Smoking cigarettes blog.

West Virginia would tax fresh-rolled cigarettes at the same rate as a pack of cigarettes. The Senate passed a bill Monday to apply the 55 cent tax to "roll your own'' cigarettes rolled at retail shops. Currently smokers pay a 7 percent tax on the wholesale value of loose tobacco, which is less than the cigarette tax.

Retail shops would be considered a cigarette manufacturer under the bill. The tax department estimates the change will generate about $500,000 to $750,000 in revenue a year. Individually rolled cigarettes make up about 2 percent of tobacco sales in West Virginia. Orphy Klempa, an Ohio County Democrat, was the lone senator to vote against the bill. He says he opposes any tax on vices like alcohol or tobacco.

VicHealth is believed to have called for the move in a report to Health Minister David Davis. Premier Ted Baillieu previously has said he would take advice on smoking in alfresco dining areas from the state's main health advice authority. Several metropolitan councils have introduced smoking bans at playgrounds and sports centres, but not outdoor dining areas because of stiff opposition from traders and smokers. But the push for a blanket ban is growing and the City of Melbourne is considering a plan to make the Bourke St Mall smoke-free. City resident Rebecca Jarvis, 29, said a ban on smoking in alfresco areas would breach civil liberties.

"Smoking is a huge part of Melbourne's cultural fabric," she said. "We have a right to enjoy our vices in this state." Yarra Council tonight is expected to debate an option to slash footpath trading fees for restaurants and cafes in places such as Richmond and Collingwood if they ban smoking. A report before the council said restaurants and cafes did not support a ban because trying to enforce it with "alcohol-impaired smokers could further provoke the offender, resulting in assault and disorder". Shane McIntyre, owner of Gluttony cafe in Smith St, Collingwood, said smoking was still legal and people should have a choice. Quit Victoria executive director Fiona Sharkie said Victoria should follow Queensland and introduce a statewide smoking ban in outdoor dining areas.

"Our research shows that around seven out of 10 Victorians want a ban on smoking in alfresco areas and are also very supportive of a ban in pub beer gardens if there is a designated smoking area," she said. The Municipal Association of Victoria has also called for a statewide ban, and urged the Government to extend it to beaches, sports grounds and outside school entrances. A spokesman for Mr Davis said the minister had received submissions from several agencies and would meet the MAV to discuss the results of council anti-smoking trials soon. Rural Baw Baw Shire is the only Victorian council to ban smoking in alfresco areas so far.

Four men have been jailed for their involvement in smuggling almost five million cigarettes into the country through Dover and evading over £800,000 in duty. Transport boss John Lester, 52, was handed the longest sentence of four years. Martin O’Brien, 47, was sentenced to 16 months, Gavin Turner, 43, to 17 months and Steven Clarke, 35, to 18 months. Clarke, of Newtown, Birmingham, Turner, of Arundel, West Sussex, and Lester, of Handsworth, Birmingham, all denied being concerned in the evasion of duty, but were convicted last month. O’Brien, 47, of Harborne, Birmingham, admitted the charge on the first day of the trial.

Freight haulier Sean Mullins, 49, of Birmingham, was acquitted by direction of Judge Michael Carroll. Maidstone Crown Court heard O’Brien was driving a lorry found to have the huge illicit cargo collected in Belgium in the back. The Tony Lester International Transport lorry arrived at Dover Docks in January 2010 by ferry from Dunkirk. Customs officers found 104 empty meat crates in the lorry. Thirty-two palettes contained 4,928,240 Gold Classic cigarettes.

The duty evaded was £837,160. Judge Carroll told the four: "I have to deal with this as a professional piece of behaviour because of the duty evaded alone." He told Lester: "Suffice it to say I regard you as the most heavily involved of the four of you in the dock. I accept you were not at the top of the organisation. "But you were an organiser and recruited the other three. I have no idea what your remuneration was going to be."