Health researchers say roll-your-own cigarettes should be just as expensive as normal cigarettes and the papers be mustard-coloured to make them less cool.

Health academics want to make roll-your-own tobacco as expensive as tailor-made cigarettes and have suggested the papers be an "unattractive mustard colour" to make them less cool.

Loose tobacco was less expensive than manufactured cigarettes, which means smokers may switch to it rather than quit, the University of Otago researchers say in a paper published in the international journal Tobacco Control.

"The government needs to remove this anomaly, introduce differential excise tax increases on rolling tobacco, and ensure there is no cost advantage in buying roll-your-own tobacco," said marketing researcher Professor Janet Hoek.

Roll-your-own had evoked stereotypes of older, heavily addicted smokers but from studying 20 young smokers the researchers found they got around that by mistakenly thinking of them as being more natural or "organic", and less harmful, Prof Hoek said.

"They also developed cigarette rolling rituals and saw the sticks they created as personal creations that provided them with social cachet."

The researchers also found an unattractive mustard colour could reduce their appeal.



"We need unattractively coloured rolling paper, and packaging used to contain rolling paper and filters should have to adopt standardised packaging, which features an unappealing colour and large pictorial warnings."

The researchers also say lawmakers should address the widely held misperceptions that loose tobacco was more natural and less harmful than manufactured cigarettes.

However, if people continued to believe it was less damaging there would be grounds for banning sales altogether.
Resource: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/health-experts-push-price-hike-roll-your-own-tobacco

Cigar Lounge Coming to Village at Towne Centre in Spotsylvania

 Hogshead Cigar Lounge, set for early December opening, also will offer wine, beer and hot-lather shaves.
By Skip Wood (Patch Staff) - October 12, 2016 12:08 pm ET

SPOTSYLVANIA, VA — Smoke 'em if you got 'em, and do so soon at the Village at Towne Centre, an offshoot of Spotsylvania Towne Centre at 137 Spotsylvania Mall Drive.

Say hello to Hogshead Cigar Lounge, tentatively scheduled for a Dec. 2 opening.

Not only will customers be able to savor a stogie, they also will be able to savor win, craft beer and even get a hot-lather shave at the establishment between Fink's Jewelers and J. Jill.

The owner, Hector Rodriguez, is a recently retired U.S. Marine who supports a program called Cigars for Warriors, which collects and dispenses quality cigars to American troops serving in combat zones.

Hogshead customers who donate cigars will get a 10 percent discount.
Resource: http://patch.com/virginia/fredericksburg/cigar-lounge-coming-village-towne-centre-spotsylvania

Content Analysis: Key Factors for Determining Cigar Value

Picture this: as an insurance adjuster a new claim lands on your desk. When you travel to the affluent home of the insured, you quickly realize that there are going to be some highly valuable items that need to be evaluated. Sure enough, the insured is an avid cigar collector whose entire water-damaged basement had been converted to hold an extensive cigar collection of over 300 cigars and various accessories. Are you well-versed enough in cigar evaluation to complete this claim?

What’s inside and outside

A cigar is made up of dried, fermented tobacco leaves called filler and held together by an additional tobacco leaf called a wrapper. Usually, the filler on a cigar matches the wrapper, but there are many cases where different types of tobacco leaves are used in one cigar. Wrappers are distinguished by both their tobacco type and their color, whereas filler is identifiable by tobacco type and, subsequently, flavor. Hand-made cigars are formed when wrapper leaves are shaped by crescent-shaped knives called chavetas that are also used to pack the wrappers full of filler. This is a slow, careful process throughout which the tobacco leaves are kept moist and continually inspected for quality. This process varies when a cigar is machine-made. Filler tobacco is more roughly chopped and wrappers are usually paper made out of tobacco pulp instead of a pure tobacco leaf. Part of what makes hand-rolled cigars so desirable is their careful creation in comparison to machine-made cigars.

More important distinctions to note between cigars are their shape and size. Parejo cigars, also known as coronas, are traditional: circular, straight, and open on one end. The other end of a parejo is a rounded tobacco-leaf cap snipped off so that it can be smoked. There are many different types of parejo cigars, but they all have the same general look. Figurados are any cigars that are irregularly shaped. Figurados are often considered to be more valuable than parejo cigars, and come in countless shapes and sizes. Little cigars are generally cigarette-sized and have filters. Little cigars are smoked like regular cigars, but can be packaged to sell compactly.

All of these cigar traits play a role in determining the value of a cigar, but there is a much more straightforward way to evaluate. Simply look at the cigar band – a decorative paper or foil ring around almost every cigar – to see the manufacturer name and, if available, specific cigar name and country of manufacture. Cigar bands are very helpful in determining the value of a cigar, but cigar boxes are even better. If cigars on a claim are in their proper cigar box, one merely has to reference the manufacturer name, cigar name and country of manufacture in order to properly evaluate.
Cigar Accessories

When delving into the cigar world, there are a few other accessory items that may need evaluation in addition to the cigars themselves.

Cigar cutters are handheld and sharp, used to snip cigar ends. The straight cut cigar cutter has two small handles and a circular hole with one or two blades that can simultaneously cut a cigar end. There are also cigar scissors that will snip the end like a regular pair of scissors. Punch-style cutters come in bullet punch, where a small bullet-shaped device unscrews to show a circular blade that bores a hole in the cigar cap, as well as Havana punch, where the circular blade is push-button operated. Multi-punch cutters offer different blade sizes and V-cut cutters look like straight cutters but only gash the end of the cigar.

Cigar tubes are another valuable accessory. They are used to carry normally anywhere from one to five ‘fingers’ worth of cigars; a ‘finger’ being the term used to describe one cigar worth of space in a cigar tube or case. These tubes are usually stainless steel and can keep valuable cigars at the proper temperature and humidity of an ideal storage environment for a period of up to a few hours.

An alternative to a cigar tube is the cigar case – a carrying case, often leather, used to store cigars efficiently, but not at any exact temperature or humidity. Like cigar tubes, cases can also commonly be found in one to five-finger sizes.

Cigar holders are also called cigar stands and look like small vertical rods with a long, semi-circular tray horizontally attached to the top. A cigar can be rested on the tray, while the stand is perched over an ashtray so that the cigar doesn’t actually have to touch it.

Cigar boxes were traditionally, and often still are, decorated to be small works of art and can hold various amounts of cigars depending on size and style. As previously mentioned, these boxes contain important information in determining the value of a cigar – such as the manufacturer name and location, as well as the specific cigar name.

Finally, humidors store valuable cigars, ensuring freshness before the cigars are smoked. Humidors can range in size from a small cigar box to an entire room in a home. Humidors, along with their built-in humidifiers, keep cigars at the ideal humidity of 68 to 74 percent and at a temperature of 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidors usually contain a plastic or metal humidifier case holding a sponge that works to regulate humidity in the box, although newer models may have polymer acryl humidifiers instead. Humidors may also have hygrometers that measure humidity.

As you can see, although evaluating a cigar may simply require you to record the information on the cigar band, there are several aspects to take into account when reviewing their accessories. It’s always helpful to have a cigar band or box handy for specific information. However, the more additional information about cigars and their garnishes, the easier it is to evaluate them under any circumstance.
Evaluating Cigars

Key value factors determine the value of any cigar or cigar box:

    Information on the cigar band or box, if available, including the name and manufacturer.
    The place of purchase, if known.

All cigar accessories can be assessed by the following key value factors:

    The type of accessory.
    Material, such as wood or metal type.
    Brand name and model number, if applicable.
    Design of the accessory, including measurements.
    Any special features, such as type of humidifier, cigar capacity, etc.

Different-Sized Cigars

Parejo or Corona

Parejos are the most common shape of cigars. They have cylindrical bodies with straight sides. One end is left open and the other is closed off with what is called a cap. They come in various lengths and widths, with associated types such as robusto, small panatela, petit corona, carlota, carona gorda, panatela and others. These range in length from about four to six inches. From six inches and above, you have toro, corona grande, lonsdale, churchill, double corona, presidente, gran corona and others.

Figurado

Figurados are irregularly shaped cigars and are usually a little more expensive due to the difficult nature of rolling a figurado. Most times, figurados are also made along with parejos within the same line of cigars, although sometimes companies produce special figurados that are limited in availability. Also, some companies create cigars that don’t fit into any of the descriptions below. Cigars that are shaped like footballs, baseball bats, chili peppers and other random shapes would be considered figurados. Some of the most popular include:

    Torpedo – Similar to a parejo but has a pointed cap.
    Pyramid – Also has a pointed cap, along with a broad foot.
    Perfecto – A bulge in the middle and narrowing at both ends.
    Presidente/Diadema – Extremely large, but often commonly shaped, cigar.
    Culebras – Three long cigars that are tied or braided together.

    Tuscanian – The typical Italian cigar, is also known as a cheroot. It is one of the most popular cigar shape in the United States.

Another class of smoke are called “Little” cigars and they are just what the name suggests. Little cigars are often called cigarillos and are about the size of a cigarette.

Because of the 1960 Cuban embargo placed by then President John F. Kennedy, it has been illegal for Americans to purchase Cuban cigars even though these are traditionally the most sought after. In 2014, President Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro began the process of normalizing relations, and nearly a year later, the two countries agreed to allow over 100 flights per day. As of this writing, Cuban cigars are no longer illegal in the U.S. if they are bought in Cuba and brought home for personal use. There’s a $100 tobacco (and alcohol) purchase restriction which on averages accounts for 4-6 cigars.
Resource: http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2016/01/19/268276.htm

E-cigarette explosions: A doctor's view

It was an injury unlike any Dr. Elisha Brownson had seen - a young man whose teeth were blown out when his electronic cigarette exploded in his mouth. His injuries were so severe he was admitted to the trauma intensive care unit.

"I had never heard of an injury mechanism like this before," said Brownson, a surgeon who specializes in treating people with burns. The injuries "left a gruesome impression on me."

Unfortunately, this wasn't an isolated case. More victims of exploding vaping devices followed, until Brownson and her colleagues at the University of Washington Medicine Regional Burn Center in Seattle saw about two such patients each month.

Fifteen of those cases are described in the New England Journal of Medicine. All of the patients were injured using electronic cigarettes or personal vaporizers, which rely on a lithium-ion battery to heat a liquid that is inhaled in an aerosol form.

Though lithium-ion batteries are generally safe, some can overheat. When that happens, they can explode. (The technical term is "thermal runaway.") That's what happened to the 15 patients who were seen in the UW burn center between October 2015 and June 2016.

Among these patients, 80 percent suffered flame burns and 33 percent received chemical burns from the alkali elements in the exploding batteries. In addition to burns, 27 percent of the victims suffered blast injuries.

The most common site of injury was the groin or thigh (53 percent of cases), followed by the hands (33 percent of cases) and the face (20 percent of cases), according to the report.

Some of the injuries have been disfiguring, and some have affected victims' physical function. In addition to losing teeth, patients have lost portions of their soft tissue (a category that includes skin, ligaments, fat and tendons). Some have been left with "traumatic tattoos."

Many of the patients treated at the UW burn center are eager to warn others of the risk that vaping devices could explode. To that end, they have allowed Brownson and her colleagues to share photos of their injuries.

"People who use e-cigarettes must be aware of the danger of explosion," said Brownson, who now works at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recognized e-cigarettes and other vaping devices as tobacco products that fall under its jurisdiction. However, it's not clear whether the agency intends to regulate the batteries in the devices, the study authors noted.

"E-cigarettes are a public safety concern that demands increased regulation as well as design changes to improve safety," they wrote.

To minimize the risk, e-cigarette users "should not alter the device and should keep batteries safely stored when not in use," Brownson said. "However, even with these precautions, we have seen explosions occur."

Odds are, other doctors will too.

"We suspect that with the growing use of (personal vaporizers), many hospitals around the country will see an increase in injuries related to e-cigarette explosions," the study authors wrote.
Resource: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-10-e-cigarette-explosions-doctor-view.html

Arlington woman sues vapor shop after e-cigarette battery explodes

Johnnie Flores of Arlington says she suffered severe burns after an e-cigarette battery exploded. Jim Ross Law Group Courtesy

Arlington

An Arlington woman is suing a vapor store for $1 million in damages, saying she suffered severe burns and disfigurement after an e-cigarette battery exploded in her pocket.

According to a petition filed in district court Monday by Johnnie Flores, the lithium-ion battery she purchased at Luxor Vapors exploded June 29, causing a scathing hot mixture of shrapnel and battery liquid to burn through the flesh of her hand and leg. The explosion caused third-degree burns, skin deformities and loss of sensation.

Flores is suing Arlington-based Luxe Vapors, Inc. for financial loss, medical expenses, physical impairment, permanent disfigurement, pain and mental anguish. The purchase was made at the vapor store’s Little Road location in Arlington. Management at that store declined to comment Tuesday morning.


According to the petition, Luxor Vapors knew of the defect in the batteries.

Flores’ attorney Jim Ross said that vaping associations have been well aware of the dangers of the batteries for years and that the warnings are passed along to the vapor companies as they order online.

“But they never pass the warnings on to the consumer,” Ross said. “The bottom line is do not put a dangerous product on the market, but if you do, warn the consumer.”

The petition mentions a study by the Federal Emergency Management Agency criticizing the dangers of electronic cigarettes and lithium-ion batteries.

According to a 2014 FEMA study, the shape and construction of electronic cigarettes can make them more likely than other products with lithium-ion batteries to behave like “flaming rockets” when a battery fails. Between 2009 and August 2014, 25 incidents of explosion and fire involving e-cigarettes were reported in the U.S.

This is the fifth case Ross has filed for severe damages from the batteries — two in Tarrant County and one each in Dallas, Denton and Wise counties.

“These burns are horrific,” the attorney said. “Some spend more than a month in a burn unit getting their leg scrubbed because of severe burns associated with these batteries.”

Resource: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/arlington/article101570947.html

Council bans vaping in bars, restaurants throughout Whatcom County

Vaping, like smoking, no longer will be allowed in bars, restaurants and other public places throughout Whatcom County starting in November.

In its capacity as the Health Board, the County Council unanimously approved the ban on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The ban, which begins in 30 days, will apply to all jurisdictions in Whatcom County, including its cities.

The restriction expands the Smoking in Public Places Law to include vaping. It puts the use of electronic cigarettes in the same category as traditional cigarettes, which can’t be smoked in public places including workplaces, bars, restaurants, non-tribal casinos and bowling alleys.


That means vaping within 25 feet of the doors and windows of public places or businesses also will be prohibited.

County Council member Rud Browne, a former smoker, enthusiastically supported the new regulations.

“I think at this stage in our civilization it’s absurd that we don’t do more to discourage the uses of tobacco and cigarettes, particularly amongst minors,” Browne said Tuesday. “All I can say is if the council allowed me two votes on this one tonight, I’d use both of them in support of this ordinance.”

E-cigarettes are battery-operated metal or plastic tubes that have a cartridge filled with liquid containing nicotine, flavoring, solvents and other chemicals that are heated until the liquid turns into a vapor, which is then inhaled.

Public health officials have said the ban was needed for reasons that included increased use by youths, and concern over health risks related to nicotine addiction and exposure to secondhand chemicals for those not vaping.


Those who spoke during the public hearing on Tuesday prior to the council vote urged approval. They include students from the Health Alliance at Squalicum High School who said they didn’t want to be exposed to secondhand vapor from e-cigarettes and noted the increase in youth use that correlated with an increase in product advertising.

The countywide measure is the latest rule for the e-cigarette industry, which had been largely unregulated until recently.

In November 2015, Bellingham banned smoking and vaping in any city park, trail or open space over concerns about the impact of secondhand smoke.

A new state law signed in April by Gov. Jay Inslee banned the use of vapor products in schools, day care centers, elevators and school buses. It also increased state enforcement to prevent sales to minors as well as require child-proof packaging and disclosure of how much nicotine is in liquid nicotine bottles.

It gives local health boards the power to further restrict vaping indoors.

State law still allows e-cigarette retailers to let customers sample products in licensed stores. The county’s ban won’t affect this provision.

In May, the federal Food and Drug Administration announced it will, for the first time, require review of e-cigarettes and their ingredients.

The new rules are being put into place because public health officials are concerned about the sharp increase in youth use of e-cigarettes nationally, statewide and locally. They’re also worried that e-cigarettes, also called vape pens, are being used to smoke other drugs, including marijuana. (While recreational marijuana is legal in Washington state, it isn’t for minors, nor can pot be used in public.)

At the county level, vaping among Whatcom teens is double that of smoking, even though e-cigarettes also can’t be sold to those younger than 18 in Washington state.

Countywide, more than 9 percent of eighth-graders, nearly 19 percent of 10th-graders and 26 percent of 12th-graders who were surveyed said they have used e-cigs, according to the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey.
Resource: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article107690537.html

Hookah smoking: Rapidly emerging threat to the health of the nation's young adults

Dr. Michael Weitzman and his co-authors from New York University's College of Global Public Health and The Departments of Pediatrics and Population Health of the New York University School of Medicine have published important new research on the growing epidemic of hookah use among America's youth and young adults. As reported in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, the study found that current waterpipe use has doubled among US adults in a very short time span.

Based on the recently released National Adult Tobacco Survey (NATS) 2012-2013, Dr. Weitzman and his team mapped and calculated hookah use according to state-specific prevalence over participants' lifetime as well as current use. The results were both surprising and alarming -- twelve percent of Americans have smoked hookah during their lifetime.

"We believe that our research adds to the understanding of the geographic and socio-demographic factors underlying hookah use," said Weitzman, building on past research, demonstrating significant changes in rates of hookah smokers over a very short time period of only a few years. The prevalence of young adults (ages 18-24 years) currently using hookah is almost 20%, virtually identical to the current use of cigarettes.

Hookah is addictive, causes similar health effects as cigarettes, and results in substantially higher inhalation of smoke than cigarette smoking, yet misperceptions persist that its use is safer than cigarette smoking, erroneously increasing its social desirability. In addition, there are marked variations in use by region and state in the US.

Other studies cited in this article indicate that most individuals perceive hookah use as "less harmful, addictive, and detrimental, and as having higher social approval." Also, studies have found a significant association with positive attitudes towards hookah use and increased rates of initiation of its use. Attitudes towards hookah contrast greatly with the stigmatized view of cigarette smoking among individuals of the same age.

"The study, "Analysis of state-specific prevalence, regional differences, and correlates of hookah use in U.S. adults, 2012-2013," will be useful for guiding the development of strategies and regulatory policies to prevent hookah use in the future as the characteristics of hookah users are different from cigarette smokers," said Weitzman. Increases in hookah smoking are more prevalent among single, adult males, and those with higher education and income status. This is in stark contrast to cigarette smoking, which is more common among poorer and more poorly educated individuals.

"Given the existing state level autonomy in developing hookah sensitive regulations, continuous monitoring of state level hookah related policies and prevalence of use could help explicate 'what works' within the US context at the state level, " said Weitzman. "Such monitoring can help guide the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based targeted interventions for the prevention of hookah use that are responsive to the state level policy and regulatory context."

The study notes a paucity of information available concerning state and local regulations regarding hookah bars and use of hookah-related advertising. Thus, this study did not allow the investigators to examine how geographic usage rates vary with existing public policies. Future studies are suggested to determine associations between usage rates and policies. Also, the study recommends additional research into the health impact of non-smokers being exposed to secondhand hookah smoke.

Resource: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/10/161006120044.htm

Ontario's superior court upholds Toronto's 'unfortunate' hookah ban bylaw

'That the bylaw is aimed at the health and safety of the City's residents is beyond doubt,' judge rules

Ontario's Superior Court has upheld a decision by the city to ban hookah smoking in Toronto bars and cafes, but says it is nevertheless "unfortunate" that the bylaw prohibits hookah use altogether rather than regulating it.

In a decision issued Friday, Justice R. F. Goldstein said he was sympathetic to the hookah lounge owners, who he described as running "modest businesses" and making "an important contribution to the diversity that makes life in our city so culturally rich and vibrant."

But while sympathetic to their plight, the judge said the bylaw is in fact legally valid and must be seen in the broader context of the city's anti-smoking campaign.

"That the bylaw is aimed at the health and safety of the City's residents is beyond doubt," the decision said.

'The City is not taking anything away'

City council voted 34-3 in November of 2015 to ban hookah use inside licensed establishments. The bylaw took effect April 1 amid widespread complaints by hookah-lounge owners that the ban was discriminatory.

Lawyer Ryan Zigler, who represented four such owners, argued that the city didn't have the power to ban hookah smoking, saying the bylaw was "confiscatory" because it effectively prohibited a lawful business and would cost workers jobs.

In Friday's ruling, Goldstein acknowledged the city does not have the authority to pass a confiscatory bylaw, but disagreed with Zigler's characterization of it as such.

"There have been no changes to the business licenses of the Applicants," the decision said.

"They are all business or business operators that are licensed by the City as 'eating establishments' ... Hookah pipes and shisha are offered for rent and sale," he wrote. "The City is not taking anything away."

The Canadian Cancer Society applauded Friday's decision.

"The judgement is an important victory for public health," the society's senior policy analyst, Rob Cunningham, told CBC News. "Employees and customers should not be exposed to toxic and cancer-causing substances found in second-hand hookah smoke."

As a result of the ruling, Toronto now joins a handful of other municipalities in the province that have banned water-pipe smoking, including Peel Region, Barrie, Orillia and Peterboough, Cunningham said.

Vancouver has had a similar ban in place since 2009, and the city of Ottawa is set to follow suit in 2017.  

Resource: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-s-superior-court-upholds-toronto-s-unfortunate-hookah-ban-bylaw-1.3796641

Houston hookah retailer adds lounge, expands reach

Nimesh Patel was in college when he first tried hookah, the vapor device used to smoke flavored tobacco.

When he graduated in 2006 and moved to Houston, he noticed that hookah options were limited.

So, he started TexasHookah.com, selling hookah supplies out of his living room in 2007 as a side gig to his medical job. In 2009, as business grew, he opened a retail location at 8413 Almeda Road, and in June he expanded to add a rear lounge.

By now, hookah, the largely Middle Eastern custom, has become a popular pastime. Lounges exist all over Houston but, "store-wise, we're one of the few," Patel said, referring to his combination store and hookah lounge. Patel said hookah has become popular because it's a relaxing way for friends to socialize.

The business Patel began in his apartment now fills shelves and walls in the office park space at Almeda Road and Holly Hall Street with 500 to 600 hookah flavors and 25 brands, drawing customers from as far as Galveston and Katy. Online sales go worldwide, with large orders coming from Australia, Great Britain and Canada.

Patel said his business, near NRG Park, Rice University and the University of Houston, is positioned well for upcoming Super Bowl LI in February. He's working to plan lounge events around the game.
Resource:
http://www.chron.com/business/retail/article/Houston-hookah-retailer-adds-lounge-expands-reach-9227132.php

Predstavljajo kar četrtino celotnega svetovnega trga

Nelegalni trg s cigaretami se tudi na globalni ravni vse bolj veča, po nekaterih podatkih naj bi ta danes predstavljal že kar 25 odstotkov vsega svetovnega trga.

Uslužbenci Mobilnega oddelka Finančnega urada Novo mesto so pri opravljanju nadzora nad prevoznimi sredstvi in potniki na območju MMP Obrežje v minulih dveh tednih odkrili 2.370 škatlic oziroma 47.400 kosov cigaret, sporočajo s Finančne uprave RS (FURS). Prikrajšane uvozne dajatve za zasežene cigarete po njihovih izračunih znašajo 6.650 evrov. "Pri vseh treh primerih odkritja tihotapljenja cigaret pa je sodeloval tudi vodnik s službenim psom za odkrivanje tobaka in tobačnih izdelkov," dodajajo.

Samo do konca letošnjega julija pa je Finančna uprava zasegla že več kot deset milijonov kosov pretihotapljenih cigaret, kar je več kot je zasegla lani v celem letu.
Tudi za teroristične skupine

Tihotapljenje cigaret ne povzroča zgolj velikega izpada prihodkov za državni proračun, ampak glede na opozorila strokovnjakov predstavlja resno grožnjo tudi nacionalni varnosti, saj se za tihotapljenjem cigaret skrivajo organizirane kriminalne združbe, ki z izkupičkom financirajo teroristična dejanja in druge oblike kriminala.

Francosko združenje za boj proti ponaredkom (UNIFAB) v svojem zadnjem poročilu ugotavlja, da kriminalne skupine, ki se skrivajo za tihotapstvom cigaret širijo svoje dejavnosti na mednarodni ravni in z zaslužki nedovoljene prodaje cigaret financirajo dejavnosti terorističnih skupin kot so Al-Qaida, ETA, IRA in številne druge.

Kriminalne združbe, ki tihotapijo cigarete, so dobro organizirane in razvejane kriminalne organizacije, ki pogosto menjujejo strategije tihotapljenja. To se je zgodilo tudi v primeru večjega zasega v Luki Koper, kjer so tihotapci uporabili popolnoma nov način skrivanja tovora od dosedanjih poznanih praks.

Profesor dr. Bojan Dobovšek je na nacionalnem posvetu v državnem svetu na temo varnostnih implikacij uvajanja zakonskih rešitev na področju uporabe tobačnih izdelkov, alkohola in orožja poudaril, da se pri tihotapljenju cigaret pojavljajo novi trendi, povsem drugačni od klasičnega ponarejanja in transportnih poti. Tako se tudi trgi, ki so bili včasih na Kitajskem selijo v Evropo, kar predstavlja resno varnostno grožnjo za Slovenijo, ki je del znane Balkanske poti.
Iz držav Balkana

Vpliv Balkanske poti na razmah črnega trga s tobačnimi izdelki v Sloveniji dokazujejo tudi podatki FURS-a po katerih naj bi v zadnjih petih letih v cestnem in železniškem prometu kar 60 odstotkov zaseženih cigaret v Sloveniji izviralo ravno iz držav Balkana (Bosne in Hercegovine, Srbije, Kosova, Makedonije in Hrvaške), 30 odstotkov iz vzhodnoevropskih držav (Belorusije, Moldavije in Ukrajine), zgolj 10 odstotkov pa iz drugih držav EU (Bolgarije, Romunije in Grčije).

Kljub temu, da si Finančna uprava RS skupaj s carino in kriminalistično policijo prizadeva zmanjšati obseg črnega trga s tobačnimi izdelki in se intenzivno bori proti organiziranim združbam, se po njihovih trditvah srečujejo z resnim pomanjkanjem finančnih resursov in kadrov, da bi lahko to počeli bolj učinkovito.

Nelegalni trg se tudi na globalni ravni vse bolj veča. Po podatkih, ki jih je navedel prof. dr. Dobovšek naj bi ta danes predstavljal že kar 25 odstotkov vsega svetovnega trga.
Med njimi tudi WHO

Mednarodne organizacije in inštitucije kot so Evropski urad za boj proti goljufijam (OLAF), Svetovna carinska organizacija (WCO), Svetovna zdravstvena organizacija (WHO), Interpol in Evropska komisija se zavedajo resnosti grožnje, ki jo predstavlja nelegalna trgovina s tobakom in uvajajo številne nove ukrepe za njeno preprečevanje. Ti temeljijo predvsem na zaščiti intelektualnih pravic, povečevanju varnostnih implikacij, povečevanju mednarodnega sodelovanja ter preventivnih programih.

Kot so poudarili številni govorci na nacionalnem posvetu v državnem svetu na temo varnostnih implikacij uvajanja zakonskih rešitev na področju uporabe tobačnih izdelkov, pa v nasprotju z mednarodnimi organizacijami uvaja Slovenija predvsem restriktivno zakonodajo na področju tobaka, kar pa bi lahko samo še dodatno spodbudilo razmah črnega trga. Med strokovnjaki vzbuja resne pomisleke predvsem uvedba enotne standardizirane embalaže, ki bi lahko ponarejanje blagovnih znamk samo še olajšala.

Resource: http://www.zurnal24.si/predstavljajo-kar-cetrtino-celotnega-svetovnega-trga-clanek-279176