Posted on 01/26/2006 1:48:24 PM PST by SheLion
CHICAGO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Cigarette maker Philip Morris USA on Thursday said it agreed to suspend shipments to customers that states find have illegally sold cigarettes over the Internet or by fax, mail or telephone.
The unit of Altria Group Inc. reached the agreement with attorneys general in 33 states and other jurisdictions as a way of trying to curtail illegal sales of cigarettes over the Internet and through the mail.
Opponents of these "remote" sales of cigarettes argue that they let customers avoid age restrictions for purchasing cigarettes, as well as state excise taxes.
The maker of Marlboro and other brands also said that it would reduce the volume of its cigarettes available to customers that a state determines have indirectly engaged in illegal remote sales.
It will also stop a retailer from participating in its trade programs -- where retailers receive financial incentives for certain activity -- if a state determines that the retailer has engaged in illegal remote selling of the company's cigarettes.
The agreement "sets a framework for continued information sharing with law enforcement and support of their efforts to eliminate illegal sales of Philip Morris USA products," Denise Keane, Philip Morris USA general counsel, said in a news release.
A Philip Morris spokesman did not return a phone call seeking further comment.
Altria shares were up 5 cents at $73.90 in late Thursday afternoon trading on the NYSE.
I just bought a Supermatic machine. By the way-Thank you for finally replacing that pic that had the one filter going the opposite way of the others in the box. It used to bug the hell out of me. :-D
Please tell me you forgot the sarcasm tag.
There is only a 25 cent surcharge on a bag of tobacco in town. It will take a long long time for them to bump the taxes up on a bag of tobacco to match what you pay on a carton today. I'm not worried about it.
Like what is a smoking section?
You "knew" California was smoke free before you went, right??
I just bought a Supermatic machine. By the way-Thank you for finally replacing that pic that had the one filter going the opposite way of the others in the box. It used to bug the hell out of me. :-D
I love the Supermatic!
And I didn't really replace the picture. I just fixed it with Paint Shop Pro. heh! :)
Well, I'm not going to worry about it. And the imported bags of tobacco is a lot cheaper then tobacco grown in the states. I smoke the USA grown tobacco now, but if it went too high in price, I would go back to smoking the tobacco grown in India.
Nope. Sorry. Ask Gabz. It's fact. If they were to stop delivering tobacco products to any state that passed smoker bans, that would have, of course, in effect, stopped bans from being passed forever, as the states hate smokers but want the tax cash cow. And the states knew that,and that's why it was written into the settlement(with PM's agreement/blessing)-so the states could have it both ways-it will remain a 'legal' product-and anyplace in the state will sell it to you at an exorbitant price-you just won't be allowed to use it anywhere. Now do you see why we hate Atria/PM?
I don't like that answer. I want to see a sarcasm tag, and I want to see it now!
We have been using the Supermatics for about a year. A word to the wise,dont use the cheapest tobacco you can find,the one that makes the best cigarettes are any tobacco's put out by D& R Tobacco Company. Also goes through the machine the best. The next best is Zig Zag in our opinion, also the Premeir tubes are about the best.
Sometimes I wonder what would happen if we restored capitalism over night. I think it would be a big shock to our economy. Many of the existing corporations would crumble without the government props, and in the face of real competition. Wouldn't it be fun?
No, it didn't cross my busy mind at the time.
I was focused on ditching my "Bic" and acquiring matches so as to achieve airline boarding privileges. ; )
I did have a "smoking" room however during my stay 100 feet from San Fran Bay.
That was a dead giveaway that you were from out of state. :)
I did have a "smoking" room however during my stay 100 feet from San Fran Bay.
No kidding? Well, that's a plus then!
Thanks for the ping!
LOL Sorry, can't help ya.
Does D&R have any brand names? Or is it just "D&R"? I usually use one called Gambler. I usually do use Premier papers.
Yeah, I'm all for capitalism. But we have too precious little of it left in this country.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.