A new survey released today (22 October) of 6,000 UK smokers, commissioned by the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA), paints a disturbing picture of the scale of the illicit tobacco market in the UK.
Shockingly, the results showed that 20% of respondents across the UK buy illicit tobacco every week, with the highet concentration in London (24%), followed by the North East (22%).
12% of respondents say they bought the brand Manchester, which is an ‘illicit white’ brand manufactured in Dubai almost solely for distribution and sale in illegal channels across the world.
While the police generally act as a support to Trading Standards and HMRC in investigations and enforcement action against illicit tobacco, respondents appear to believe the Police should take the lead in combatting illicit tobacco.
53% of smokers said they that they would call the Police with information about illicit tobacco sales. 63% agreed that illicit tobacco is linked to gangs and organised crime, with one in two saying the same gangs trading drugs sell illicit tobacco.
The survey also shows how the biggest driver of the illicit tobacco market is – perhaps unsurprisingly - the price gap between illicit and legal tobacco. The typical price of a 20-pack of illicit cigarettes bought by those surveyed was between £3 and £6 - compared to the average price of £16.60 for a 20-pack of legal cigarettes.
The typical price for 50g of hand-rolling tobacco bought by those surveyed was between £5-£8 – compared to the average price of £40.09 for 50g of legal tobacco.
With the autumn budget looming, the TMA suggests the ‘tax exploitation’ of tobacco products is likely to continue – which will feed the illicit market even further.
“The Government is still burying its head in the sand and refusing to listen to the legitimate views and reservations about the impact of illicit tobacco.”
Rupert Lewis, director of the TMA, said: “Another year, another illicit tobacco survey, and what’s most dispiriting is the fact the Government is still burying its head in the sand and refusing to listen to the legitimate views and reservations about the impact of illicit tobacco and the impact that it has upon their lives and their local communities.
“There’s a growing disconnect between illicit tobacco and the negative impact the wider illicit tobacco industry is having across the UK - with 63% of those surveyed believing illicit tobacco has links to organised crime gangs (which also trade in drugs and people trafficking) and 69% believing that cheap illicit tobacco is making it easier for children to take up smoking.
“If the Government is serious about reducing smoking rates, it needs to execute a twin-track strategy of pursuing stronger zero tolerance enforcement action against those criminals trading illicit tobacco, along with prioritising more investment in targeted-education programmes, youth access prevention and smoking support services, and campaigns to educate smokers on less harmful alternative nicotine products.”
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