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Tobacco black market in London will soar
A new survey has found that seven in 10 (70%) corner shopkeepers in London believe a ban on tobacco gantries in stores would increase the number of smokers getting tobacco from the black market.
The findings come as the new coalition government considers whether to revoke the display ban legislation, forced through Parliament by the previous Government in 2009. Health Minister Andrew Lansley has expressed concern that the move would not reduce youth smoking as has been claimed, particularly after smoking rates in Canada rose following a display ban there. The survey was carried out by the Tobacco Retailers Alliance, which represents 26,000 independent shopkeepers across the UK and has campaigned against the proposed display ban. The survey also found that 52% of corner shopkeepers in London were aware of smuggled tobacco being sold in their area with 25% of these aware of some customers being underage. The black market in smuggled and counterfeit tobacco already causes a loss to the Treasury of £11 million each day, and deprives legitimate businesses of trade.
Ken Patel, the National Spokesman for the Tobacco Retailers Alliance commented:
“There is a huge black market in tobacco in this country, and that really affects tobacco sales in small shops like mine. Putting tobacco under the counter will make smokers feel like they’re doing something illegal when they buy tobacco from a shop. If they think that, they might as well get it from a smuggler who sells it at half the price I can.
“Responsible retailers like me play a key role in our local communities and we want to continue providing the valuable services we do for our customers. We need the new coalition Government to support us by tackling the serious issue of tobacco smuggling rather than imposing any further restrictions on our businesses
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