Generic Packaging Interim Comments From Australia

CONVENIENCE stores are fuming because their staff can no longer tell their Benson & Hedges from their Peter Stuyvesants. A new survey on the impact of plain cigarette packaging on small retailers found three quarters believed the mandatory olive green packaging had had a negative impact on their businesses. The Roy Morgan survey of 450 […]

New Criminal Penalties For Contraband Tobacco

The Government of Canada introduced new get-tough penalties to help stop the distribution of contraband tobacco in Canada. From the government Public Safety Canada website – OTTAWA, March 5, 2013 – The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, and the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today announced increased efforts to keep our streets […]

Provincial Regulations Prevent Federal Signage

The federal police in Canada, the RCMP, have and continue to spend considerable resources fighting the illegal trade of untaxed cigarettes. In their recent marketing initiative, the RCMP has created posters for stores, billboards, etc., that warn the Canadian public of the societal consequences of purchasing contraband tobacco. The Ontario government has regulations called the […]

Sign Of The Times

Many consumers think competition is good as it creates a competitive pricing for the general public.  In most cases, I agree. The economics of supply and demand are simple. Take the petroleum industry for example. People closely watch the price of gas knowing that it typically increases as weekends approach (more travellers – more demand). […]