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News: IPCPR Restructuring to Better Address Legislative Efforts

The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association is about to embark on a bit of restructuring as they seek to better address their legislative efforts. In a post on their Facebook page from April 5, the IPCPR announced that they are looking for a D.C.-based Director of State Government Affairs who would “serve as an [...]

News: IPCPR Cancels Proposed Consumer Day, Raises Dues

In a letter sent out to its members this morning, the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association announced the proposed consumer day for the its annual trade show has been tabled after the organization was “strongly asked… not to proceed.” Bill Spann, CEO of the IPCPR, indicated that instead the organization would raise membership [...]

Press Release: Missouri Small Businesses Fear Tobacco Tax Hike

October 26, 2012 (Jefferson, MO) — Proposition B, a proposed 150% tax increase on cigars and pipe tobacco is causing Missouri tobacconists concern. Politicians claim the tax hike will help fund education and health care, while small business owners are criticizing the open attack on their businesses. The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association [...]

Press Release: Tuscaloosa City Council Seeks to Ban Private Businesses

October 4, 2012 (Tuscaloosa, AL) — The Tuscaloosa City Council will soon be discussing a moratorium to ban some businesses from opening and operating within city limits, including tobacco shops. The ban was introduced by Tuscaloosa City Councilman Kip Tyner after he learned of a tattoo parlor’s intentions to re-open after recovering from tornado damage. [...]

Press Release: Missouri Seeks to Dramatically Hike Tobacco Tax, IPCPR Opposes

September 27, 2012 (Jefferson, MO) – Proposition B, a proposed 150% tax increase on cigars and pipe tobacco, in addition to a 760% tax increase on cigarettes, is causing quite a stir in Missouri. Politicians claim the tax hike will help fund education and health care, while small business owners are criticizing the open attack on [...]

Press Release: Premium Tobacconists Oppose Omaha City Council Tax Plan

September 25, 2012 (Omaha, NE) — A recently proposed occupation tax in Omaha, Nebraska threatens to levy a 7% tax on sales of all tobacco products. The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) strongly opposes this “specialty tax” as it will be detrimental to area premium cigar and pipe retailers. The tax is designed to raise funds for a University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) expansion. UNMC has $1.2 billion dollars available, [...]

Press Release: Atlanta City Council Seeks to Ban Smoking in Public Parks

July 11, 2012 (Atlanta, GA) — The Atlanta City Council will receive an ordinance to ban smoking in Atlanta public parks as soon as next week. If Mayor Kasim Reed approves it, it will go into effect immediately and ban smoking in walking trails, golf courses, acquatic areas, tennis courts and athletic fields. The ordinance [...]

The Cigar Industry Reacts to Prop. 29′s Defeat

The cigar industry made no secret of their feelings of relief in the wake of the expected defeat of Proposition 29 in California, a proposal that would have raised taxes of premium cigars and pipe tobacco by 73%. In one of the first press releases issued following the announcement that 100% of precincts had reported, [...]

Press Release: State Legislature Again Dismisses Proposed State Smoking Ban

May 17, 2012 (Montgomery, AL) — In Alabama, the recent crusade against smokers and public smoking has hit a wall, it seems. Thanks to the efforts of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR), other industry trade groups, and IPCPR retail members, Senate Bill 198 has been postponed indefinitely in committee. With the [...]

News: White House Petition Reaches 25,000 Signatures

The White House petition asking President Obama to tell the Food & Drug Administration not to regulate the premium cigar industry reached the required 25,000 signatures on Wednesday evening and will now be forwarded to the Obama administration for an official response. “It has been great to see so many people get involved in our Democratic [...]