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Children getting hooked on illegal cigarettes
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Children are getting hooked on smoking through the sale of illegal cigarettes in "tab houses", it was warned today.
Trading Standards officials said 30% of young people admitted buying cheap and illicit tobacco - much of which has been smuggled into the country.
The cigarettes are sold from private homes in deprived areas with no age checks, creating a new generation of smokers struggling in the economic climate, it is claimed.
Richard Ferry, from Trading Standards North East, told the BBC: "About 30% of under 18s admit to buying cheap and illicit tobacco.
"It means they start smoking earlier and they can smoke more.
"The people who sell from tab houses don't care who they sell to."
The sorts of cigarettes being sold include duty-free cigarettes, which should be for personal use, fake versions of well-known brands and "cheap whites" - cigarettes aimed specifically at the black market
Tobacco smuggling is thought to cost the UK economy about £3 billion a year in lost tax revenue.
Customs officers yesterday seized an estimated 120 million cigarettes smuggled into the Republic of Ireland.
It is understood the majority of the Palace and Chelsea brands were destined for the UK market and would have cost the Exchequer £36 million.
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A very confusing article. What is the issue here? Children smoking or how much is lost in tax? Is it ok for children to smoke legit cigarettes?
Posted by terry | 28.10.09, 15:19 GMT