Minicab cigarette 'adbins' in Westminster unlawful

Westminster Council wants a London minicab firm to remove its sponsored cigarette bins, after a court ruling.

Addison Lee provides 19,000 free 'adbins' bearing its logo outside businesses across the capital.

But a judge decided that 21 of the bins in Westminster were in violation of planning laws, fining Addison Lee and making it pay £20,000 in costs.

The firm accused the council of "hypocrisy", saying other bins in the borough were sponsored by Coca-Cola.

Senate panel, Shumlin at odds over cigarette tax hike

MONTPELIER -- The Senate Finance Committee set up a potential showdown with the Shumlin administration Friday when the panel voted to support a $24 million tax package that included a $1 increase in the tax on cigarettes.

Gov. Peter Shumlin objects to any increase in the cigarette tax because he predicts sales and, thus, tax revenues would drop if Vermont's tax rate exceeds that in neighboring states. Lawmakers expect a $1 increase would raise $9 million in new revenue.

The Shumlin administration also argues the cigarette tax is regressive, meaning it has a higher impact on low-income Vermonters.

New hope for cig vending machines

Fresh hope has been raised that the cigarette vending machine ban could be stopped by legal action.

Machine provider Sinclair Collis, part of Imperial Tobacco, has been granted leave to appeal the High Court's decision to reject its judicial review of the ban.

A hearing at the Court of Appeal is scheduled for 7 or 8 March and due to last one and a half days.

Imperial Tobacco senior UK corporate and legal affairs manager Colin Wragg said: “We are delighted that we have managed to get the appeal heard promptly and we will communicate further developments as they occur.”