Tackling illegal tobacco - Turning off the tap of new smokers
In some parts of the North East, the sale of illegal cigarettes from a tab house, car boot sale or workplace has threatened to undermine efforts to tackle smoking. But good progress is now being made to tackle this market.
The North of England Tackling Illegal Tobacco for Better Health Programme has resulted in less illegal tobacco being bought and sold on estates, fewer people turning a blind eye and more action aimed at bringing sellers to justice
- The volume of illegal tobacco bought has gone down by 39% in the North East. This is estimated at over £36m less avoided in duty and VAT evasion.
- • The number of smokers buying illegal tobacco has fallen by 10%, down two percentage points from 20% to 18%
- • The number of 16-34 year olds buying illegal tobacco has reduced by 5-6%, although 23% of 16-24 year old smokers say they still buy it
While all tobacco is harmful and costs lives, illegal tobacco makes it easier for children to start smoking, brings crime into our neighbourhoods and costs the UK taxpayer around £2.2bn a year
Most people, even smokers, want something done about it. The 2010 Smokefree Survey by YouGov found 89% of adults in the North East wanted tougher sentences for tobacco smugglers, while a major survey of 6,000 adults in every local authority area in the North of England found nine out of 10 people believe illegal tobacco is a danger to children. It’s not surprising, with intelligence that some “tab houses”in the region even specialize in selling to children.
Fresh is a key parner in the North of England Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health Programme, which aims to reduce the supply and demand for these lethal products through the public facing Get Some Answers campaign and through bringing together the work of health, trading standards, the UK Border Agency and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Click to visit the illicit tobacco website.
