Thomas Briant is executive director of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets. NATO’s toll free number is (866) 869-8888 and the association’s Web site address is www.natocentral.org.
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[ NATO NEWS ]
Legislative victories and a PR campaign
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
The number of anti-tobacco legislative bills in the states that have been defeated just keeps increasing every week. NATO and its members have picked up where they left off last year when more than 80 percent of tobacco-related bills were defeated. This year, NATO’s record appears to be on a similar track.
Tax bills
Bills that would have raised the cigarette tax have been defeated in Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia and Wyoming. Moreover, attempts to raise the tax on other tobacco products were not enacted in Wyoming and Idaho. In fact, in the state of Washington, the governor signed a bill reducing the OTP tax rate from 125 percent to 75 percent of the wholesale price including a cap of $.50 tax on each cigar.
Smoking bans
Although taking away the right of consumers to smoke in public places and hospitality establishments was a major priority for anti-tobacco advocates this year, more bans have been defeated than have been passed. State legislatures in Alabama, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin did not pass proposed restrictions on smoking.
As of the first part of May, the states that have enacted smoking bans include Colorado (exempts casinos, cigar bars, tobacco stores and the airport smoking lounge), Hawaii (exempts tobacco stores) and Utah (exempts bars and private clubs).
In Ohio, NATO has joined a coalition of trade groups circulating a petition to place a question on the November ballot to allow smoking in bars, tobacco stores, age-restricted establishments, restaurants with separate smoking areas, bingo halls, bowling centers and private businesses not open to the public.
Legal age
A Nebraska bill to raise the legal age to 19 to buy and use tobacco products died when the legislature adjourned. This kind of bill is another strategy being used by anti-tobacco advocates to limit an adult’s right to use a legal product.
Self-service
Three bills that attempted to restrict the display of tobacco products in retail stores were defeated. The bills died in Alabama, Arizona and Indiana.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
NATO is about to launch a new effort to focus the public debate about tobacco issues on the need to protect personal liberties and individual freedoms. This effort will sensitize the American public to the false information that anti-tobacco advocates so routinely refer to as the “facts.” To accomplish this goal, NATO will place lengthy commentary letters in major newspapers and articles in magazines to reach a broad cross section of the American public.
ASSOCIATION INITIATIVE
NATO is seeking to form partnerships with other national trade associations to alert their respective members to state tobacco legislation. With national groups focusing on federal issues pending before Congress, NATO is well suited to take on the task of sending alerts to members of other tobacco-related trade associations.
WEB SITE DIRECTORY
The NATO Web site now includes a new page filled with manufacturer and distributor company logos, contact information, product summaries and hotlinks to each member’s Web site. Retail members are encouraged to visit this new page to learn about NATO manufacturer and distributor members and the products they offer. This is a unique service to help NATO retail members find manufacturer and distributor Web sites.
WELCOME
NATO welcomes USA Tobacco Company as a new association member. TR |
