Red Man into Snus

Recently Swedish Match announced that they are going to take Red Man into Snus. Martin L. Orlowsky – Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Lorillard, Inc was asked if he could give an update at this juncture in terms of what the joint venture maybe working on with regard to the smoker site? Mr. Orlowsky’s response: well the only thing that I am going to say is that we continue to work on the project which we announced a while back. I really don’t have anything more specific to add at this point.( Carolina Group Q2 2007 Earnings Call Transcript) From SNUS.biz – GREENSBORO, N.C., Oct. 25, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Lorillard Tobacco Company today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Swedish Match North America to jointly develop and market a select line of smokeless tobacco products in the United States. The parties anticipate that an initial product offering may be launched on some basis of geographic distribution in the not too distant future. From the Swedish Match: Half Year Report January – June 2007 – During the third quarter of 2007 Swedish Match plans to launch a family of snuff products under the Red Man brand on the US market. The launch will be supported by extensive marketing efforts.

Newports…

Newport achieved the 33.6% share of the menthol segment as of the second quarter of 2007, which was increase of nine tenth of a segment share point over the second quarter of ’06. Lorillard continued to be during the second quarter of ’07, the only major tobacco company to reflect positive unit volume and market share improvement as compared with the second quarter of ’06. Lorillard’s marketing strategy continues to attempt the balance Newport’s market share performance and overall profitability. Promotional spending in support of Newport is subject to change depending on the brand strengths and competitive factors. .(Carolina Group Q2 2007 Earnings Call Transcript) Newport accounts for over 91% of Lorillard cigarette sales. A 2001 survey found that 45.2% of Newport cigarette sales were to African Americans. The “Pleasure of Smoking” has been part of Newport advertising since 1972. See related Newsbriefs: June 28, 2007, June 10, 2007, May 24, 2007 and April 12, 2007.

Smoking incidence at all-time low. Just 21% of people in the US said they had smoked in the previous week when Gallup conducted a poll from July 12 to 15, according to a report by Gallup’s Jeffrey M. Jones. This was the lowest percentage recorded since Gallup starting researching this issue 60 years ago, though statistically speaking it is considered equivalent to the 22% of 2004 and the 23% recorded in each of 1999 and 2006. Since 1999, more than 50% of smokers have reported smoking less than one pack of cigarettes a day, and this year the figure was 55%. But those smokers who continue with their habit are starting to want to call time on smoking restrictions. Asked by Gallup if they felt unjustly discriminated against as smokers, or whether they thought restrictions on smoking in public places were justified, 47% said they felt unjustly discriminated against. In 2001, this figure was about 33%. Also, whereas six years ago 66% of smokers said they thought that public smoking restrictions were justified, this year that figure is down to 51%. (Tobacco Reporter)From Altria Group, Inc. Reports: 2007 2nd quarter results – PM USA’s cigarette shipment volume of 45.6 billion units was 3.3% or 1.6 billion units lower than that recorded in the prior-year period. In the first half of 2007, PM USA estimates that total cigarette industry volume declined between 4% and 5%, and for the full year 2007 PM USA is maintaining its prior estimate of a 3% to 4% decline in total cigarette industry volume.

Smokers are being targeted for a 156% tax hike

Philip Morris is sending a card to tobacco smokers on their mailing list and encouraging them to contact their legislators to tell them to vote against increasing the federal tax on pack of cigarettes from $.39 to $1.00. The additional money will provide health insurance coverage for approximately 10 million low-income, uninsured children. Higher cigarette prices should further discourage cigarette consumption. Life-long smokers die, on average, 10 years younger than people who have never smoked. Almost 60% of U.S. children aged 3-11 years – or about 22 million children are exposed to second-hand smoke causing at least some of these children to suffer from various respiratory diseases and other related adverse conditions. See related Newsbriefs July 18, 2007 and July 9, 2007. Click on image to enlarge.

More Camel Snus ads

Camel SNUS ad appeared in the What’s Up Section of the Raleigh News & Observer. Raleigh is one of the new market test sites. What do you think?? Does this ad target hard-nosed existing smokers that refused to quit tobacco smoking??? See related Newsbriefs: July 23, 2007, July 13, 2007, July 12, 2007 and July 2, 2007. Click on image to enlarge. (TobaccoWatch.org)

Snuff’s popularity grows

Snuff’s popularity grows, despite cancer fears. Three out of four Norwegians think the tobacco product known as snus, or snuff, can cause cancer. Its popularity has been soaring, though, especially among young men. Snuff use has been spreading in Norway in recent years. Snuff’s rise in popularity has followed Norway’s introduction of laws that ban smoking in offices, restaurants, bars and other public places. Many smokers, denied their cigarettes, turned to snuff instead, and producers responded by boosting production of snuff in small packets that now are often found under the lips of many young Norwegian men. And women. Studies show that around 6 percent of the Norwegian population aged 16-74 use snuff daily. Three times as many in the age group 16 to 24 are believed to use snuff daily. Researcher think the figures will soon reach 35 percent of the population aged 16 to 24, despite cancer fears. A new survey conducted by polling firm Norsk Respons for a state public health program in Østfold County found that 84 percent of women and 66 percent of men questioned believe snuff can cause cancer. Medical researchers are split on the issue, with some downplaying the risk. Others subscribe to the cancer warnings. “We have strong indications that snuff can lead to cancer, especially cancer in oral cavities and the stomach,” said Professor Tore Sanner at the leading Norwegian cancer hospital Radiumhospitalet. The World Health Organization and American health authorities have also classified snuff as (Snus is illegal in every country in the European Union (EU) except Sweden. When Sweden entered the EU in 1995 it negotiated this exemption from the ban because of the popularity of the product among its population. Snus is also consumed in Norway – this country is not a member of the EU but is part of the Europe Economic Area (EEA) with Iceland and Liechtenstein.) Photo: Cornelius Poppe/Scanpix, Aftenposten English Web Desk – Nina Berglund. Let’s not let the youth of America become nicotine addicts – STOP THE GROWTH OF SNUS NOW…(TobaccoWatch.org)

Hallmark follows Disney lead

Hallmark Channel will follow Disney’s lead (see related Newsbrief – July 25, 2007) and work to eliminate smoking from its original films. Hallmark President Henry Schlieff in a letter to the U.S. House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) stated, “It is our decision to make a commitment to you that we will discourage and, in fact, seek to eliminate any further depiction of cigarette smoking in our original movies..We hope that this decision will serve as an example for other cable networks that produce movies to follow and, most importantly, that it contributes to your efforts to discourage further cigarette smoking.” (John Eggerton — Broadcasting & Cable, 7/26/2007 6:17:00 PM)

Disney stubs out smoking…

Disney stubs out smoking from its films. Walt Disney became the first Hollywood studio to phase out cigarette smoking in its films, saying smoking scenes in future Disney-branded movies would be “non-existent”. Disney plans to add public service announcements to DVDs of any future films containing smoking scenes and said it would work with owners of cinema chains to show anti-smoking announcements before the start of films.Disney’s new policy on smoking is part of a broader move by the company towards promotion of healthier living. The company aims by 2008 to have eliminated trans-fats from foods sold at its theme parks and recently decided not to renew a 10 year promotional contract with McDonald’s. (Matthew Garrahan in Los Angeles, Financial Times Limited, FT.com) See related Newsbrief – May 11, 2007.

Camel Snus Contents

Camel SNUS Container and Contents…  There are 20-pouches per container. The pouches are small only 7/8 inches long and 3/8 inches wide filled with powdered (fine ground) SNUS. (SNUS can come in loose form or in portioned pouches (sachets). In Sweden where SNUS originated the portioned tobacco can come in 3-sizes: maxi, large or mini.) See related Newsbriefs: July 15, 2007, July 13, 2007, July 12, 2007, July 2, 2007June 24, 2007. and

Update on FDA legislation

On July 18, 2007, the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee postponed a vote on the bill – which would for the first time allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate cigarettes and other tobacco products – until next week. A version of the FDA legislation released in February 2007 included cloves in a list of artificial or natural flavors such as strawberry, chocolate and cocoa that would be banned from cigarettes, largely because they had been used to appeal to children. In the latest version of the bill, rleased last week, cloves joined menthol as the only additives specifically allowed in tobacco. The main beneficiary of the change seems to be Philip Morris which recently introduced a Marlboro kretek (a Marlboro cigarette made of a mixture of tobacco and clove). Indonesia is the main consumer of clove and uses nearly 50% of the world’s production. The clove not used for cooking but for smoking. Cigarettes flavored with clove (kretek) are extreemly popular and nearly every male in Indonesia enjoys them. The main ingredient in oil of clove is eugenol. It acts as a local anesthetic and produces a tingling sensation. Some claim eugenol also produces a mildly euphoric “high”, though hard evidence on this effect is inconclusive. The main ingredient in oil of peppermint is menthol. Menthol provides a cooling sensation when inhaled as a result of its ability trigger cold-receptors without altering the temperature. Philip Morris International (PMI) back in March of 2005 purchased an Indonesian company PT HM Sampoerna. PM just might want to see how sales of Marlboro ketek would sell in the U.S. after looking at sales of menthol have continued to climb while sales of other cigarette continue to fall.

Alaska and smoking

Alaska adopts standard for fire-safe cigarettes.. Governor Sarah Palin signed safer-cigarette legislation into law on Wednesday, July 18, 2007. Alaska thus joins 13 other states to adopt laws this year requiring retailers to sell so-called fire-safe cigarettes, which are manufactured with a special reduced-ignition paper. The law aims to prevent accidental fires. (Tobacco Journal International Newsletter) Let’s have fire-safe cigarettes mandatory for all 50 States – it’s a NO – Brainer. Click on Images to Enlarge.. See related Newsbrief – June 23, 2007. Cigarettes and lighted tobacco are the leading causes of fire deaths and the third leading cause of fire-related injuries in the United States. 

A girl’s guide to naturally beautiful skin

Information provided by Dr. Joshua Fox – a leading dermatologist. Research over the past decade has uncovered at least five key ways in which tobacco products, which all contain nicotine, can harm the skin, from aging it prematurely to increasing the risk of dangerous skin cancer. Click here read more about the five known dangers tobacco products pose to skin health.

(HealthNewsDigest.com, July 2007)

Glamourous…

The April 2007 issue of Glamour had a 2-page Camel No. 9 ad on a thicker single page (front and back) in the center of the magazine. So a reader even when skimming the magazine would stop at this cigarette ad. 41 members of congress led by Congresswomen Lois Capps, Jan Schakowsky and Hilda Solis wrote (on June 5, 2007) to publishers of 11 leading women’s magazine – Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, InStyle, Interview Magazine, Lucky, Marie Claire, Soap Opera Digest, Us Weekly, Vogue and W – calling on the magazines to voluntarily stop accepting misleading advertising for deadly cigarettes. Looking at the latest issues available (mainly August 2007) just about all the magazines did not have any cigarette ads. The exceptions were Lucky (8/2007) a Newport ad and Us Weekly (7/23/2007) with a Pall Mall ad; Interview Magazine was not found. We wonder if the refual to accept tobacco ads will continue?? As pointed out by Drs. Garfield and Chung ( Youth targeting by tobacco manufacturers since the Master Settlement Agreement. Health Aff (Millwood). 2002 Mar-Apr;21(2):254-63)an absolute ban in magazines comparable to what exists for television, radio, transit space and billboards would be the best and most effective approach to reducing youth exposure to tobacco ads. See related Newsbriefs – May 5, 2007 and May 4, 2007.

SCHIP

Lawmakers in Washington are working to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) before it expires on September 30, 2007 see related Newsbrief – July 9, 2007. The health coverage plan currently covers 6.6 million children and some lawmakers want to reach 3 million more low-income, uninsured children over the next five years. President Bush has reiterated his threat to veto Senate legislation that would substantially increase funds for children’s health insurance by levying a 61-cent-a-pack increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes The renewal of SCHIP, is considered by many to be the most important health legislation that Congress will take up this year.

Bush threatens to veto health bill

SNUS pouches are promoted as being spitless. Compared with other moist snuff products SNUS has less salt and less water but what is crtical is the placement of the pouch. The only place the pouch can be placed in the mouth without the release of large amounts of saliva is behind the upper lip. If for any reason the pouch is moved around in the mouth copious amounts of saliva are released increasing the desire to spit. There are several minor salivary glands in the lips, cheeks and tongue that release saliva to moisten the contents of the mouth. So the tobacco juices produced slowly flow down into the gastrointestinal tract with some of the toxic chemicals settling in your pancreas. (from SNUS.biz – SNUS increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.) Most everyone that gets pancreatic cancer dies.) Comment from a SNUS user: I just hate using the upper lip. I feel I like really retarded when it petrudes. I dont think lower lipping really looks that weird when its bulging. But upper lips u look like a damn duck or something haha (SMPOST.net – Where Dippers Meet). 85% of oral lesions are at the location where the smokless tobacco product was placed. Another problem is the litter created from the discarding of the pouches. From SNUS.biz – in Sweden where snus originated grimy used snus packets litter the otherwise clean streets and subway stations of Stockholm.