owner of RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company.
Being recognized as one of the leading producers of pipe tobacco and using that experience, Reynolds zealously got to the business. The company acquired Red Camel brand, and reduced the brand name to Camel. Some say Reynolds selected the brand image thanks to the passion for Middle East that was popular in the United States in the 1920s. It will remain a mystery whether the Arab tales were the source of inspiration for Richard Reynolds, but the way he ran the marketing campaign was really fairy-tale.

Brain Explosion

Doctors prefer Camels? OMG that is an outrageous sin! Today marketing managers have more than a hundred of strategies to promote a product, including the interest build up.
But in the beginning of the 20th century, it was truly a revelation. Having decided that Camel symbol is not only a vivid image, but also a powerful marketing device, RJ Reynolds launched several mysterious ads in newspapers several days before the national introduction of Camel cigarettes.
“Camels”- stated one of those ads. While the people were trying to understand what does that mean, another advert was launched. “Camels are coming”! Whereas the people were considering the options in dealing with the camels, next ad hit them – “Tomorrow there will be more Camels in the city than in Asia and Africa combined!” Those, who managed to keep sound mind due to the potential Camel invasion, finally discovered the truth next morning. “Camel cigarettes are here now! – stated the final advert. Well, with such marketing experiments, it’s not surprising that a Camel-smoking trend started.

Spirit of Freedom

Image from Futurama animated series. Symbol of Camel cigarettes, Joe the Camel, managed to become a legend in American culture.
From the very first days after its launch, this tobacco brand efficiently used the spirit of freedom and passion for adventures. Besides the images showing African and slogans like “It’s a whole new world”, the man-oriented image of Camels is confirmed by the fact that Camel cigarettes were distributed among soldiers going to the World War II. Soldier or sailor smoking a Camel cigarettes was one of the most popular Hollywood images.
However, RJ Reynolds wasn’t the only tobacco company to focus on eternal men’s values. In 1954 its future major rival Marlboro was launched. Their famous cowboy appealed not only to the spirit of adventures, but to the whole essence (even if it was mythologized) of American men. And it was not surprising that Camel smokers began turning to the iconic red-and-white packs. Trying to retain its customers owners of Camel brand organized the world-famous Camel Trophy – a showdown of will power, adventures and nature for tough men.

Smoking in Parks and Beaches is Prohibited in New York

After some debates, the City Council adopted a bill to prohibit smoking in 1,700 city parks and along 14 miles of city beaches.

Smoking would be prohibited in such places as Bryant Park in accordance with the City Council implemented by a 36-to-12 vote. By this vote, the Council implemented the most essential diffusion of anti-smoking laws since Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg demanded to ban smoking in restaurants and other establishments in 2002. “This ban was like a confirmation of the right of non-smokers. Their health should not be affected because other people have decided to smoke,” the Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn stated in an interview.

Opponents of this bill, stand against it, some members called it an excessively broad law that would violate the individual liberties. “We will move towards a totalitarian society if we are going to implement those restrictions,” stated Councilman Robert Jackson of Manhattan, who is a non-smoker. Others declared that the ban would lead to a dangerous precedent. “As soon as we adopt this law, we will ban smoking on sidewalks, in the cars carrying minor and then in the homes,” stated Councilman Daniel J. Halloran.

A proposal to create specially designed smoking areas outdoors was rejected by Council leaders in favor of a complete ban. The bill will become lawful 90 after Mr. Bloomberg signs it. “This summer, New Yorkers who will go to parks and beaches to enjoy some fresh air will have the opportunity to breathe even cleaner air and lie on a clean beach without those awful butts. Those individual who infringe the law will pay a $50 fine,” stated Mr. Bloomberg. “Increasing revenue for the city is not our aim. I am not interested in arrests or revenue. The only thing I am interested in is public health,” Councilwoman Gale A. Brewer advocate for stricter anti smoking laws, declared at a conference.

Useful cigarettes have been created

Despite medics' statements about total harm of cigarettes were presented cigarettes enriched with vitamins that can bring to person's organism certain benefit.

Novelty has been created by Canadian inventor Roger Ouellette who affirms that vitamin set with which new cigarettes have been enriched considerably lowers negative nicotine influence on our organism. Also they practically neutralize bad breath that remains after usual cigarettes.

As author of the idea explained, such cigarettes he has created specially for his love wife who not only cannot quit smoking but also to reduce quantity of cigarettes smoked during a day (nor it is not less than twenty cigarettes).

Earlier Roger has stated that important is to increase vitamin C in cigarettes' content, however, now inventor considers that they should be enriched with several vitamins at once.