Japan Tobacco Inc. (2914.TO) will exit its operations in India, where rules have been amended to prohibit foreign companies from making fresh investments in cigarette manufacturing, a spokesman for the company’s Indian operations said Thursday.

The decision by the world’s third-largest tobacco company by sales volume is based on “…several foreign investment, regulatory, duty and tax-related uncertainties,” Proful Lall told Dow Jones Newswires.

He didn’t say when or how the company would exit its India operations.

Japan Tobacco, which operates in India through a local joint venture company, has only a very small presence in the country, selling the Winston and Gold Coast cigarette brands.

Its requests to raise its stake in JT International India Pvt. Ltd. to 74% from 50% were not cleared by the country’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board before April 2010, when 100% foreign direct investment was allowed in cigarette manufacturing.

But in April 2010, the Indian government banned fresh foreign direct investment in cigarette manufacturing altogether.

The government has been making legislation stricter for the cigarette industry.

Smoking has been banned in public places, and the federal and state governments have been increasing taxes on cigarettes and trying to make it mandatory for cigarette makers to display more graphic health warnings on their packs.

A nationwide effort to make smoking both more expensive and more uncomfortable is forcing smokers to cut back, but it has not reduced the number of smokers. Tobacco purchases nationwide dropped 23 percent between 2007 and 2010, largely because the average price has increased by nearly 50 percent, according to recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That includes a $1.75 state tax hike in Wisconsin since 2008, driving per-pack taxes to $2.52 — the eighth-highest state tax in the nation.

But at the same time, the number of adults who identify themselves as smokers nationwide — about 20 percent of the population — hasn’t changed, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The number of young smokers also has hovered around 20 percent during the past five years and now sits at 19.5 percent. Overall, Wisconsin’s adult smoking rate of 19 percent ranks 35th lowest in the country — a drop from its rank of 25th lowest nationally in 2007, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

That leads anti-smoking advocates to conclude that smokers such as Dean McKinley are burning through fewer cigarettes, but not giving up the habit.

McKinley, 52, of Tomahawk said he has cut his habit in half over the past two years, from up to two packs each day about one pack. Two reasons are the cost and a state law that keeps him from smoking during his pipefitter job.

“It helps you cut back,” he said.

But even price hikes and regulations aren’t enough to change some habits.

Stacy Gahlbeck, 49, of Minocqua was smoking with McKinley on Thursday outside the Wausau Center mall. She pays $50 for a carton of Marlboro Light 100s on the Lac du Flambeau reservation, and burns through a pack a day. Gahlbeck said if she did not have access to cheap cigarettes — her brand is at least $70 a carton off the reservation — she would consider kicking the habit.

“I would quit if I had to pay $70 for a carton,” she said.

All that cutting back might be keeping some cash in smokers’ wallets, but it’s not doing much for their health.

Smoking will no longer be allowed in outdoor deck and patio areas at bars and restaurants where food and drink is served by wait staff. The board of health enacted the more stringent tobacco control regulation at a sparsely attended public hearing Oct. 13. The board had already held one public hearing in June and three workshops at regular meetings to iron out the details.

“My sense is that each member has given this a thorough review,” said board member John Livingstone. “I’m happy we’ve reached a consensus about what this regulation needs to be.”

Astrid Berg, owner of Pepe’s Wharf Restaurant, was the only one of the three people present at the hearing to speak. Opposed to the smoking ban on outdoor areas, Berg said that she has two decks but chooses to allow smoking cheap Camel cigarettes on one. Only 10 percent of her 214 seats are in a smoking area. “I give my customers choices,” she said, adding that she has never had a complaint.

Board member Joseph DeMartino said that, though few showed up at the hearing, he has had discussions with members of the public who have come up to him on the street. “In private they have been unanimously in favor [of the change],” he said of the feedback he’s received. Member Ken Janson agreed.

“I’ve been very torn about this,” said board member Elizabeth Williams, adding that a lot of the people who have come up to her also were in agreement with the ban. “I’m disappointed not one member of the public came here to say thank you. I think it’s a very tough situation and my heart is with the business owners.”

The regulation goes into effect immediately, but the board will not enforce the provision until Jan. 1, to allow for a smooth transition.

South Beach Smoke announced today that it has been exclusively selected to be featured in the official MTV Movie Awards Gifting Lounge, which provides gifts to the nominated and attending celebrities and other high profile figures at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. Electronic cigarettes, like those sold at South Beach Smoke, are popular with celebrities and have been used by Hollywood elite such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Katherine Heigl, Charlie Sheen and more. South Beach Smoke made the announcement through their blog and social media platform. The South Beach Smoke blog read, “We are extremely happy to be chosen as a product given to celebrities and high profile figures at the MTV Movie Awards. We hope our product brings as much joy to A-List celebrities as it does our valued clientele”.

Miami Beach, FL (PRWEB) May 26, 2011

South Beach Smoke announced today that its electronic cigarette product has been exclusively selected to be featured in the official MTV Movie Awards Gifting Lounge, which provides gifts to the nominated and attending celebrities at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. Electronic cigarettes, like those sold at South Beach Smoke, are popular with celebrities and have been used by Hollywood elite such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Katherine Heigl, Charlie Sheen and more. South Beach Smoke made the announcement through their blog and social media platform. The South Beach Smoke blog read, “We are extremely happy to be chosen as a product given to celebrities and high profile figures at the MTV Movie Awards. We hope our product brings as much joy to A-List celebrities as it does our valued clientele”.
South Beach Smoke’s electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) are hand-held devices that produce liquid vapor instead of smoke. They come in electronic cigarette starter kits which include rechargeable batteries and replaceable cartridges; e-cigarette smokers report saving money if they switch from using traditional cigarettes. Many smokers prefer e-cigarettes to traditional cigarettes because they can be used in a variety of places cigarettes cannot and are considered more hygienic.
The MTV Movie Awards show, which is hosted by Saturday Night Live cast member Jason Sudeikis, will air on MTV June 5th at 9 PM. Celebrities will receive South Beach Smoke electronic cigarettes in their gift bags from the MTV gifting lounge. Products in this gift lounge are preapproved by MTV and include some of the latest and most fashionable products on the market. Performers at the show include legendary rock band Foo Fighters, hip-hop sensation Lupe Fiasco and more. The confirmed guest list for the show includes Cameroon Diaz, Jason Segel, Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carrel and more according to the MTV website.
The MTV Movie Awards features such unique award categories as “Best Jaw Dropping Moment”, “Best Line from a Movie” and “Best Kiss”. All eyes will be focused on the main award category which is “Best Movie”; this year the nominees are Black Swan, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Inception, The Social Network and The Twilight Saga. Electronic cigarettes, like those sold at South Beach Smoke were featured in the film The Tourist starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie; that film is not currently nominated for any awards at the MTV Movie Awards.