The article below is not uncommon - a serious amount of fake cigarettes seized in UK linked to organised crime.
It fails to connect with the public in a meaningful way.
Focus is on lost duty - HMRC missed out on over £600,000 of tax.
Stories of lost tax will not deter people buying fake cigarettes.
Smokers and their families care about their health.
The issue which should always be stated in reporting and also in the prosecution process is that fake cigarettes are a serious health risk, way above normal ones.
For example, they typically produce 2 -3 times the tar of the genuine equivalent.
Tar contains most of the cancer causing chemicals in cigarettes.
No one quite knows how serious the additional health damage will be as the illicit trade has grown in recent years and there is a time lag, but there could be a dreadful burden on public health in years to come.
There is strong evidence that fake cigarettes are significantly more harmful than genuine ones (which are already harmful).
The US Centre for Regulatory Effectiveness has an interesting summary of this from 2011 which cites various studies finding that smokers of fake cigarettes suffer significantly worse mental and physical health, than other smokers.
Given that it is estimated approximately 8% of all cigarettes smoked are fake, this is a massive problem for public health, with the worst to come.
Fake cigarettes are sold in volume by small retailers (often complicit), with the end buyer unknowingly buying fake. Alternatively, they can be sold directly and informally around pubs and bars etc. This type of hawking is often deliberately miss-leading - they are presented as a dodgy bargain - either stolen or smuggled but the buyer will think they are buying an illicit genuine. I was offered a fake designer T-shirt in London in a McDonalds with this approach. When I asked where they came from, the seller said craftily "They're nicked mate, you're not supposed to ask". They weren't stolen, but were poor quality fakes but of course pretending they are stolen originals makes them appear more attractive.
There is great unawareness of the health risks of accidentally or knowingly smoking fake cigarettes. For middle-aged shoppers like myself who, if I did smoke, would buy them from a big super market it seems like a distant risk. However, I will certainly warn my children that if they are to be tempted by smoking or vaping, then they should buy it from a low risk source. For example, there are nearly 3 million students at universities in the UK, and these tend to shop regularly at small independent retailers. How many of those are buying fake cigarettes unknowingly?
Published By :
Tim Waring
CEO of Netmonita
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