Illicit trade: who's to blame?
Friday, May 29, 2015 at 14:44 I'm in Dublin for a few days.
Today's headlines are dominated by reports that 'Public sector staff [are] in line for €1,000 pay boost next year' (Irish Times) or, if you read the Irish Daily Mail, 'Public servants will be paid up to €2,000 extra'.
The Fifa bribes scandal is in every paper and Rory McIlroy's opening round of 80 at the Irish Open is also well documented.
Of course you don't have to spend much time in Ireland before you read a story about illicit trade. Today it's '£1.3m illegal tobacco seized in Co Tyrone raid'.
Similar reports appear on a regular basis. Illegal trade in tobacco is huge here and it's obvious why. Tobacco duty in Ireland is higher than any country in Europe.
By coincidence it's World No Tobacco Day on Sunday and this year the World Health Organisation is focussing on ... illicit trade.
Needless to say, the huge growth in smuggling and counterfeit tobacco worldwide has nothing to do with tobacco control. It's all someone else's fault:
One in every 10 cigarettes, and many other tobacco products, consumed worldwide are illegal, making the illicit trade of tobacco products a major global concern from many perspectives, including health, legal, economic, governance and corruption. The tobacco industry and criminal groups are among those who profit from the illegal tobacco trade, leaving the public to pay the health and security costs.
Ratification by governments of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products is necessary to respond to the financial, legal and health impacts of the illicit trade of tobacco products. The public, academia and other sectors can take action by urging their lawmakers to make their countries Parties to the Protocol.
See World No Tobacco Day 2015: Stop illicit trade of tobacco products (WHO)
We've just issued Forest's response:
World No Tobacco Day: Illicit trade driven by exorbitant taxation and other tobacco control policies, say campaigners
Campaigners have accused the World Health Organisation (WHO) of "hypocrisy" for making illicit trade a theme of World No Tobacco Day (31st May).
According to WHO one in every ten cigarettes and many tobacco products consumed worldwide are illegal.
WHO wants governments to ratify the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products and has called on the public, academia and other sectors to take action to make their countries parties to the protocol.
John Mallon, spokesman for the consumer group Forest, said:
"There's a simple reason why illicit trade is such a problem. Tobacco control campaigners repeatedly demand massive hikes in tobacco duty. This not only boosts the illegal tobacco trade, it drives elderly and low-paid smokers into poverty.
"Let's end this hypocrisy now. What we need are sensible, pragmatic policies that don't discriminate against law-abiding consumers who buy their tobacco from legitimate retailers."
Forest also denounced plain packaging and the EU ban on menthol cigarettes.
"Prohibition doesn't work," said Mallon. "Criminal gangs will be only too happy to meet demand for flavoured cigarettes. As for plain packaging, that's going to be a godsend for black marketeers.
"Instead of berating others for the growth of illicit trade, the tobacco control industry should look closer to home."
Reader Comments (1)
Prohibition fuels organized crime. Look at the historical examples in the US, Sicily, and especially the Mexican Drug War. I wonder how long until the smoking ban yields another public health crisis--endemic violence!